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HIS  T  0  II  Y 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY; 


THE  EARLY  HISTORY 


UNION      C  O  U  N  T  T 


BY  REV.  EDWIN  F.^VTFIELD,  D.I). 


Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider  the  years  of  many  ^'enerations. — Deut.  xxxil, ' 


nil  Yp]^)- 

Pin^LTSIIKI)    r>Y  OAllLTOiN    .V   L  A  N  A  1 1  A  N 

•.'00    M  r  L r. K II u  V- s T i: i: v. r. 

18I5S. 


Entered  accordir.^;-  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S6S,  by 

EDWIN    F.  HATFIELD, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


PREFACE. 


Human  character  is  tlie  product  of  all  time.  It  is  the 
growth,  not  of  a  single  life,  but  of  ages.  Its  form  and 
shape,  in  the  individual  and  in  the  community,  are  de- 
rived, not  more  from  the  present,  than  the  past.  What 
we  are,  body,  soul,  and  spirit,  is  owing,  in  a  great  degree, 
to  aG;encies  that  have  been  at  work  from  the  beorinninu;. 

O  CD  iD 

The  cast  of  a  man's  immediate  progenitors  determines, 
to  a  great  extent,  his  own.  The  rank  and  standing  of  the 
domestic  circle,  in  which  his  early  days  glide  on  so  noise- 
lessly and  yet  so  swiftly,  affect,  for  all  time,  his  whole  be- 
ing. The  social  community  in  which  the  child  is  led  up 
to  man ;  the  humble  school-house  in  wliich  his  mind  is 
brought  into  form  and  symmetry  ;  the  sanctuary,  whither 
his  youthful  steps  are  bent  on  the  Sabbath-day,  with  its 
songs  of  praise,  its  humble  prayers,  and  its  solemn  exhor- 
tations ;  the  long-established  customs  of  the  place  and 
age ;  the  peculiar  traits  of  the  population,  sparse  or  dense, 
rural  or  urban  ;  the  prevalent  handicrafts,  trades  and  pur- 
suits of  the  locahty ;  every  passing  event,  and  every 
occurrence  and  influence  by  which  individual  sentiment 
and  pubhc  opinion  are  affected ;  all  these  serve,  more  or 
less  powerfully,  to  shape  the  character  and  determine  the 
destiny  of  the  child,  the  boy,  the  man. 


PREFACE. 


To  know  a  people,  to  understand  their  peculiarities, 
we  must  know  their  history,  their  parentage,  their  origin ; 
must  learn  from  what  race,  nationality,  tribe  and  family, 
they  are  descended ;  when  and  by  whom  their  settlement, 
town,  or  city,  was  founded ;  the  aims  and  plans  of  the 
founders ;  through  what  changes,  social,  industrial,  po- 
litical and  religious,  they  prosecuted  their  design ;  what 
relations  they  sustained  to  other  communities,  near  or  re- 
mote ;  what  were  the  special  characteristics,  aspects  and 
tendencies  of  the  times ;  whatever,  in  short,  may  have 
served,  in  the  course  of  their  history,  to  affect,  more  or  less 
directly,  their  fortunes  and  their  destiny. 

To  promote,  in  some  humble  measure,  this  laudable 
design,  in  respect  to  one  of  the  thriving  communities  in  the 
older  parts  of  this  land,  this  volume  was  written.  It  was 
undertaken,  at  the  sohcitation  of  the  author's  townsmen, 
to  whose  generous  consideration,  with  all  its  imperfections, 
it  is  now  commended.  A  native  of  Ehzabeth,  and  a  de- 
scendant of  several  of  its  worthy  founders,  it  has  been  to 
him  a  labor  of  love,  to  gather  up  these  memorials  of  its 
past,  and  give  them  a  permanent  form.  These  materials 
he  has  been  gathering,  some  of  them,  for  more  than  a 
score  of  years ;  not  without  a  vague  thought,  that  the  day 
would  come,  when  he  might  give  them  form  and  order. 
Laid  aside,  at  length,  by  serious  disease,  from  the  exhaust- 
ing activities  of  a  laborious  profession,  the  requisite  leisure 
was  found  by  the  author,  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
long-cherished  desire,  of  which  he  gladly  availed  himself. 

In  entering  upon  his  work,  he  found  that  but  little 
was  known,  even  by  the  people  themselves,  of  their  history. 
What  had  been  previously  pubhshed  was  exceedingly 
meagre,  and  much  of  it  quite  eiToneous.  The  "  Notes, 
Historical  and  Biographical,  concerning  Ehzabeth-Town, 


PREFACE. 


its  eminent  Men,  Churches  and  Ministers,"  was  prepared 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Murray,  during  the  earher  years  of  his 
ministry,  nearly  a  fourth  of  a  century  since.  It  could 
scarcely  be  expected,  that  a  stranger  from  a  far  country 
would  be  able,  fully  to  enter  into  the  sympathies,  and 
clearly  to  apprehend  the  history,  of  the  people  among 
whom  he  had  so  recently  found  a  home.  His  "  Notes  " 
furnish  but  little  information  respecting  the  founders  of  the 
town,  and  that  little  is  far  from  correct.  The  ^mter  of 
the  present  volume  has  found  it  necessary  to  consult  the 
original  records  for  himself,  and  has,  therefore,  relied  but 
little  on  the  labors  of  his  predecessor. 

The  only  other  published  works  pertaining  to  the  his- 
toi-y  of  the  town,  are  the  excellent  and  authentic  "  His- 
tory of  St.  John's  Church,  Elizabeth-Town,  New  Jersey," 
by  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Clark,  and  the 
Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  McDowell  and  IMiuray,  by  the 
Rev.  Drs.  Sprague  and  Prime,  respectively  ;  all  very  good 
in  their  place,  but  partial  only  in  their  object. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  history,  now  given  to  the  pub- 
lic, endeavors  to  rescue  the  planters  of  the  town  from  ob- 
Hvion,  and  to  give  them  something  more  than  "  a  local 
habitation  and  a  name."  To  this  end,  the  archives  of  the 
County  and  State,  at  Newark,  at  Amboy,  and  at  Trenton, 
have  been  diligently  and  patiently  investigated.  Local 
and  general  histories,  noted  in  the  margin  of  the  pages, 
have  been  extensively  consulted.  Access  has  been  had 
to  the  libraries  of  the  Historical  Societies  of  New  York, 
Long  Island,  and  New  Jersey.  Neither  time  nor  expense 
has  been  spared  in  obtaining  all  possible  information 
bearing  on  the  fortunes  of  the  town.  Much  assistance 
has  been  derived,  in  respect  to  the  general  history  of  the 
locality,  from  Mr.  Whitehead's  "  East  Jersey  under  the 


PREFACE. 


Proprietary  Goveraraents,"  thougli  tlie  author  has  been 
constrained  to  differ  from  him  in  respect  to  the  merits  of 
the  conflict  between  the  "  Proprietors  "  and  the  people. 

Great  care  has,  also,  been  taken  to  present  a  full 
and  connected  view  of  the  military  transactions  in  and 
about  the  town,  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  The 
files  of  the  newspapers  of  that  period  have  been  carefully 
searched,  and  every  local  event  of  interest  recorded.  This 
portion  of  the  history,  it  will  be  seen,  is  full  of  incident, 
and  possesses  a  value  by  itself,  as  a  contribution  to  the 
general  history  of  the  country,  in  that  eventful  period. 

Considerable  material  has  been  gathered  for  a  genealo- 
gical history  of  the  town.  Should  the  present  volume 
be  favorably  received,  it  may  be  .followed,  at  no  distant 
time,  Providence  permitting,  by  a  supplemental  volume, 
tracing  the  old  families  of  the  town,  generation  by  genera- 
tion, from  the  days  of  the  founders  to  the  present  day. 

New  York,  May  11,  1868. 


COJSTTEl^TS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A.  D.  1609-1684. 

Natives  of  the  Soil  —  Discovery  by  Europeans  —  Early  Traders  —  Wcrckhoven's 
Manorial  Purchase  —  Failure  to  perfect  a  Title  —  Restoration  of  Charles  II.  — 
Alarm  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  —  Attempts  to  Colonize  in  New  Netherland 
—  Petition  of  John  Strickland  and  others  —  Dutch  Proposals  —  Negotiations 
of  Fenn  and  his  Associates — Failure  thereof  —  Long  Islanders  frustrated  in 
planting  a  Colony  on  the  Raritan, 17 

CHAPTER    II. 

A.  D.  16G4-1665. 

Charter  of  Connecticut  —  Royal  African  Company  —  Grant  to  the  Duke  of 
York  —  Expedition  against  New  Netherland  —  Surrender  of  New  Amster- 
dam—  Gov.  Nicolls  —  Petition  of  Bailey,  Denton,  and  others,  for  leave  to 
plant  a  Colony  —  Indian  Purchase  and  Deed  —  Nicolls'  Grant  —  Proposals  for 
Settlers  —  Early  Descriptions  of  the  Country  —  Extent  of  Nicolls'  Patent  — 
Date  of  the  Settlement  —  Tradition  of  four  Families  —  Associate  Purchasers — 
Rev.  Thomas  James, 27 

CHAPTER    III. 

A.D.  1C05-1CC8. 

Arrival  of  the  ship  Pliilip,  with  Gov.  Carteret  —  Explanations  —  Lord  John 
Berkeley  —  Sir  Geo.  Carteret  —  Adlicrents  of  Royalty  in  the  Civil  War  — 
Their  Services  to  the  Crown  —  Rewarded  with  Offices  and  Land  Grants  — 
Purchase  of  N.  Jersey  from  the  Duke  of  York  —  Letters  of  Hutchinson  — 
Capt.  Carteret  arrives  at  New  York  with  laborers  —  Acquiesces  in  Nicolls' 
Grant  —  Purchases  rights  in  the  new  Town  —  Origin  of  its  Name,        .      43 


g  CONTEXTS. 

CUAPTER    IV. 

A.  D.  1660. 

The  "  CoDcessions  "  —  New  Immigrants  —  Loss  of  Town  Book  —  Extracts  from 
it  —  Oath  of  Allegiance  —  By  whom  taken  —  Names  of  the  Associate  Found 
era  —  Also  of  Carteret's  Servants  —  Notices  of  Strickland  and  the  six  Peti- 
tioners— Bailey,  Daniel  and  Nathaniel  Denton,  Benedict,  Foster  and  Watson 

—  Also  of  the  Patentees,  Baker  and  Ogden, 53 

CHAPTEK    V. 

A.  D.  16C6. 

The   eighty  Associates,    their   Origin,  their    Location  —  Of  Puritan  Principles 

—  No  Congeniality  with  Carteret  and  his  Company,       .         .         .        .63 

CHAPTER    VI. 

A.  D.  16CC-1669. 

Government  of  tlie  Town  —  Forms  of  Marriage  Licenses  —  Indentures,  and  the 
Hue  and  Cry  for  Runaways  —  Sale  of  the  S.  half  of  the  Town  —  Settlement 
of  Woodbridge  and  Newark  —  Traffic  in  Pipe  Staves  —  Cold  Winter  —  Rev. 
Abm.  Pierson  at  Newark  —  Brackett  appointed  Ass.  Surveyor  —  Newark 
Boundary  prayerfully  settled  —  Great  Mortality  —  "Duke's  Laws"  —  First 
Legislature  of  N.  Jersey  at  E.  T.  —  Laws  —  Second  Session  —  Collision  with 
the  Governor  —  Abrupt  Adjournment — Whaling  Company — Disputes  about 
Staten  Island — Berkeley  and  Carteret  in  Trouble — Mortality,       .         .115 

CHAPTER    VII. 

A.D.  1670-1673. 

Quit  Rent  Controversy  —  Gov.  Carteret's  Usurpations  —  Claude  Vallot  —  Arbi- 
trary Edicts  —  Watson  not  to  drill  the  Militia  —  First  Jury  Trial  in  the  Town 

—  Case  of  Capt.  Ilacket  —  Court  illegally  held  —  Case  of  Richard  Michel  — 
His  House  destroyed.  —  Carteret  overawed  by  the  People  —  Capt.  James  Car- 
teret arrives  from  England  —  Legislature  convenes  at  E.  T.  —  A  lawful  Court 

—  Trial  of  Meeker  and  others  —  Newark  people  take  the  Alarm  —  Other  Ses- 
sions of  the  Legislature  —  Capt.  James  Carteret  chosen  President  —  Arrest 
and  Escape  of  Wm.  Pardon  —  Gov.  Carteret  removes  to  Bergen  —  Re-arrest 
of  Pardon,  and  Seizure  of  his  Goods  —  Memorial  of  the  Council  to  the  Lords 
Proprietaries  —  Gov.  Carteret  and  Officials  return  to  England  —  Capt.  Berry, 
Dcp.  Governor  —  Marriage  of  Capt.  Carteret — The  Officials  return  —  Conflict 
renewed  —  Patents  to  be  taken  out  —  Appeal  to  the  Lords  Proprietors  —  Gov. 
Winthrop'a  Endorsement  of  the  People, 131 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER    YIII. 

A.  D.  16T3-16T4. 

Departure  of  Jamea  Carteret  aud  Hopkins  —  Vessel  captured  by*  the  Dutch  — 
Hopkins  discloses  the  weakness  of  N.  Y.  —  Capture  of  tlie  City  by  the  Dutch 
—  Deputation  from  E.  Town  at  N.  Y.  —  N.  Jersey  yields  to  the  Dutch  —  Land 
Claims  confirmed  —  New  Officials  —  Kecusancy  of  Vauquellin  —  Census  of 
E.  T.  Men  —  Notices  of  the  new  Comers  —  Militia  Officers  —  Edicts  —  Indian 
Depredations  —  Monthly  Day  of  Prayer  appointed  —  Legislative  Assembly  — 
Redress  of  Injuries  —  Termination  of  Dutch  Rule,  ....     154 

• 
CHAPTER    IX. 

A.  D.  1674-1681. 

Restoration  of  English  Rule  —  Berkeley  sells  West  Jersey  —  Sir  G.  Carteret 
sole  Proprietor  of  E.  Jersey  —  Return  of  Gov.  Carteret  — Stringent  meas- 
ures to  subdue  the  People  —  Requires  them  to  take  Patents  for  their  Lands  — 
Old  Conflict  renewed  —  Compromise  proposed,  but  rejected  by  Carteret  — 
Schedule  of  Surveys  —  Militia  System  —  Legislature  at  E.  T. —  Enactments  — 
Prices  —  Act  of  Oblivion  —  Thanksgiving  Day  —  Meeker  indemnified  —  Inns 
regulated — Marking  of  Cattle  —  Troubles  with  Gov.  Andros  of  N.  Y.  —  Car- 
teret seized,  and  imprisoned  at  N.  Y. —  Tried  and  acquitted  —  Legislature  at 
E.  T.  again — They  decline  the  jurisdiction  of  Andros  —  Marriage  of  Car- 
teret—  Andros  recalled  —  Carteret  reinstated  —  Legislature  meet  again  — 
Collision  with  Carteret  —  He  dissolves  them  —  Death  of  John  Ogden,    .     178 

CHAPTER    X. 

A.D.  1664-1682. 

Ecclesiastical — Church  early  organized,  of  Puritan  type — First  Meetiug-House 
and  Grounds  —  Ministry  —  Rev,  Thomas  James  —  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck  — 
Rev.  Seth  Fletcher, 108 

CHAPTER    XI. 

A.D.  1682-1686. 

Death  of  Sir  George  Carteret  —  Sale  of  the  Province  —  Quaker  Rule  —  Robert 
Barclay,  Governor  —  Thomas  Rudyard,  Dep.  Governor  —  Death  of  Gov.  Car- 
teret—  His  Character  —  His  Will  —  New  Era  —  Quaker  Settlers  —  Descrip- 
tions of  the  Town  aud  Country  in  1684-5  —  Rudyard's  Administration  — 
Legislature  —  Enactments  —  Gawen  Laurie,  Dep.  Governor — Land  Troubles 
revived  —  Militia  —  Scotch  Immigration  —  Lawrie'a  Account  of  the  Town  and 
Country  —  Scot's  Model  —  Other  Accounts  —  Lawrie'a  Land  Investments  — 


IQ  CONTENTS. 

Western  Bounds  —  Baker's  Trial  —  rerth  Amboy  made  the  Capital  —  Acces- 
sion of  the  Duke  of  York  to  the  Throne  —  Trouble  about  the  Newark  Bounds  — 
Lawrie  Superseded, 210 

CHAPTER    XII. 

A.D.  16S6-1702. 

Lord  Campbell,  Dep.  Gov.  —  And.  Hamilton,  Dep.  Gov.  —  French  War — Kates  — 
Annexation  to  New  York  and  New  England,  under  Gov.  Andros  —  Revolu- 
tion of  1G88  —  Political  Agitations  —  Leisler  in  power  at  N.  Y. — Jacobite 
Party  at  E.  T.  —  Interregnum  —  Death  of  Rob.  Barclay — Col.  Hamilton, 
•Gov.  —  Legislature — Appointments  —  Bounds  of  the  Town  —  Lawsuit  of 
Fullerton  vs.  Jones  —  Nicolls'  Grant  sustained  —  Notice  of  Wm.  Nicoll,  Esq. 
—  Associates  in  1695  and  1099  —  Administration  of  Basse,  Bowne  and 
Hamilton  —  Tumults  at  Newark  and  E.  T.  —  New  Allotment  of  Lands  — 
List  of  Surveys  —  Notices  of  New  Settlers  —  End  of  the  Proprietary  Gov- 
ernment,        232 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

A.D.  1632-1707. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Harriman  —  Introduction  of  Episcopacy 
by  Rev.  Geo.  Keith  —  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Samuel  Melyen  —  First  Episcopal 
Missionary,  Rev.  John  Brooke  —  Erection  of  St.  John's  Church,       .     .     280 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

A.D.  1702-1740. 

liond  Titles  —  Political  Parties  —  Lord  Cornbury,  Gov.  —  Corruption  of  the 
Court  —  Act  of  Indemnity  —  Lord  Lovelace,  Gov.  —  His  Death  —  Robert 
Hunter,  Gov.  —  Death  of  Col.  Townley  —  Officials  of  the  Town  —  Card-Playing 
not  tolerated  —  Newark  Bounds  —  Suit  of  Yaughan  vs.  Woodruff — Early 
Town  Books  lost  —  Town  Committee  of  Seven  —  List  of  Freeholders  in  1 V29  — 
Lithgow  v.«.   Robison,  &;c.  —  Measures  of  Defence   against   the  Proprietors 

—  Sale  of  Town  Lands  —  Fenn  vs.  Chambers  &  Alcorn  —  Sale  of  more  Land  — 
Distribution  of  Land  in  1T37  —  Cooper  vs.  Moss,  &c.  —  Logan  vs.  Manning 

—  Newark   Bounds  —  Lewis   Morris,  Gov.  —  Borough   Charter  —  Officials  — 
Newspaper  Notices,      ....         ......     802 

CHAPTER    XV. 

A.  D.  1708-1747. 

EccLESi.vsTiCAL  —  Rcv.  Joua.  Dickinson  —  Parentage,  Education,  Marriage,  and 
Ordination  —  His  Parish  and  Salary  —  Joins  the  Presbytery — Episcopal  Con- 


CONTENTS.  11 

troversy — Westfield  ClUi.  —  "Adopting  Act"  of  1729  —  Practises  Medicine 

—  His  "  Reasonableness  of  Cliristianity  "  —  Presbytery  of  E.  Jersey  —  Elders 

—  Case  of  Hemphill  —  Another  Episcopal  Controversy  —  New  Providence  Chh. 

—  Presbytery  of  N.  York  —  Whitefield  at  E.  T.  —  Dickinson's  "Witness  of 
the  Spirit."  —  Revival  of  17-10  —  Dickinson's  "Five  Points" — His  "Display 
of  Special  Grace"  —  Controversy  on  Regeneration  —  His  "Fartiliar  Letters." 

—  Old  Side  and  New  Side  Controversy  —  Division  of  the  Synod  —  Efforts  to 
Christianize  the  Indians — David  Braincrd  —  Death  of  Mrs.  Dickinson  —  His 
Second  Marriage  — Another  Episcopal  Controversy  —  College  of  New  Jersey 

—  Dickinson,  its  first  President  —  His  Death  and  Character  —  His  Family,    326 


CHAPTER    XA^I. 

A.D.  1 708-1 T47. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  Edward  Vaughau,  Episcopal  Missionary,  arrives  from 
England — ^^Call  to  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  declined  —  Poverty  of  his  People  — 
Preaches  at   Rahway,  .Woodbridge,  and  P.  Amboy  —  Marries  Mrs.  Emott 

—  Removes  to  Amboy  —  Returns  —  Church  Edifice  not  finished  for  years  — 
Annual  Reports  to  the  "  Society  "  —  Chh.  Glebe  —  Opposes  Mr.  Whitefield 

—  His  Death  and  Character  —  Increase   of  Religious  Congregations  in  40 
years, 355 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

A.D.  1740-1704. 

Negro  Plot  —  Land  Conflicts  —  Appeal  to  the  Crown  —  Tumults  —  Secret  Meet- 
ings—  E.  T.  Bill  in  Chancery  —  Answer  —  Death  of  Gov.  Morris  —  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Gov. — Issue  of  the  long  Conflict  with  the  Proprietors  —  Death  of 
Mayor  Bonnel  —  Lottery  Mania  —  Two  Lottery  Schemes  —  Prof.  Kalm's 
Notices  of  the  Town  —  Col.  Ricketts'  Affair  iu  N.  Y.  Harbor  —  Notices  of  Gov. 
Belcher  —  Removes  to  E.  T.  —  His  Hospitality  and  Piety  —  Befriends  the  Col- 
lege —  Gives  it  a  new  Charter  —  Incorporates  the  Presbyterian  Chh.  —  Makes 
E.  T.  the  Seat  of  Government  —  His  Death  and  Character  —  Judge  Ross  — 
Addresses  of  the  Corporation  — Town  Officers  —  Newspaper  Notices  —  The 
Barracks  —  First  Centenary  Celebration, 3G3 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

A.D.  1717-1 7C0. 

Ecclesiastical— Rev.  Elihu  _Spencer  —  Early  Life  — Oruiuation  and  Installa- 
tion —  His  Marriage  —  Public  Services  —  Removal  —  Subsequent  History  — 
His  Death  —  His  Family  —Rev.  Abraham  Ketcltas  —  Early  Life  —  Licensure, 
Call  and  Ordination  — Chh.  Clock —Removal  to  Jamaica,  L.  L  — Subse- 
quent History  —  Death  —  Children, 393 


12  CONTEXTS. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

A.D.  1764-1776. 

nctrcnchment  at  Funerals  —  Death  of  Alderman  Tho3.  Clark  —  Non-Importation 
Leagues  —  Patriotism  of  the  Town  —  Stamp  Act  —  Gen.  Congress  —  Robert 
Ogden,  Speaker  of  N.  J.  Congress,  resigns  his  seat  —  Stephen  Crane  succeeds 
him  —  Opposition  to  Stamp  Act  —  Its  Repeal  —  Non-Importation  League 
revived  —  County  Meeting  at  E.  T. — Patriotic  Action  —  British  Regulars 
quartered  here  —  "  Boston  Tea  Party  "  —  Boston  Port  Bill  —  Great  Indigna- 
tion everywhere  —  Principal  Patriots  of  the  Town  —  Lines  drawn  —  County 
Meeting  at  Newark  —  Town  Meeting  —  Congress  sustained  —  Committee  of 
Safety  —  Non -Intercourse  with  Staten  Island  —  Exciting  Affair  —  Case  of  the 
Beulah  —  Sheriff  Bamet  implicated  —  Battle  of  Lexington  —  Uprising  of  the 
People  —  Aaron  Burr  and  Matt.  Ogden  —  General  Congress  —  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, Com.  in  Chief — Battle  of  Bunker-Hill  —  Powder  sent  from  E.  T.  to  the 
Am.  Army  —  Mrs.  Washington  at  E.  T.  —  Earl  of  Stirling  in  command  here  — 
Capture  of  the  ship  Blue  Mountain  Valley  —  Names  of  the  Captors  —  Military 
OflScers  —  Mihtary  Preparations  —  Fortifications  at  the  Point  —  Washington 
and  the  Am.  Army  at  N.  Y.  —  Appearance  of  the  Town  in  1776,    .        .     403 

CHAPTER    XX. 

A.D.  1776-177T. 

Independence  —  Lines  drawn  —  Sentiments  of  Abraham  Clark,  the  Signer  —  Brit- 
ish Fleet  —  Staten  Island  taken  by  the  British  Troops  —  The  War  at  the 
Door  —  Defence  of  the  Town  —  Arrest  of  Traitors  —  Female  Patriot  —  Forays 
—  Changes  in  the  Town  —  Error  of  Mr.  W.  Irving  —  Disaffection  of  Pa. 
Troops  —  Battle  of  Flatbush  —  Wni.  Livingston,  First  Gov.  of  the  State  — 
Gen.Matt.  WiUiamson,  in  command  here  —  John  DcIIart  declines  and  Robert 
Morris  appointed  Chief- Justice  of  N.  J.  —  Depot  for  Prisoners  here  —  Am. 
Army  evacuate  N.  York  —  Letter  of  Rob.  Ogden  —  Disasters  —  Retreat 
through  N.  Jersey  —  People  flee  —  Town  occupied  by  the  British  —  William- 
eon  resigns  —  Defections  —  Protection  Papers  —  Am.  Troops  at  Short  Hills  — 
Rev.  J.  Caldwell — Skirmish  —  Death  of  Col.  Ford  —  Capture  of  Hessians  at 
Trenton  —  Capture  of  Princeton  —  Retreat  of  British  Army  —  Washington  at 
Morristown  —  Enemy  driven  out  of  Newark  and  E.  T.  —  Capt.  E.  Littell  — 
Barbarity  of  the  Enemy  —  Tories  and  Neutrals  driven  out  —  Frequent  Skir- 
mishes—  British  Army  evacuate  the  State, 432 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

A.  D.  1777-1730. 

Forays  from  S.  Island  —  N.  J.  Volunteers  —  Sullivan  invades  S.  Island  —  British 
Incursion  —  Dickinson  invades  S.  Island  —  Exchange  of  Prisoners  —  Confis- 
cation—  London   Trading  —  Great  Privations  —  Spies  —  Forays  —  Battle  of 


CONTENTS.  13 

Monmouth  —  Maxwell  in  command  here  —  Sale  of  Confiscated  Estates  —  Ex- 
pedition of  Sir  Chas.  G,rey  — Lord  Stirling  stationed  here  — Flags  of  Truce 

—  Washington  at  E.  T.  —  Plots  against  Gov.  Livingston  —  Invasion  of  the 
Town  —  Burning  of  the  Barracks,  Tavsonage  and  Academy  —  Livingston's 
Correspondence  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton  —  Continental  currency  —  Trouble 
in  the  Camp  —  Case  of  Mrs.  Chandler  —  Troops  pacified  —  Forays  of  S. 
Islanders  —  Negro  Panic  —  Col.  Dayton  in  command  here  —  Severe  Winter 

—  Great  Snow  Storm  — Sufferings  of  Troops  — N.  Y.  Harbor  closed  with  solid 
Ice  — Lord  Stirling  invades  S.  Island  —  Refugees  invade  E.  T.,  and  burn  the 
Court  House  and  Presb.  Chh.  — The  Incendiary —  Old  "Red  Store  House" 

—  Gen.  St.  Clair,  and  then  Baron  De  Kalb,  in  command  here  —  Forays  from 
S.  Island, 461 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

A.  D.  17S0-17S3. 

Knyphausen  invades  E.  T.  in  force  —  Passage  of  the  Brit.  Array  through  the 
town  —  Uprising  of  the  Militia  —  Skirmishes  —  Severe  Fight  near  Spring- 
field—Wife of  Rev.  J.  Caldwell  murdered  — Village  of  Ct.  Farms  burned 
down  — Retreat  of  the  British  to  the  Point  — Thundcr-Storm  — Skirmishes 
at  the  Point  — Second  Advance  of  the  British  Army  — Battle  of  Springfield 

—  Village  burned  — Retreat  of  the  Foe  to  S.  Island  — Bravery  of  the  Mihtia 

—  Partisan  Warfare  —  Capture  of  Col.  Ogden  and  Capt.  Dayton  — Raids  of 
Refugees—  Cowboys  — Night  Patrols  — Marauding  Parties  — Surrender  of 
Cornwallis  —  Exchange  of  Prisoners  —  Desperadoes  —  Forays  —  Predatory 
Raids  —  Maj.  Crane's  Exploits  — Peace, 486 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

A.D.  1760-17S0. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  Jas.  Caldwell  —  Birth  —  Education  —  Ordination  — 
Settlement  here  — Visit  of  Whitefield  — Revival  — Elders  and  Deacons  — 
Rules  for  the  Sexton  — Chh.  enlarged- Grammar  School  — Taught  by  Pcm- 
berton,  Reeve,  Periam,  Barber,  and  Baldwin  — Am.  Episcopate  — Annual 
Conventions  — Another  Revival  —  Increase  of  Salary— Mr.  C.  arraigned  be- 
fore the  Presbytery  and  cleared  — His  Patriotism  —  Chaplain  of  the  N.J. 
Brigade  in  the  Northern  Army —  Return  — Refuge  from  the  British  at  Tur- 
key —  Assistant  Commissary  General  —  Parsonage  and  Chh.  burned  —  Retires 
to  Ct.  Farms  — Mrs.  C.  murdered  — His  Papers  carried  off— Retires  to 
Turkey  — Chosen  one  of  the  State  Council  — Murdered  — Epitaph  of  Mr.  C. 
and  his  Wife  — Their  children, ^^^ 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

A.D.  1747-1790. 

Ecclesiastical -Rev.  T.  B.  Chandler,  D.D. -Birth- Education -Catechist  of 
St.  John's  Chh.  — Parsonage  — Wardens  and  Vestrymen  — Mr.  Chandler  goes 


14  CONTENTS. 

to  Enj^.,  and  obtains  Orders  —  Rector  of  St.  John's  —  Marriage  —  Has  the 
Small-Pox  —  Long  Illness  —  Zeal  for  Episcopa&y  —  Obtains  a  Charter  for 
St.  John's  —  Wardens  and  Ycstrymen  —  Visit  of  Mr.  Whitcfield  —  Troubles  ' 
in  the  Parish  —  Enlargement  of  the  Parsonage  —  Political  Troubles  —  Hon- 
orary Doctorate  —  Ep.  Controversy  —  Pension  —  Flies  to  England  —  Worship 
suspended  for  Years  —  Resumed  again  —  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  Ass.  Minister  — 
Birth  —  Popularity  —  Settles  at  Newark  —  Rev.  S.  Spraggs,  Ass.  Minister  — 
Dr.  Chandler  ten  Years  in  England  —  Returns  home  —  Obtains  the  Offer  of 
an  Episcopate  —  Too  ill  to  accept  —  Death  —  Hia  Family,     .        .        .     537 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

A.D.  1783-1795. 

Return  of  Gov.  Livuigston  —  Sad  Changes  —  Visit  of  Washington  —  Refugees 
remove  to  N.  Scotia  and  N.  Brunswick  —  "  New  Jersey  Journal "  established 

—  U.  S.  Constitutional  Convention  —  Fourth  of  July  Celebrations  —  New 
Charter — Death  of  Gov.  Livingston  —  Death  of  Gen.  M.  Ogden  —  Rage  for 
Speculation  —  Lotteries  —  Schools  —  Circulating  Library  —  Congressmen  — 
Death  of  Mayor  De  Hart, 552 

CHAPTER    XXYI. 

A.  D.  1725-1795. 

Subdivisions  of  the  Township  —  Springfield  set  off,  and  Turkey  annexed  to  it  — 
New  Providence  set  off  from  Springfield  —  Settlement  of  Springfield  —  Rev. 
Timothy  Symmes  —  Rev.  Nathan  Ker  —  Rev.  J.  Van  Artsdalen  —  Settlement 
of  New  Providence — Rev.  John  Cleverly  —  Rev.  A.  Horton  —  Rev.  Jos. 
Lamb  —  Rev.  Timothy  Allen  —  Rev.  Jonathan  Elmer — Westfield  set  off  — 
Its  Settlement  —  Rev.  N.  Hubbell  —  Rev.  John  Grant  —  Rev.  Ben.  Woodruff 

—  Scotch  Plains  —  Rev.  Ben.  Miller  —  Rev.  Wm.  Van  Horn  —  Death  of 
Hon.  Abraham  Clark  —  Removal  of  Hon.  Elias  Boudinot,  LL.  D.    .        .     564 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

A.D.  17S2-1S04. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  J.  F.  Armstrong  —  Rebuilding  of  Presb.  Chh.  —  Revival 

—  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Linn  —  Lottery  for  finishing  the  Chh.  —  Rev.  David  Austin  — 
Birth  —  Education  —  Settlement  —  Chh.  completed  —  Monthly  Magazine  — 
American  Preacher  —  Prophetic  Investigations  —  Sermon  on  the  Downfall  of 
Babylon  —  Great  Excitement  —  Day  set  for  Christ's  Coming  —  Mr.  Austin  dis- 
missed—  Anti  Sabbath-Profanation  Meeting  —  Rev.  John  Giles  —  Mr.  Aus- 
tin returns  —  Rev.  Henry  Kollock  —  Mr.  Austin's  Second  Return — Stated 
Supply  —  Separate  Worship  —  Rctunis  to  Connecticut  —  Subsequent  History 

—  His  Death  and  Character,         ...  ....     591 


CONTENTS.  15 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

A.D.  1790-1888. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  Samuel  Spraggs  —  Rev.  Menzies  Rayner  —  Rev.  Frede- 
rick Beasley,  D.  D.  —  Rev.  Samuel  Lilly  —  Introduction  of  Methodism  — 
Lists  of  Methodist  Ministers  —  Rev.  Thomas  Morrell,    ....     614 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

A.D.  1735-1S56. 

Ecclesiastical — Township  of  Raiiwat  —  Presb.  Chh. — Rev.  Messrs.  Cleverly, 
Grant,  Strong,  and  Watkins  —  First  Pastor  —  Rev.  A.  Richards  —  Rev.  R.  H. 
Chapman,  D.  D.  —  Rev.  B.  Carll  —  Township  of  Union  —  Presb.  Chh.  —  Rev. 
S.  Horton  —  Rev.  J.  Davenport  —  Rev.  D.  Thane  —  Rev.  J.  Darby,  M.  D. — 
Rev.  B.  Halt  — Rev.  P.  Fish  — Rev.  S.  Smith  — Rev.  S.  0.  Thompson,       627 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

A.D.  lSOl-1844. 

Political  Parties —•  Flag  Presentation  —  County  House  Agitation  —  Female  Vo- 
ters—  Political  Corruption  —  Trial  of  Cornelius  Hatfield  —  Gen.  Elias  Day- 
ton—  Town  House  burned  and  rebuilt  —  Streets  regulated  —  Anti-Sabbath- 
Profanation  —  Thomas'  Ferry  —  Casualty  —  Steam  Navigation  —  Monopoly  — 
Gov.  Ogden  and  the  Livingstons  —  Thomas  Gibbons — Opposition  Line  — 
Lawsuit  —  Decision  of  U.  S.  Supreme  Court  —  Monopoly  brought  to  an  end 

—  Daniel  Dod  —  War  of  1812-15  —  Paper  Currency  —  Peace  Celebration  — 
Gen.  Wm.  Crane  —  Lt.-Gen.  Winfield  Scott  —  Mayor  Jeremiah  Ballard  — 
Gen.  Jona.  Dayton  —  Gov.  Williamson, 647 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

A,D.  1804-1868. 

Ecclesiastical  —  First  Presb.  Chh.  —  Rev.  John  McDowell,  D.D.  —  Rev.  Nicho- 
las Murray,  D.D.  —  Rev.  E.  Kempshall  —  Second  Presb.  Chh.  —  Rev.  David 
Magie,  D.D.  — Rev.  Wm.  C.  Roberts  — Third  Presb.  Chh.  — Rev.  Robert 
Aikman  —  Fourth  Pres.  Chh.,  Elizabethport  —  Rev.  Abm.  Brown — Rev. 
Oliver  S.  St.  John — Rev.  Edwin  H.  Reinhart  —  Westminster  Presb.  Chh. — 
Siloam  Presb.  Chh.  —  Rev.  John  C.  Rudd,  D.D.  — Rev.  Smith  Pyne  — Rev. 
Birdscye  G.  Noble  —  Rev.  Richd.  C.  Moore  —  Rev.  Samuel  A.Clark  —  New 
St.  John's  —  Chapel  —  Grace  Chh.  —  Rev.  David  Clarkson — Rev.  Clarkson 
Dunn  —  Christ  Chh.  —  Rev.  Eugene  A.  Hoffman,  D.D.  —  Rev.  Stevens  Parker 

—  Trinity  Chh.  — Rev.  Daniel  F.  Warren,  D.D.  — First  Baptist  Chh.  — Rev. 
George  W.  Clark  — Broad  St.  Baptist  Chh.  — Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  D.D.— 
Congregational  Chh.  —  Rev.  John  M.  Wolcott.  —  Rom.  Cath.  Chhs.  —  Mora- 
vian Chh. —  Rev.  Christian  Ncu  —  Lutlicran  Chh.  —  Swedcnborgians,    .     606 


IQ  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 

A.D.  1S55-1863. 

City  Charter  — Town  of  Linden  set  off — Rail  Roads — Elizabetliport  —  Old 
Farms  sold  for  City  Lots  —  Street  Improvements  —  New  Market  House  — 
County  IIousc  —  Population  —  The  Great  Rebellion  —  Finances  of  the  City  — 
Prospective  Growth  —  Conclusion,        .......     685 


THE 


HISTORY    OF    ELIZABETH, 

NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER    I, 

A.  D.   1G09-16G4. 


Xativcs  of  the  Soil  —  Discovery  by  Europeans  —  Early  Traders  —  Worckhoven  s 
Manorial  Purchase  —  Failure  to  perfect  a  Title  —  Kcstoration  of  Charles  II  — 
Alarm  of  the  New  Ilaven  Colony  — Attempts  to  Colonize  in  New  Netherland 
—  Petition  of  John  Strickland  and  others  —  Dutch  Proposals  —  Negotiations 
of  Fenn  and  his  Associates — Failure  thereof  —  Long  Islanders  frustrated  in 
planting  a  Colony  on  the  Raritan. 

The  territory  now  occupied  by  Elizabeth,  in  New  Jersey-, 
was  formerly  the  abode  of  savage  tribes,  unknown  to  fame. 
Whence  they  came,  and  how  long  they  had  dwelt  on  these 
shores,  are  questions  that  neither  authentic  histor}-  nor  plau- 
sible tradition  pretends  to  answer.  They  have  long  since 
passed  away,  without  memorial.  Another,  and  a  very  differ- 
ent, population  have  taken  their  place,  possessed  their  lands, 
and  made  the  wilderness,  in  which  theydwelt  and  roamed,  a 
fruitful  lield.  Tiie  history  of  the  town  dates  back  to  the 
coming  of  these  new  settlers — the  ci-a  of  its  occupation  by 
civilized  imd  cultivated  humanity. 

It  was  on  Sunday,  the  sixth  day  of  September,  1609,  tliat 
the  eye  of  the  stranger  from  the  old  world  first  rested  on 
this  goodly  site.  Three  days  before,  the  two-masted  "  vUe- 
hoat^''  called  the  "Half  Moon,"  of  ciglity  tons'  burden,  under 
the  command  of  the  renowned  Henry  Hudson,  liad  cast 
"1 


18  THE    HISTORY    OF 

anchor  in  Sandy  Hook  Bar.  The  adventurous  craft  was 
manned  by  twenty  men,  Dutch  and  English,  in  the  service 
of  the  East  India. Company  of  the  United  Provinces.  Their 
design  was  to  explore  a  passage  to  China  and  the  Indies,  by 
the  northwest.  The  day  after  their  arrival,  they  were  visited 
by  the  natives,  who  seemed,  as  the  journalist  describes  it, 

Very  glad  of  our  comming,  and  brought  greene  Tobacco,  and  gaue  vs 
of  it  for  Kniues  and  Beads.  Theygo  in  Deere  skins  loose,  well  dressed. 
They  haue  yellow  Copper.  They  desire  Cloathes,  and  are  very  ciuill. 
They  haue  great  store  of  Maiz  or  Indian  Whedte,  whereof  they  make 
good  Bread.     Tiie  Countery  is  full  of  great  and  tall  Oakes. 

The  day  following,  some  of  the  crew  landed,  who 

Saw  great  store  of  Men,  Women  and  Children,  who  gaue  them  Tabacco 
at  their  comming  on  Land.  So  they  went  vp  into  the  Woods,  and  saw 
great  store  of  very  goodly  Oakes,  and  some  Currants.  One  of  them  came 
aboord,  and  brought  some  dryed.  Many  others,  also,  came  aboord, 
some  in  Mantles  of  Feathers,  and  some  in  Skinnes  of  divers  sorts  of  good 
Furres.  Some  women  also  came  with  Hempe.  They  had  red  Copper 
Tabacco  pipes,  and  other  things  of  Copper  they  did  weare  about  their 
neckes. 

On  Sunday,  the  Gth,  John  Coleman  and  four  other  men 
were  sent  out  in  a  boat  to  explore  the  harbor.  Sailing 
through  the  Narrows,  they  found 

Very  good  riding  for  Ships;  and  a  narrow  Riuer  to  the  "Westward 
betweene  two  Hands.  The  Lands  were  as  pleasant  with  Grasse  and 
Floweres,  and  goodly  Trees,  as  euer  tbey  had  scene,  and  very  sweet  smells 
came  from  them.  So  they  went  in  two  leagues  and  saw  an  open  Sea,  and 
returned.* 

The  "  narrow  river,"  through  which  they  sailed,  was  The 
Kills,  between  Bergen  Point  and  Staten  Island;  and  the 
"  open  sea  "  was  Newark  Bay.  That  part  of  the  town  that 
borders  on  the  Bay  was,  of  course,  in  full  sight.  These  five 
men,  therefore,  of  whom  John  Coleman  f  was  one,  were  the 
lirst  discoverers  of  this  particular  tract.  The  name  by  which 
the  land  was  known  among  the  natives,  was  Scheyichbi. 
The  account  of  the  natives,  as  given  by  Juet,  applies  to  those 

•  Jael's  Nanatlvc,  in  N.  Y.  Hist.  Soe.  Col.,  I.  135. 

t  Coleman  was  slain,  the  s.imo  day,  on  his  return,  by  the  treacherous  arrow  of  one  of  the 
natives;  on  augury  of  no  pleasant  Import, 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY  19 

tlicn  occupying  this  locality,  as  well  as  those  further  down 
the  coast. 

Public  attention  was  soon  called  to  this  inviting  region, 
and  a  profitable  trade  in  peltries  was  presently  opened  with 
Holland.  The  Dutch  merchants  established  a  post  at  Man- 
hattan, as  early  as  1613,  and  thence  dispatched,  from  time 
to  time,  small  boats  or  shallops  into  the  creeks  and  bays  of 
this  vicinity,  to  traffic  with  tlie  natives  for  skins  and  furs, — 
tlie  country  then  abounding  with  game  and  herds  of  wild 
beasts.  These  traders  were  thus  made  acquainted,  at  an 
earl}^  day,  with  this  particular  locality,  its  beauties,  its  capa- 
bilities, and  its  desirableness.  But  no  attempt,  for  various 
reasojis,  was  made  to  occupy  and  cultivate  the  soil.  At  that 
period  the  natives  were  too  numerous,  and  too  treacherous, 
for  a  mere  handful  of  foreigners  to  undertake  any  thing  like 
permanent  settlements.  It  was  not  until  1023,  tliat,  stimu- 
lated, probably,  by  what  the  English  had  accomplished  at 
ISTcw  Plymouth,  the  Dutch  undertook  to  plant  colonies  of 
agriculturists  in  what  they  called  I^ew  ISTetherland.  But 
these  enterprises  were  few  and  feeble — confined  mainly  to 
the  neighborhood  of  their  military  posts.  Their  relations  to 
the  natives  were  not  always  very  amicable,  and  sometimes 
decidedly  hostile.  It  was  not  deemed  safe,  therefore,  to  ven- 
ture as  far  into  the  wilderness  as  the  western  shores  of  Achter 
Kol,*  as  Newark  Bay  was  called  by  the  Dutch.  The  difficulty 
was  still  further  increased  by  the  cruel  and  unprovoked  mas- 
sacre of  the  unsuspecting  natives,  fourscore  in  number,  at 
Pavonia,  or  Paulus  Ilook,  by  the  Dutch  of  ISTew  Amsterdam, 
on  the  night  of  February  25,  1043.  An  end  v/as  thereby 
put,  for  several  years  at  least,  to  all  thoughts  of  extending 
the  settlements  into  the  interior. 

But  the  land  was  too  attractive  not  to  provoke  the  greed 
of  the  Dutch  Colonists.  An  attempt,  and,  so  far  as  can  now 
be  discovered,  the  first  attempt,  was  made  to  plant  a  colony 
in  tliis  locality,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1651.  Tlie  policy  of 
the  Dutch  government  had  been  to  encourage  the  settlement 

*  Bcldnd  the  Bay,  i.  o.,  the  second  bay;  since  corriiptcd  to  "Arthur  Cull,"  a  perversion 
that  ought  to  be  at  once  corrected. 


20  TII£    UISTORY    OF 

of  colonics  or  manors,  similar  to  the  lordships  and  seigniories 
of  the  old  world,  by  men  of  large  fortunes,  known  as  patroons, 
to  whom  peculiar  privileges,  both  of  trade  and  government, 
were  accorded.  These  manors  were  of  great  extent,  and 
their  proprietors  were  looked  upon  as  an  order  of  nobility — 
much  like  the  old  barons  of  the  feudal  period.  The  most 
desirable  tracts,  both  on  the  North  and  Soutli  E-ivers,  had  thus 
been  colonized,  principally  by  several  shrewd  and  enterprising 
directors  of  the  Amsterdam  Chamber  of  the  West  India  Com- 
pany. The  Avhole  of  the  neck  opposite  New  Amsterdam,  as 
far  as  the  Kills  and  Newark  Bay,  together  with  Staten  Island, 
had  been  appropriated  for  years. 

Directly  west  of  these  colonies  stretched,  foi'  miles,  along 
the  waters  of  Achter  Kol,  and  the  estuary  to  the  west  of 
Staten  Island,  one  of  the  most  inviting  regions  in  all  Nev,' 
Netherland.  To  this  fair  land  was  now  directed  the  eager 
attention  of  the  Honorable  Cornells  Yan  Werckhoven,  one 
of  the  Schepens  of  Utrecht  in  Holland.  He  duly  notified 
the  Amsterdam  Chamber  of  his  intention  to  plant  two 
colonies,  or  manors,  in  New  Netherland.  A  commission  was 
thereupon  given  to  Augustine  Heermans,  of  Bohemia, — who 
had  made  New"  Amsterdam  his  home  since  the  year  1633, 
and  had  become  an  influential  and  wealthy  citizen, — to  pur- 
chase these  lands  from  the  natives.  Accordingly  Heermans 
negotiated  with  the  resident  i)roprietor3,  and  purchased,  for 
Yan  Werckhoven,  the  whole  of  the  tract  extending  from 

The  mouth  of  the  Raritan  Creek  westerly  up  unto  a  creek,  ManlacJ:- 
iewachhj,  which  runs  Northwest  up  into  the  country,  and  then  from  the 
Raritan  Creek  aforesaid  nortlierly  up  ak)ng  the  River  behind  States  Isle, 
unto  the  Creek,  namely,  from  tlie  Raritan  Point,  called  Ompoge,  unto 
Pcchciesse,  the  aforesaid  creelc,  and  so  the  said  creek  Pcchciesse  up  to 
the  very  head  of  it,  and  from  thence  direct  westerly  thorowe  the  Land 
untill  it  meets  with  the  aforesaid  Creek  and  Meadow  Ground  called  Man- 
kackkowachky  aforesaid.* 

Possession  was  given,  and  the  trees  in  each  hook  of  the 
tract  were  marked  with  the  initials  of  Werckhoven.  The 
land   thus  described   included   the    region   west  of    Staten 

*  East  Jersey  FiCcords,  Lib.  I.  9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  21 

Island,  from  tlie  Raritan  to  tlic  Passaic  Eivcrs,  and  extended 
back  into  the  country  indefinitely.* 

Three  other  tracts,  one  to  the  south  of  the  Raritan,  and 
two  on  Long  Island,  were  purchased  for  the  same  good  old 
Dutchman,  with  the  hope  of  large  gains  from  each.  But, 
objection  having  been  made  on  the  part  of  other  as  greedy 
speculators  against  the  accumulation  of  so  much  territor}^  in 
the  hands  of  one  owner,  the  case  was  referred  to  the  Amster- 
dam Chamber,  who  decided  that  Van  Werckhoven  could  re- 
tain but  one  of  the  tracts  in  question.  lie  chose  to  locate 
himself  on  Long  Island,  and  so  commenced  there  the  colony 
of  ISTew  Utrecht,  so  named  from  his  native  city  in  Holland. 
The  title  to  the  land  above  described  reverted,  therefore,  to 
the  original  owners. 

It  was  a  happy  providence  that  defeated  tlie  attempt  to 
plant  a  Dutch  manorial  colonj^  under  a  lordly  patroon,  on 
these  fiiir  shores  ;  and  reserved  the  land  for  settlement  by  a 
very  different  class  of  colonists,  under  happier  auspices.  It 
remained  unoccupied,  save  by  the  natives,  for  another  con- 
siderable term  of  years.  The  slaughter  of  the  Dutch  colonists, 
in  September,  1655,  at  Pavonia,  Iloboken,  and  Staten  Island, 
in  retaliation  for  the  massacre  of  their  kindred  by  the  Dutch 
in  1643,  struck  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  new  settlers  every- 
where, and  filled  New  Amsterdam  with  panic-stricken 
refugees  ;  thus  putting  an  end  to  all  schemes  for  occupying 
the  country  round  about.f 

The  Restoration  of  Charles  11.  to  the  throne  of  his 
ancestors.  May  29,  1660,  very  naturally  turned  the  attention 
of  the  disaffected  in  Great  Britain  to  the  fertile  fields  of  the 
N"ew  "World  of  the  "West,  and  gave  a  new  impulse  to  Ameri- 
can emigration.  It  awakened,  too,  M-ell-foundcd  fears  among 
the  hitherto-peaceful  Colonists  of  ISTew  England  in  respect  to 
their  dear-bought  liberties.  Under  the  Protectorate,  they 
had  enjoyed  the  utmost  freedom  in  the  administration  of 
their  civil  affairs,  exercising,  without  the  slightest  interference 
from  the  Home  Government,  the  right  of  choosing  and 
appointing  their  own  magistracy,  of  making  their  own  laws, 

*  0'Callaglir.n's  New  Netberland,  II.  1S6,  +  Brodhcacrs  New  York,  I.  352-3,  COT 

Note. 


22  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  of  regulating  their  own  taxation.  In  all  these  respects, 
they  had  reason  to  apprehend  a  serious  conflict  with  the  new 
government.  Jealous  of  the  prerogative  of  self-government, 
so  happily  enjoyed  from  their  earliest  organization  as  English 
Colonies  in  America,  it  was  with  extreme  reluctance  that 
these  stern  old  Puritans  consented  to  proclaim  the  new  mon- 
arch, and  to  congratulate  him  on  his  accession  to  the  throne. 
More  especially  was  this  the  case  in  the  Colony  of  Xew 
Haven,  where  the  republican  sentiment  had  been  most  fully 
developed,  and  none  but  members  of  the  church  were  en- 
trusted with  the  rights  of  freemen.  The  project  of  an  in- 
corporation by  charter  with  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  where 
these  restrictions  were  unknown,  greatly  alarmed  the  leaders 
of  the  New  Haven  Colony,  and  led  a  portion  of  them  to  think 
of  securing  a  home  under  the  Dutch  government  in  New 
Netherland,  where  they  might  perpetuate  their  peculiar 
principles  without  molestation. 

Special  attention  was  now  directed  to  the  unoccupied  and 
attractive  regio"!!  lying  between  the  North  and  South  Eivers, 
and  especially  its  eastern  portion.  Among  the  first  to  make 
ap])lication  to  the  Dutch  authorities  for  the  settlement  of  a 
plantation  at  Achter  Kol,  was  John  Stieklan  [Strickland],  a 
resident  of  Huntingdon  on  Long  Island,  in  behalf  of  himself 
and  a  number  of  other  New  England  people.  The  most  of 
the  settlers  in  that  part  of  Long  Island,  including  Strickland 
himself,  Avere  from  the  New  Haven  jurisdiction,  and,  in  all 
probability,  partook  of  the  prevalent  feelings  of  the  people  of 
that  colony.     The  application  was  in  the  words  following : 

Worthy  Sir :  after  my  due  respects  p'sented  viito  you  these  few  lines 
ar  to  request  a  keindness  of  you.  taking  you  to  be  my  spetiall  freud,  aud 
know  no  other  like  your  selff  to  intrust  in  such  a  Case  as  this  :  the  thing 
I  dczier  and  sora  others  with  me  is  this :  that  you  woulde  bo  pleased  to 
tnke  the  first  and  moste  sutablo  oppertunity  to  speake  with  the  honered 
goucrnor,  dcziring  him  to  resoluo  you  in  these  i)articulars  first,  whither 
or  no.  that  place  vpon  the  mayne  land  which  is  called  Arthcr  Cull  be 
free  from  any  ingagements  :  secondly  if  free  :  then  whither  or  no  he  •will 
bo  plesod  to  grant  it  to  a  Company  of  honest  men  that  may  dezier  to  sit 
douno  thcr  to  make  a  plantasion  vnder  his  gouerment  and  that  you  would 
be  pleased  hauing  so  done  to  return  an  answer  by  the  first,  which  we 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  03 

shall  waight  for,  and  Lauiug  incoragement  we  shall  forthwith  adres  our 

selues  to  treate  further  with  him  aboute  the  matter  thus  not  doubting  of 

j'our  faithfullness  herin  I  take  leaue  and  rest  yours  to  Comande 

John  Sticklin 
from  Huntington  fcbruary  15"'  IGGO. 

lett  me  intreate  you  to  send  the  answer  to  Samuwell  Mathies  at  Rus- 
dorpe,  tluit  it  maye  be  conveied  to  me  in  safety  :  and  that  you  woulde  be 
pleased  that  it  may  be  k«pt  secret  houeuer  it  goe. 

S''  if  you  can  w*''  convenience  I  tvould  intreate  you  to  send  me  an  an- 
swer by  y®  bearer  of  this,  all  convenient  speede  being  requisite. 

The  second  letter  follows  : 

Worthy  Sir:  after  ray  due  respects  p''sented  vnto  you,  these  few 
lines  ar  to  intreate  a  Courtesi  of  you,  that  you  woulde  be  plesed  to  speake 
with  the  honered  gouerner,  and  lorde  Steuenson.  to  know  of  him  if  that 
place  which  is  called  Arther  Coll  be  free  to  be  disposed  of.  and  whither 
or  no  he  will  giue  incoragement  to  a  Company  of  the  inglish  nasion  there 
to  settle  themselues,  if  vpon  a  vcav  made  they  shall  take  satisfaction,  and 
when  you  know  his  minde  herin.  that  you  woulde  be  pleased  to  return  me  a 
few  wordes  in  answer  by  this  bearer  samwell  mathews,  and  accordingly 
my  selff  with  sum  other  frends,  whoe  haue  an  y  that  waye  will  adress  our 
selues :  I  shall  trubble  you  no  furder  at  p'sant,  but  to  intreate  you  to 
pardon  my  bowldnes  and  so  rest  your  louing  fi'end  to  comand 

John  Stikland  from  huntington  Aprill  29  :  1G61. 

These  letters  were  addressed  to  Ctipt.  Bryan  JSTewton,  one 
of  Gov.  Stuyvesaut's  council,  by  whom  they  were  duly  pre- 
sented, and  an  answer,  of  which  the  following  is  a  transla- 
tion, was  given : 

The  preceding  requests  being  delivered  to  Capt"  Lieutenant  Brian 
Nuton,  and  being  by  him  communicated  to  the  lion'''''  Director  Gen- 
oral  and  by  his  Exc">'  delivered  to  the  Council,  it  is  after  question  put, 
resolved  to  give  said  Capt"  Lieutenant  for  Answer,  that  he  may  let  the 
Petitioners  know  that  they  may  freely  come  to  look  at  the  indicated 
parcel  of  land,  and  if  they  like  it,  that  further  disposition  would  then  be  • 
had  on  their  apjliication  and  proposal.     This  2  June  ICGl.* 

Their  High  Mightinesses,  the  Dutch  rulers,  sent  over,  in 
the  spring  of  lGGl,a  general  invitation  to  ''all  Christian  peo- 
ple of  tender  conscience,  in  England  or  elsewhere  oppressed, 
to  erect  colonies  anywhere  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Petrus 
Stuyvesant,    in    the    West  Indies,    between  New  England 

♦Albany  Kecords,  IX.  C39,  Cll-3.    O'Callnghnn's  New  Kctlnrland,  II.  446. 


24  TUEUISTORYOF 

and  Virginia,  in  America."  A  charter  of  Conditions  and 
Privileges,  of  exceedingly  liberal  import,  had  been  drawn  up 
by  the  West  India  Company,  and  approved,  February  ^, 
IGGJ,  by  the  States  General.* 

In  June  following,  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  in- 
structed their  Governor,  John  Winthrop,  to  proceed  to  Eng- 
land, and  procure  from  the  king  a  charter  for  the  colony,  to 
include  the  whole  territory  "  eastward  to  Plymouth  line, 
northward  to  the  limits  of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  and 
westward  to  the  bay  of  Delaware,  if  it  may  be,"  f  and,  also, 
the  islands  contiguous.  These  lines  included,  of  course,  the 
colony  of  New  Haven,  and  the  proposition  excited  there,  as 
might  have  been  expected,  no  little  discontent  and  indigna- 
tion. Several  of  the  newly-chosen  magistrates  declined  to 
serve  and  take  the  prescribed  oaths,  and  the  disaffection  was 
widespread. 

It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  the  liberal  proposals  of  the 
Dutch  government,  just  then  made  public,  should  have  met 
with  a  warm  reception  in  Kew  Haven  and  the  adjacent 
towns.  A  deputation  was  sent  to  New  Amsterdam  to  make 
further  inquiry,  and  to  ascertain  the  character  of  the  lands 
to  be  settled.  The  deputation  was  so  "  courteously  enter- 
tained," and  made  so  favorable  a  report  of  the  country,  as  to 
induce  Messrs.  Benjamin  Fenn  and  Robert  Treat,  magistrates 
of  Milford,  Dr.  Jaspar  Gunn,  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  church 
of  Milford,  and  Mr,  Richard  Law,  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
Stamford, — all  of  them  being  of  the  Xew  Haven  jurisdiction, 
and  originally  from  Wethersiield,  on  the  Connecticut, — to 
come  down,  in  November,  1661,  with  full  powers,  to  nego- 
tiate with  Governor  Stuyvesant  for  the  settlement  of  a  plan- 
tation in  these  parts, — "  within  the  limits  of  the  [West  India] 
Coni]iany's  jurisdiction  behind  Statcn  Island,  about  the  Rari- 
tan  River." 

Among  the  conditions  insisted  upon  by  the  New  Haven 
people,  were,  liberty  to  gather  a  church  "  in  the  Congrega- 
tional way,  such    as   they    had    enjoyed  in  New  England 

•  O'Callnghnn's  N.  Nelh.,  II.  414-C.    N .  Y  t  Brodhcad's  New  Tork,  I.  695. 

•Colonial  Document,  III.  87-9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY  25 

about  twenty  years  past ; "  the  riglit  of  calling  a  synod  by 
the  English  churches  that  might  be  gathered  in  New  Neth- 
erland,  for  the  regulation  of  their  ecclesiastical  affairs  ;  "  th^e 
right  to  administer  justice  in  all  civil  matters  within  them- 
selves, by  magistrates  of  their  own  selection,"  without  ap- 
peal to  other  authorities  ;  the  purchase  of  the  lands  by  the 
Dutch  government  from  the  natives,  and  a  full  conveyance 
thereof  to  the  associates  forever  ;  none  to  "  be  allowed  to 
settle  among  them  except  by  their  own  consent ;  the  right 
to  collect  debts ; "  and  a  written  charter  stipulating  these 
rights  in  full.* 

To  all  those  the  Governor  readily  consented,  except  the  con- 
cession of  full  powers  of  self-government  without  appeal ; 
Stuyvesant  being  unwilling  to  grant  them,  in  this  respect, 
greater  liberties  than  were  enjoyed  by  the  other  towns  and 
colonies  of  New  Netherland.  But  the  .deputation  was  stren- 
uous in  securing  a  full  concession  of  popular  rights,  inasmuch 
as  a  controversy  between  Stuyvesant  and  his  people  had  for 
years  been  carried  on,  and  with  some  considerable  asperity, 
on  this  very  point*;  the  people  demanding  that  no  laws 
should  be  enacted,  and  no  magistrates  appointed,  but  with 
their  consent  and  approbation  ;  and  the  governor  stoutly  re- 
sisting the  demand.  The  conference,  thus  broken  off,  was 
renewed  in  March,  1662,  with  the  same  result.  The  whole 
matter  was  then  referred  to  the  Directors  at  Amsterdam. 
They  would  have  been  pleased,  they  say,  in  their  reply, 
March  26,  1663,  with  the  arrangement,  as  the  "  settlement 
might  serve  as  a  bulwark  to  our  nation  against  the  savages 
on  llie  Raritan  and  Minisink."  They  instruct  Stuyvesant  to 
insist  on  retaining  appellate  jurisdiction  in  certain  criminal 
cases,  "as  long  as  it  is  tenable  ;  "  but,  "  if  the  object  in  view 
is  not  obtainable  without  this  sacrifice,"  then  the  Governor 
was  "authorized  to  treat  with  tlie  English  on  such  terms  as 
in  his  opinion  arc  best  adapted  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  the  State  and  its  subjects."  The  negotiations  were  re- 
newed in  June,  1663,  but  with  what  result  the  record  does 
not  state.     As  no  settlement  was  attempted  during  the  con- 

•     »  O'Callaghan'8  N.  Xcth.,  II.  447-8.     Albany  Records,  IX.  S97,  890,  007  ;  X.  73,  77. 


2G  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

tiiuiancc  of  the  Dutch  dominion,  it  is  altogether  probable 
that  the  disagreement  remained.* 

Later  in  the  .year,  the  •English  towns  on  Long  Island  had 
succeeded  in  throwing  oflf  the  authority  of  the  Dutch  Govern- 
ment, and  had  put  themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Con- 
necticut. Early  in  December,  a  party  of  twenty  Englisl/men, 
from  Jamaica,  Flushing,  and  Gravesend,  proceeded,  in  Stof- 
fel  Elsworth's  sloop,  to  the  Raritan  River,  with  the  intention 
of  purchasing  a  plantation  from  the  Indians.  But  the  design 
WAS  arrested  by  an  armed  party  nnder  command  of  Captain 
Kregicr,  sent  but  for  the  purpose  by  Governor  Stuj'vesant, 
in  the  Company's  yacht.f 

These  were  the  onl}'  attempts,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  by 
any  parties  previous  to  the  year  ICOi,  to  occupy  this  part  of 
the  country.     Denton,  in  1G70,  says  : 

"Whilst  it  was  under  tlie  Dutch  Government,  which  hath  been  till 
within  these  six  years,  there  was  little  encouragement  for  any  English, 
both  in  respect  to  their  safety  from  the  Indians,  the  Dutch  being  almost 
always  in  danger  of  them ;  and  their  Bever-trade  not  admitting  of  a  War, 
which  would  have  been  destructive  to  their  tratle  which  was  the  main 
thing  prosecuted  by  the  Dutch.  And  secondly,  the  Dutch  gave  such  bad 
Titles  to  Lands,  together  with  their  exacting  of  the  Tenths  of  all  which 
men  produced  oft'  their  Land,  that  did  much  hinder  the  populating  of  it; 
together  with  that  general  dislike  the  English  have  of  living  under  an- 
other Government.]; 

*  OX'allacrhan's    N.    Ncth.,     II.      443-9.  t  Whiiohead's  E.  Jersey,  p.  177. 

■Wliitchoad's  E.   Jersey,  pp.  lb3-4.    Brod-  i  Denton's  New  York,  Ed.  of  1S45,  pp. 

head's  New  York.  I.  707-S  IC,  17. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY  27 


CIIA.PTEE    II. 

A.  D.  1664-1G65. 

Charter  of  ConnccUcut  —  Royal  African  Company  —  Grant,  to  the  Duke  of 
York  —  Expedition  against  New  Netherhmd — Surrender  of  New  Amster- 
dam—  Gov.  Nicolls  —  Petition  of  Bailey,  Denton,  and  others  for  leave  to 
plant  a  Colony  —  Indian  Purchase  and  Deed  —  Nicolls'  Grant  —  Proposals  for 
Settlers  —  Early  Descriptions  of  the  Country  —  Extent  of  Nicolls'  Patent  — 
Date  of  the  Settlement  —  Tradition  of  four  Families  —  Associate  Purchasers — 
Rev.  Thomas  James. 

Foii  several  years  previous  to  tlicKestoratioii  of  Charles 
IL,  serious  differences  had  existed  between  the  Dutch  and 
English  Colonies  in  North  America.  The  latter  were  far  the 
more  numerous  and  powerful.  Having  settled  on  the  sea- 
coast  of  New  England,  and  their  patents  for  land  giving 
them  an  indefinite  extent  of  territory  westward,  they  found 
themselves  brought  into  collision  with  the  Dutch  who 
claimed  on  both  sides  of  the  North  River  to  its  source.  Re- 
peated conferences  resulted  more  and  more  unfavorably  for 
peace.  The  new  charter  of  Connecticut,  obtained  from  the 
king,  and  bearing  date  April  23,  1662,  expressly  granted 
them  all  the  territory  between  the  Massachusetts  line  and  the 
sea,  extending  from  Narragansett  Bay  to  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
The  Dutch  were,  accordingly,  told,  by  the  Hartford  people, 
that  "  they  knew  of  no  New  Netherland  province,  but  of  a 
Dutch  governor  over  the  Dutcli  plantation  on  the  Man- 
hattans." Representations  were,  also,  made  to  the  Court, 
designed  to  further  these  claims,  and  to  lead  to  the  extinguish- 
ment of  the  Dutcli  government  in  America.* 

Charles  liad,  for  some  time,  meditated  the  reduction  of  the 
American  Colonies  to  a  state  of  immediate  dependence  on 

*  Brodhead's  New  York,  I.  721. 


28  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  crown,  and  the  extension  of  his  power  along  the  whole 
coast  of  America.  lie  was  ready  to  embrace  the  first 
opportunity,  therefore,  that  might  ofier  for  extending  his 
jurisdiction  over  the  coveted  territor3\  "The  Company  of 
Iloyal  Adventurers  of  England  trading  with  Africa,"  more 
commonly  known  as  "  the  Hoyal  African  Company,"  had 
just  (January  10,  IGGf)  been  chartered,  with  the  Duke  of 
York  as  their  President.  They  were  nothing  more  nor  less 
than  slave-traders.  In  the  prosecution  of  their  nefarious 
traffic,  they  had  been  greatly  annoyed,  and  very  seriously 
damaged,  by  the  powerful  and  monopolizing  West  India 
Company  of  the  United  Provinces.  Early  in  the  following 
year,  therefore,  an  expedition  was  secretly  sent  out,  by  the 
Royal  African  Company,  against  the  African  possessions  of 
the  Dutch  Company  ;  the  two  countries  being  at  peace.* 

The  more  successfully  to  compete  with  the  Dutch,  and  to 
cripple  them  in  their  rivalry,  the  Duke  sought,  and  readily 
obtained,  from  his  royal  brother,  the  king,  March  -|-f,  ICGf ,  a 
grant  of  Long  Island,  and  all  the  land  from  the  west  side  of 
Connecticut  River  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  Bay,  together 
with  what  is  now  the  State  of  Maine,  and  the  Islands  along 
the  coast  of  ISTew  England,  together  with  the  right  of 
government,  or  sovereignty  ;  including  thus,  not  only  the 
Dutch  province  of  Xew  Nctherland,  but,  also,  a  large  part 
of  the  territor}"  given  by  royal  patent,  less  than  two  years 
previously,  to  the  Connecticut  Colony.  A  very  cool  proceed- 
ing, and  a  clear  case  of  usurpation.! 

The  Duke,  as  Lord  High  Admiral,  had  control  of  the 
Hoyal  Navy.  An  expedition  was  immediately  fitted  out,  of 
four  ships-of-war,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Kichard 
Nicolls,  a  faithful  adherent  of  the  Royal  Family,  to  M'hom 
the  Duke  granted,  April  -j^j,  a  commission  to  serve  as  his 
deputy-governor  within  the  whole  grant.  With  him  were 
associated,  also,  April  26,  [May  5,]  166J:,  Sir  Robert  Carr, 
Knight,  George  Cartwright,  Esq.,  and  Samuel  Maverick, 
Esq.,  as  Royal  Commissioners  to  visit  the  American  Colonies, 

*  Brodhead's  New  York,  I.  735. 

t  Ibid.    Learning  and  Spicer'a  Grants  and  Concessions,  pp.  8-S." 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY  .  29 

with  plenary  powers  to  adjust  disputes,  appeals,  and  com- 
plaints of  every  description,  and  provide  for  the  public  wel- 
ware,  looking  well,  of  course,  to  the  rights  of  the  crown. ;{: 

The  fleet  cast  anchor  in  the  outer  Lay  of  New  Amsterdam, 
on  Tnday,  August  ^-f-  The  surrender  of  the  town  of 
Manhattoes  was  demanded,  the  next  day.  After  various  ne- 
gotiations, protracted  through  the  following  week,  the  terms 
of  capitulation  were  arranged  on  Saturday,  August  27  [Sep- 
tember 6].  On  the  Monday  following,  the  Dutch  authorities 
surrendered  the  town  and  fort,  and  the  English  took  posses- 
sion. Is'ew  Amsterdam  became  New  York ;  and  Fort 
Amsterdam,  Fort  James.  Nicolls  was  proclaimed  deputy- 
governor  for  the  Duke  of  York,  and  the  people,  not  a  few  of 
them  gladly,  very  quietly  submitted  to  the  sway  of  the  Eng- 
lish conquerors.  A  few  weeks  sufficed  to  bring  the  whole 
province  of  New  Nothcrland  into  subjection,  and  to  give  the 
control  of  the  whole  coast,  from  Maine  to  Carolina,  to  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain. 

To  the  English  inhabitants  of  the  west  end  of  Long  Island, 
the  change  of  government  was  peculiarly  acceptable.  They 
had  met  with  so  many  obstructions  from  the  Dutch,  and  had 
been  so  stoutly  denied  a  voice  in  the  government,  that  the}"- 
could  not  but  regard  the  advent  of  the  English  fleet  with 
favor,  and  rejoice  in  their  success.  Immediately  the  atten- 
tion of  those  settlers  who  had,  several  years  before,  sought  a 
removal  to  Achter  Kol,  west  of  the  North  River,  was  directed 
again  to  these  inviting  regions.  An  Association,  was  at  once 
formed,  and  several  of  their  number  deputed  to  go  down  to 
New  York,  and  secure  of  the  Governor  the  liberty  to  pur- 
chase and  settle  a  plantation,  which  they  had  sought  in  vain 
from  his  predecessor  under  the  Dutch  Government.  Four 
weeks  had  scared}' elapsed  since  the  surrender,  when  we  find 
them  presenting  tlie  following  petition  : 

To  tlic  Riglit  lioDour''''''-'  Col.  RicliarJ  Nicliolls  E.S(i"'  Governour  of 
New- York  &c.     The  Humble  peticon  of  t;s  subscribed  irliowetb  : 

That  several  of  us  Yo'  Peticoncrs  being  Intended  formerly  to  have  pur- 
chased and  setled  a  plantation  upon  y"  River  called   after-cull  River  be- 

t  Brodhead's  New  York,  I.  735-6. 


30  THE    HISTORY    OF 

foro  W  arival  into  theso  parts:  our  Intentions,  notwithstanding  our 
making  some  way  with  the  Indians  &  Charges  &  Expences  about  the  prem- 
isses, was  obstructed  by  the  then  Ruling  Dutch.  And  some  of  us  by  Rea- 
son of  not  having  any  Accommadations  here  were  put  upon  thoughts  of 
Removing  into  some  other  of  his  Majes''*'  Dominions  :  but  now  upon  this 
Yc  happy  arival  and  the  Decease  of  the  Duch  Interest,  we  would  Gladly 
proceed  in  the  Design  aflfores'*.  In  order  whereunto,  we  make  bold  w"' 
all  humility  to  petition  to  Yo''  Ilono''  that  you  would  Grant  us  liberty  to 
purchas  and  setle  a  parcel  of  land  to  Improve  our  l/ibour  upon  on  the 
River  before  mentioned,  and  some  of  us  being  Destitute  of  habitations 
where  we  are,  we  crave  Your  Answer  with  as  ranch  Expedition  as  may 
be.  we  humbly  Take  our  leaves  at  Present  and  subscribe  Yo'  Ilono" 
to  command.  John  Bailies 

Daniel  Denton 
from  Jemaico  commonly  Thomas  Benydiek 

so  called  Sepf  26,  166i.  JTathan''  Denton 

John  Foster 
Luke  Watson 

The  application  received  the  prompt  attention  of  the  new 
Governor,  and  the  paper  was  presently  returned  with  the  fol- 
lowing endorsement : 

Upon  Perusal  of  this  Petic6n,  I  Do  Consent  unto  the  proposals  and 
Shall  Give  the  undertakers  all  Due  Encouragement  in  so  Good  a  work. 
Given  under  my  hand  in  fort  James,  this  30"'  of  Scptem'  1664. 

Richard  Nicholls* 

Having  thus  secured  the  Governor's  warrant  for  their  en- 
terprise, "the  undertakers"  made  sjDeedy  arrangements  for  a 
conference  with  the  native  owners  of  the  soil.  Capt.  John 
Baker,  of  the  City  of  New  York,  it  is  said,  was  employed  as 
the  English  and  Dutch  Interpreter,  and  one  of  the  natives  as 
the  Indian  and  Dutch  Interpreter.  The  conference  was  held 
at  Staten  Island,  where  the  chief  sagamores  of  the  Indians 
then  lived,  and  resulted  satisfactorily  to  all  the  parties.  A 
tract  of  land  was  -purchased,  for  which  the  following  deed 
was  given : 

This  Indenture  made  The  28'i'  Day  of  October  In  the  Sixteenth 
Year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Soveraign  Lord  Charles  By  The  Grace  of  God 
of  England,  Scotland,  France  and  Ireland,  King  Defender  of  the  faith  &c. 
Between  Mattano  Manamowaouc  and  Cowcscomen  of  Staten  Island  of  the 
one  part  and  John  Bayly,  Daniel  Denton,  and  Luke  Watson  of  Jamaica 

•  E.  Town  Book,  B.,  oth.  end,  14.  E.  Town  Bill  in  Chancery,  25.  Learning  and  Spicer'e 
Grants,  Conccaslons,  \-c.,  pp.  6CS-9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  31 

In  Long  Island  Iliisband  Men  on  the  other  part  Jf^ilncaseth  That 
the  said  Mattano  Manamowaouc  and  Coescomen  hath  clearly  Bargained 
and  Sold  to  the  said  John  Bayly,  Daniel  Denton  and  Luke  Watson,  Their 
Associates  their  heirs  and  Esecu"'  One  parcel  of  Land  bounded  on  the 
South  By  a  River  commonly  called  The  Raritans  River  And  on  the  East 
by  the  River  w'=''  Parts  Staten  Island  and  The  Main,  and  To  Run  North- 
ward up  after  cull  Bay.  Till  Tve  come  att  the  first  River  w"^  setts  westward 
out  of  the  said  Bay  aforesaid  And  To  Run  west  Into  the  Countery  Twice 
the  Length  as  it  Is^road  from  the  North  to  The'  South  of  the  aforemen- 
tioned Bounds,  Togethev  with  the  Lands,  Meadows,  woods,  waters, 
feilds,  fenns,  fishings,  fowlings,  w'^''  all  and  Singular  the  Appurtenances, 
w""  All  Gaines,  Profitts  and  advantages  arising  upon  tlie  said  Lands  and 
all  other  the  premisses  and  appurtenances  To  the  Said  John  Bayly,  Daniel 
Denton,  and  Luke  Watson  w""  Their  Associates,  w"'  their  and  Every  of 
their  Heirs  Executors  Admin"  or  Assignes  for  Ever  To  have  and  To 
hold  The  said  Lands  with  the  Appurtenances  To  the  said  John  Bayly, 
Daniel  Denton  and  Luke  Watson  with  their  Associates  their  Execu" 
Assignes,  »lnd  The  said  Mattanno  Manomovvaouc  covenant  promise 
Grant  and  Agree  To  and  w*  the  said  John  Bayl}',  Daniel  Denton  and 
Luke  Watson  and  their  Associates  their  heirs  and  Execu"  To  Keep  them 
Safe  in  the.  Enjoyment  of  the  Said  Lands  from  all  Expulsion  and  Incum- 
brances whatsoever  may  arise  of  the  Said  Land  By  Any  person  or  per- 
sons By  Reason  of  Any  Title  had  or  Growing  before  the  Date  of  these 
presents,  for  which  Bargain,  Sale,  Covenants,  Grants  &  Agreements  on 
the  behalf  of  the  sd  Matteno  manamowouc  and  Concscomen  to  be  per- 
formed. Observed  and  Done  the  fores''  parties  Are  at  their  Enttery  upon 
the  Said  Land  To  pay  To  the  s'*  Matteno  Manamowouc  and  Coueiscoman, 
Twenty  fathom  of  Trading  Cloath,  Two  made  Coats,  Two  Guns  Two 
Kettles  Ten  Bars  of  Lead  Twenty  Handfuls  of  powder,  And  further  the 
s^  John  Baily  Daniel  Denton  and  Luke  watson  Do  Covenant  Promise 
Grant  and  Agree  to  and  with  the  s''  Mattano  Manamowoauc  and  Couesco- 
man  the  fores''  Indians  four  hundred  fathom  of  white  wampom  after  a 
Years  Expiration  from  the  Day  of  the  said  John  Bayly  Daniel  Denton 
and  Luke  watson  Entery  upon  y®  said  Lands,  In  witness  whereof  we 
have  hereunto  put  our  hands  and  seals,  the  Day  and  Year  aforesaid. 

The  Mark  of  Mattano 

Tlie  Mark  of  Scwak  herones    N 
The  Mark  of  Warinanco  •^~<- — ~^ — ~>^ 
Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered  in  the  p'sence  of  us  witnesses 

Charles  Ilorsley 
The  Mark  of 

Randal    R    Ilewett.* 

*E.  Town  Book,  B.,  oth.  end,  10-11.  E.  Town  Bill  in  Chancery,  pp.  25-6.  Ans.  to  do., 
p.  7.  Grants,  Concessions,  &o.,  pp.  C69-C71.  Tlie  whole  cost  and  charges  were  estimated  by 
Secretary  BoUcn  at  more  than  £154. 


32  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Ilavinsj  thus  made,  in  good  faith,  of  the  native  proprietors, 
a  fair  and  equitable  purchase  of  the  desired  territory,  and 
procured  a  carefully-worded,  deed  of  the  said  purchase,  the 
Associates  proceeded  to  submit  the  transaction  to  Gov. 
Nicolls,  from  whom,  presently  afterwards,  they  obtained  an 
official  confirmation  of  their  title,  by  grant,  in  due  form,  as 
follows  : 

To  all  To  -whora  These  p'sents  shall  come,  I  Eichard  Nicolls  Esq' 
Govcrnour  under  his  Eoyal  Highness  y"  Duke  of  York  of  all  his  Territo- 
ries In  america  send  Greeting  JT^hereas  there  is  a  parcel  of  Land  w"* 
in  my  Government  which  hath  Been  purchased  of  Mattano  Mauamowaouc 
and  Couesccoman  of  Staten  Island  By  John  Bayly  Daniel  Denton  «&  Luke 
watson  of  Jemaico  In  Long  Island  for  a  Consideration  Express'd  In  a 
Certain  Deed  of  Indenture  Bearing  Date  the  28th  Day  of  October  Last, 
■wherein  the  said  parcel  of  Land  was  made  over  unto  the  said  John 
Bayly  Daniel  Denton  and  Luke  Avatson  and  their  Associates,  their  and 
Every  of  their  heirs  Execu"  admin"  or  Assigns  for  Ever  as  In  the  said 
Deed,  Eelacon  being  thereunto  had  more  fully  and  at  Large  Doth  and 
may  appear,  J^Totv  To  the  End  the  said  Lands  may  the  sooner  be  planted 
Inhabited  and  manured  I  have  thought  fit  to  Give  Confirme  and  Grant  and 
by  these  p'sents  Do  Give  Confirme  and  Grant  unto  Cap'  John  Baker  of 
new  Yorke,  John  Ogden  of  North-hampton,  Jolm  Bally  and  Luke  wat- 
son of  Jemaico  on  Long  Island  and  their  Associates  their  heirs  Execu"  ad- 
min" and  assigns  the  said  parcell  of  Land  Bounded  on  the  South  By  a 
Eiver  commonly  called  the  Earitans  Eiver — On  the  East  by  y'  sea  yf"^ 
partes  Staten  Island  and  the  main,  to  Eun  Northwards  up  after  cull  Bay 
Till  you  come  to  the  first  Eiver  w'^''  sets  westwards  out  of  the  s'*  bay,  And 
To  Eun  west  Into  the  Countery  Twice  the  Length  of  the  Breadth  thereof 
from  the  North  To  the  South  of  the  aforementioned  Bounds  Together 
with  all  Lands,  Meadows  Pastures  woods  waters  feilds  fenns  fishings 
fowling  with  all  and  singular  the  appurtenances,  with  all  Gaines  Profits, 
and  advantages  arising  or  that  shall  arise  upon  the  s*"  Lands  and  premises 
To  have  and  To  hold  the  s''  Lands  and  appurtenances  To  the  s"* 
Cap'  John  Baker,  John  Ogden  John  Bayly  and  Luke  watson  and  their  As- 
sociates their  heirs  Exec"  admin"  and  assigns  forever,  Eenderiug  and  pay- 
ing Yearly  unto  his  Eoyal  Highness  The  Duke  of  Yorke  or  his  assigns'a  cer- 
tain Eent  according  To  the  customary  Eate  of  y"  Countery  for  New  Planta- 
tions and  Doing  and  p'forming  such  Acts  &  Things  as  shall  be  appointed 
by  his  said  Eoyal  highness  or  his  Deputy,  and  The  s''  Cap'  John  Baker 
John  Ogden  John  Bayly  &  Luke  watson  and  Tlicir  Associates  their  heirs 
Exccu"  admin"  and  assigns  are  To  Take  Care  and  Charge  of  y"  s''  Lands 
and  p'misscs  That  People  bo  carried  thither  with  all  convenient  speed  for 
the  setting  of  plantacons  thereon  and  that  none  have  Libertie  so  To  Do 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  33 

"without  tho  Consent  and  Approbation  of  y'  s''  Cap'  John  Baker  John 
Ogden  John  Bayly  and  Luke  watson  and  Their  Associates  Except  they 
shall  neglect  their  Planting  thereof  according  To  The  true  Intent  ^nd 
meaning  of  These  p''sents.  and  I  Do  Likewise  promise  and  Grant  that  the 
persons  so  Inhabiting  and  planting  tho  Lands  and  premises  afores''  shall 
have  Equal  freedom  Immunities  and  privileges  with  any  of  his  Ma""  sub- 
jects In  any  of  his  Colonys  of  America.  And  the  s""  Cap'  John  Baker  John 
Ogden  John  Baily  and  Luko  watson  and  Their  Associates  have  Libortie  to 
purchase  of  the  Natives  (or  Others  who  have  the  proprietio  thereof)  as 
farre  as  Snake  hill  to  tho  End  and  purposes  afores'' — In  icitncss 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  first  Day  of  December 
In  the  sixteenth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Soveraiga  Lord  Charles  The 
Second  By  the  Grace  of  God  King  of  England  Scotland  France  and  Irre- 
land  Defender  of  the  faith  &:c.  at  fort  James  In  New  York  on  the  Island 

of  manhatans. 

Eichard  NicoUs.* 

At  or  about  the  same  time,  Gov.  IS^icolls  drew  up  and  pub- 
lished certain  Proposals  by  Avhich  property  in  lands  might  be 
acquired  in  any  of  the  unoccupied  territories  of  the  Duke  of 
York  in  America,  as  follows  : 

The  Conditions  for  New  Planters,  in  tho  Territories  of  his  Royal  Iligh- 
ness  the  Duke  of  York. 

The  Purchases  are  to  be  made  from  the  Indian  Sachems,  and  to  be 
Recorded  before  the  Governour. 

The  Purchasers  are  not  to  pay  for  their  Liberty  of  Purchasing  to  tlie 
Governour. 

The  Purchasers  are  to  Set  out  a  Town  and  Inhabit  together. 

No  Purchaser  shall  at  any  Time  Contract  for  himself  with  any  Sachem, 
without  Consent  of  his  Associates :  or  Special  warrant  from  the  Gov- 
ernour. 

The  Purchasers  are  free  from  all  manner  of  Assessments  or  Rates  five 
Years  after  their  Town  Piatt  is  Set  out,  and  when  the  five  years  are 
Expire:!,  they  shall  only  be  Liable  to  thePublick  Rates  and  payments,  ac- 
cording to  the  Customo  of  other  Inhabitants  both  English  and  Dutch. 

All  Lands  thus  Purchased  and  Posses'd,  shall  Remain  to  tho  Pur 
chasers  and  their  Heirs  as  free-lands  to  Dispose  of  as  they  Please. 

In  all  Territories  of  his  Royal  Highness,  liberty  of  conscience  is  allowed  ; . 
Provided  such  liberty  is  not  Converted  to  licentiousness  or  the  Disturbance 
of  Others  in  the  exercise  of  tho  Protestant  Religion. 

Tho  several  Town-ships  have  liberty  to  mako  their  Particular  Laws,  and 
deciding  all  Small  Causes  within  themselves. 

*  E.  Town.Book  B.jOtb.cud,  pp.  11, 12.  E.  Town  Bill  In  Chancery,  p.  28.  Grants,  Conces- 
sions, &c.,  pp.  CTl-3. 


34  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Tbo  Lands  wliich  I  intend  sliall  be  first  Planted,  are  those  upon  the 
west  side  of  Iliulsons  River,  at  or  adjoining  to  the  Sopes.  but  if  any  Num- 
ber of  men  suflicient  for  Two  or  Three  or  more  Towns,  shall  desire  to 
Plant  upon  any  other  Land?,  they  sliall  have  all  Due  Encouragement  Pro- 
portionable to  their  Quality  and  undertakings. 

Every  Town-ship  is  Obliged  to  pay  their  Minister,  according  to  such 
Agrocmont  as  they  shall  make  with  them  and  No  man  to  refuse  his  Pro- 
portion, the  minister  being  Elected  by  the  Mnjor  Part  of  the  house-hold""' 
Inhabitants  of  the  Town. 

Every  Town-ship  hath  the  free  Choice  of  all  their  Officers  both  Civill 
and  military,  and  all  men  who  shall  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his 
Majestic  and  are  not  Servants  or  Day-labourers,  but  are  admitted  to  Enjoy 
a  Town-Iott,  are  Esteemed  free-men  of  the  Jurisdiction,  and  cannot  for- 
feit the  same  without  Due  Process  in  law.* 

These  Proposals  were  all  that  could  bo  expected,  ema- 
nating as  tliej  did  from  a  Court,  that  was  bitterly  opposed 
to  every  thing  like  democracy,  exceedingly  jealous  of  the 
power  and  privileges  of  the  people,  and  so  hostile  to  the 
Puritan  party  in  the  Church  of  England,  as  to  have  driven 
more  than  two  thousand  non-conforming  ministers  into  pri- 
vate life.  They  were  regarded  with  peculiar  favor  by  the 
new  settlers  in  the  Duke's  territories,  and  accepted  as  a  lib- 
eral constitution  for  the  planting  of  new  towns,  and  the 
organizing  of  new  municipalities. 

Encouraged  by  the  Governor's  concessions,  and  furnished 
with  every  requisite  document  to  establish  their  riglit  and 
title,  beyond  all  doubt  and  controversy,  to  the  absolute  pro- 
prietorship of  their  lands,  the  four  purchasers  from  Long 
Island,  with  their  Associates,  took  measures  for  a  speedy  and 
effective  occupation  of  the  fair  domain  thus  lawfully  and 
honorably  acquired.  It  was,  indeed,  a  fair  domain,  scarcel}^ 
to  be  equalled,  and  certainly  not  excelled,  on  the  whole  At- 
lantic coast  of  the  new  world.  Its  advantages  were  extolled 
in  glowing  terms,  by  eye-witnesses  of  its  virgin  beauty.  The 
Dutch  government,  in  ICGl,  spoke  of  it  as  follows  : 

It  13  under  the  best  clymate  in  the  whole  world ;  seed  may  bee 
thrown  into  the  ground,  except  six  weekcs,  all  the  ycre  long ;  there  are 

*  E.  Town  Book,  T\.  1.  Ans.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  6.  Grants  and  Concession!',  p.  667.  Smith's 
nistory  of  N.  York,  I.  80-C.    Miilford's  Kew  Jersey,  p.  ISO. 


ELIZABETn,    NEW    JERSEY.  35 

five  sorts  of  grapes  w'"  are  very  good  and  gi-ow  heere  naturally,  with 
diverse  other  excellent  fruits  extraordinary  good,  and  y"  fruits  trans- 
planted from  Europe  far  surpasseth  any  there ;  as  apples,  pears,  peaches, 
melons,  &c.  the  land  very  fertile,  produceth  a  great  increase  of  -wheat 
and  all  other  grane  whatsoever :  heere  groweth  tobacco  very  good,  it 
naturally  abounds,  with  severall  sorts  of  dyes,  furrs  of  all  sorts  may  bee 
had  of  the  natives  very  reasonable  ;  store  of  saltpeter ;  marvelous  plenty 
'  in  all  kinds  of  food,  excellent  veneson,  elkes  very  great  and  large  ;  all 
kind  of  land  and  sea  fonle  that  are  naturally  in  Europe  are  heere  in  great 
plenty,  with  severall  other  sorte,  y'  Europe  doth  not  enjoy  ;  the  sea  and 
rivers  abounding  with  excellent  fat  and  wholesome  fish  w"'"  are  heere  in 
great  plenty ;  the  mountenouse  part  of  the  country  stored  with  severall 
sorts  of  mineralls ;  great  profit  to  bee  derived  from  trafiique  with  the 
natives  (who  are  naturally  a  mild  people,  very  capable  (and  by  the  Grace 
of  God)  to  be  drawne  out  of  their  blind  ignorance  to  the  saving  light  by 
Jesus  Christ.  Heere  may  likewise  bee  great  profitt  made  by  fishing, 
whereby  abundance  of  people  may  bee  imployed  with  great  and  notable 
advantages.* 

This  description,  tliongh  designed  to  cover  the  whole  ter- 
ritory between  the  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers,  was  pecu- 
liarly applicable  to  the  region  bordering  on  Achter  Kol,  or 
Xewark  Bay  and  its  southern  estuary.  Daniel  Denton,  one 
of  the  original  "  undertakers  "  of  this  settlement,  is  no  less 
enthusiastic  in  its  praise.  Writing  in  1G70,  he  describes  it 
as  follows  : 

I  may  say,  and  say  truly,  tliat  if  there  be  any  terrestrial  happiness  to 
be  had  by  people  of  all  ranks,  especially  of  an  inferior  rank,  it  must 
certainly  be  here  :  here  any  one  may  furnish  himself  with  Land,  and  live 
rent-free,  yea,  with  such  a  quantity  of  Land,  that  he  may  weary  himself 
with  walking  over  his  fields  of  Corn,  and  all  sorts  of  Grain  ;  and  let  his 
stock  of  Cattel  amount  to  some  hundreds,  he  needs  not  fear  their  want 
of  pasture  in  the  Summer  or  Fodder  in  tbe  Winter,  the  Woods  affording 
suflicient  supply.  For  the  Summer-season,  where  you  have  gra-'S  as  high 
as  a  mans  knees,  nay,  as  high  as  his  waste,  interlaced  with  Pea-vines  and 
other  weeds  that  Cattel  much  delight  in,  as  much  as  a  man  can  press 
.through  ;  and  these  woods  also  every  mile  or  half-mile  are  furnished  with 
fresh  ponds,  brooks  or  rivers,  where  all  sorts  of  Cattel,  during  the  heat 
of  the  day,  do  quench  their  thirst  and  cool  themselves ;  these  brooks  and 
rivers  being  invironed  of  each  side  with  several  sorts  of  trees  and  Grape- 
vines, the  vines,  Arbor-like,  interchanging  places  and  crossing  theso  riv- 
ers, does  shade  and  shelter  them  from  the  scorching  beams  of  Sol's  fiery 

♦  N.  York  Cul.  Documents,  III.  8S-9. 


36 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


influence.  And  how  prodigal,  If  I  may  so  say,  hath  Nature  been  to  fur- 
nisli  tlioCountrey  with  all  sorts  of  wilde  Beasts  and  Fowle,  which  every 
one  hatli  an  interest  in,  and  may  hunt  at  liis  pleasure  :  where  besides  the 
pleasure  in  hunting,  he  may  furnish  his  house  with  excellent  fat  Venison, 
Turkeys,  Geese,  Ilcath  liens.  Cranes,  Swans,  Ducks,  Pidgcons,  and  the 
like ;  and  wearied  with  that,  he  may  go  a  Fishing,  where  the  Kivers  are 
so  furnislied,  that  he  may  supply  himself  with  Fish  before  he  can  leave 
oil"  the  Recreation ;  where  besides  the  sweetness  of  the  Air,  the  Countrey ' 
itself  sends  forth  such  a  fragrant  smell,  that  it  may  be  perceived  at  Sea 
before  they  can  make  the  Laud ;  where  no  evil  fog  or  vapour  doth  no 
sooner  appear  but  a  North-west  or  Westerly  w-inde  doth  immediately 
dissolve  it,  and  drive  it  away.  I  must  needs  say,  that  if  there  be  any 
terrestrial  Canaan,  'tis  surely  here,  where  the  Land  floweth  with  milk 
and  honey.* 

Yan  Tienlioven,  Secretary  of  Xew  Xetherland,  -writing  in 
1650,  says. 

The  district  inhabited  by  a  nation  called  Raritangs,  is  situate  on  a 
fresh  -water  river,  that  flows  through  the  centre  of  the  low  land  which  the 
Indians  cultivated.  This  vacant  territory  lies  between  two  high  moun- 
tains, far  distant  the  one  from  the  other.  This  is  the  handsomest  and 
plcasantest  country  that  man  can  behold,  it  furnished  the  Indians  with 
abundance  of  maize,  beans,  pumpkins,  and  other  frdits.t 

Tlie  land  covered  by  Gov.  Nicolls'  patent  was  of  large 
dimensions.  It  extended  from  the  mouth  of  the  Raritan  on 
the  South,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Passaic  On  the  North,  a  dis- 
tance, in  a  straight  line,  of  not  less  than  seventeen  miles ; 
and  running  back  into  the  country  twice  this  distance,  or 
thirty-four  miles ;  embracing  the  towns  of  Woodbridge  and 
Piscataway,  the  whole  of  'the  present  Union  County,  part  of 
the  towns  of  Newark  and  Clinton  ;  a  small  part  of  Morris 
County,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  Somerset  County — 
containing  about  500,000  acres,  upland  and  meadow,  in  fair 
proportions,  well  watered  by  the  llaritan,  the  Passaic,  the 
Rahwa}',  and  Elizabeth  Rivers,  Thompson's  [Morse's]  Creek, 
and  Bound  Brook ;  diversified  with  level  plains  and  ranges 
of  hills,  of  considerable  elevation,  ordinarily  classified  as 
mountains  ;  the  soil  of  the  uplands  mostly  red  shale  and  clay 

*  Dcnton'8  Description  of  N.Tork,  Ed.  of  1S45,  pp.  19,  20,  21. 
t  N.  Y.  Col.  Documcntf,  I.  SCO  7.    N.  Y.  Doc.  His.,  IV.  29. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  37 

loaui,  and  a  large  part  of  it  susceptible  of  a  high  state  of 
cultivation. 

The  precise  date  of  the  first  occupation  of  this  tract  by  the 
new  proprietors  is  not  on  record.  jSTo  memorial  of  the  event 
has  come  down  to  the  present  day.  It  was,  doubtless,  an 
humble  beginning  in  the  first  instance,  and  not  deemed  of 
sufficient  moment  to  attract  attention.  The  purchase  was 
made,  October  28th,  1664,  and  the  Governor's  j^atent  or 
grant  obtained,  on  the  1st  of  December  following.  It  is 
probable,  that  something  like  u  formal  entry  was  made,  and 
possession  taken,  between  these  two  dates.  From  a  receipt, 
endorsed  on  the  Deed  from  the  Indians,  it  appears  that  the 
final  payment  of  "four  hundred  fathom  of  white  wampom  " 
was  acknowledged  by  the  Grantors,  ISTovember  2-i,  1665. 
This  became  due  only  "  after  a  years  ex])iration  from  the 
day  of  entery  upon  y°  said  lands."  It  is  not  probable, 
that  the  time  of  payment  was  anticipated ;  and  hence  it  may 
be  concluded,  that" the  settlement  was  actually  commenced, 
ground,  at  least,  broken,  and  something  of  a  habitation 
attempted,  as  early  as  November  24,  1664,* 

The  purchasers,  in  their  application  to  Gov.  NicoUs, 
September  80,  1664,  had  craved  his  "  answer  with  as  much 
expedition  as  may  be  ;  because  some  of  them,  by  reason  of 
not  having  any  accommodations  where  they  then  resided, 
were  put  upon  thoughts  of  removing  into  some  other  of  his 

*  Appended  to  tlio  Indian  Deed  13  the  following  receipt :  Eeceived  of  John  Ogden  In 
part  of  the  above  specified  fouro  hundred  feet  of  wampum  I  say  Received  one  hundred 
fathom  of  wamputn  by  niee  the  18  of  August  16C5  The  mark  of  Mattano 

Witnesses,  Samuel  Edsall,  James  Bollen 
Endor-ed  on  the  Deed  is  the  following  :  The  24  November  1G65  paid  to  the  Indians  in 
full  payment  of  this  obligation 

In  Wampum  one  hundred  and  ninty  fathom      -  -  -  190 

In  a  fowling  peico  and  Lead  .....  40 

for  ISO  Gilders  that  was  behind  for  the  payment  of  Luke  -  |  . 

Watson's  oxen  that  were  killed  by  the  Indians  seaveiity  fathom  of       j' ' 

wampum  

the  sum  of  three  hiyidrcd  fathom  ....  800  I  say  in  all 

(Witnesses)  The  mark  of  M:»ttano 

Henry  Creyk  Waroham 

John  Dickeson  Sewah  llerones 

Jeremiah  Osbono  Manamawaouo 

James  BolUn  Kawamech 

E.  J.  Records,  13.  ISl,  2,  and  1. 1,  2;  11. 12.  Lutonewach 


38  THEHISTORYOF 

Majesty's  dominions."  The  grant  from  Nicolls,  also,  was 
obtainetl  on  the  condition  "  that  people  be  carried  thither 
Avith  all  convenient  speed  for  the  setting  of  plantations 
thereon.''  All  this  renders  it  highly  probable,  that  the 
settlement  was  undertaken  without  loss  of  time. .  Possibly 
the  winter-season,  then  at  hand,  may  not  have  been  the  most 
pr()])itious  for  active  and  energetic  operations.  But,  cer- 
tainly, with  the  passing  away  of  the  frosts,  in  February  or 
March  following,  they  would  be  on  the  move  to  clear  the 
ground  of  the  "goodly  oaks"  on  either  side  of  the  Creek, 
where  they  had  determined  to  locate  their  town  f.nd  lay  out 
their  home  lots,  to  prepare  the  soil  for  the  summer  and 
autumnal  crops,  and  to  erect  their  humble  dwellings. 

The  people  of  L.  Island  (says  Gov.  Nicolls,  in  1665),  are  very  poor 
and  labour  onelj  to  get  bread  and  clothing,  without  hopes  of  ever  seeing 
a  penny  of  monies.* 

An  exaggerated  statement,  doubtless,  and  to  be  taken 
M'ith  considerable  abatement ;  and  yet  indicative  of  the  gen- 
eral opinion  in  respect  to  the  poverty  of  the  soil  of  Long 
Island,  in  comparison  with  the  fertile  tract  west  of  Staten 
Island ;  rendering  it  quite  unlikely,  that  the  purchasers  of 
this  tract  would  suffer  many  months  to  pass  away,  before  be- 
ginning their  settlement.  Early  in  July,  1665,  Gov.  Xicolls 
writes  to  the  Duke,  in  respect  to  the  "  lands  to  the  west  of  the 
Hudsons  River," — "  Upon  this  tract  of  land  several  new  pur- 
chases are  made  from  the  Indians  since  my  coming,  and 
three  Townes  beginning ; "  f  showing  that  at  that  time  a  town 
had  at  least  been  begun  here,  indicative  of  a  considerable 
immigration ;  something  more  than  three  or  four  huts  or 
cabins,  as  a  somewhat  vague  tradition  represented,  some 
seventy  years  afterwards.  ISTo  reliance,  in  the  absence  of 
documentary  evidence,  can  be  placed  on  the  statement,  made 
in  1747,  that,  as  late  as  the  first  of  August,  1665, 

No  other  Christian  person  whatsoever  was  settled  upon  any  part  of 
the  lane's  in  question,  than  John  Ogden  and  Luke  "Watson  aforesaid  ;  and 
certainly  no  more  than  four  families  settled  (if  so  many)  by  virtue  or  on 
pretence  of  the  said  Indian  purchase,  or  grant  from  Gov.  Nicolls,  nor  at 

•  N.  T.  Col.  Documents,  III.  IOC.  '  lb.,  III.  105. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  39 

any  other  place  within  the  bounds  of  the  lands  in  question.  To  suppose 
that  none  of  the  Associates,  who  were  interested  in  the  said  purchase  and 
grant,  and  had  contributed  their  proportions  to  the  consideration-raoAoy, 
should,  during  all  that  time,  have  settled  on  the  said  land,  with  the  ^aid 
four  grantees,  is  conceived  to  be  a  very  unlikely  and  strange  supposition. '•■ 

It  Wcas  not  an  unoccupied  land.  A  savage  tribe  had  made 
it  their  home,  long  years  previously,  and  still  dwelt  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood  of  the  plot  selected  for  a  town. 
The  Minisink  path,  leading  from  the  sea  at  Shrewsbury  Inlet, 
and  crossing  the  Raritan  River  two  or  three  miles  above  its 
mouth,  the  principal  track  of  the  Indians  in  the  northern  and 
eastern  portion  of  New  Jersey,  leading  to  Minisink  Island  in 
the  Delaware  River,  passed  up  the  country  just  back  of  the 
Railway  River,  directly  througli  the  new  purchase,  and 
within  four  or  five  miles  of  this  locality.  The  Dutch  had 
pursued  a  policy  which  served  to  irritate  and  exasperate 
these  natives  of  the  forest.  So  late  as  October,  1655,  Pen- 
nekek,  one  of  the  Sachems  in  Achter  Kol,  brought  in  to 
Pavonia  [Paulus  Hook]  not  less  than  28  Dutch  captives, 
men  and  women,  and  delivered  them  to  the  agents  of  Stuy- 
vesant,  informing  them  that  more  than  20  others  remained 
to  bo  redeemed.  It  was  not  safe,  and  had  not  been  to  the 
time  of  the  conquest  by  the  English  in  166-1,  to  venture  far 
into  the  interior.  It  would  have  been  exceedingly  hazardous 
for  three  or  four  families  to  plant  themselves  on  these  out- 
skirts of  civilization,  as  residents  and  occupants  of  the  land, 
unprotected,  f 

It  was  well  said,  more  than  a  century  since,  that 

As  tlic  country,  at  their  first  coming,  was  inhabited  by  no  other  than 
the  native  Indians,  who  were  then  in  great  numbers  ;  the  said  purchasers 
and  associates  agreed,  at  first,  to  make  small  divisions  of  their  lands, 
according  to  the  usage  and  custom  then  in  New  England  ;  to  the  end  that 
they  might  settle  and  plant  near  together ;  so  that,  in  case  any  attempt 
was  made  by  the  Indians,  they  might  mutually  aid  and  assist  each  other 
Tlie  circumstances  of  the  inhabitants  at  that  day,  being  so  dangerous 
and  troublesome,  that  we,  at  this  time,  can  have  no  adccpiate  ideas 
of  the  hardships  of.J 

♦  E.  T.  r.ill  in  Chancery,  pp.  2S-G6.     Ana.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  20. 

t   Valentine's  N.  Y.  Manual  for  1SG3,  pp.  5J7,  S.  t  Aes.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  22. 


40  THE    HISTORY    OF 

On  this  account  it  was  expressly  provided  that  other  "peo- 
ple be  carried  thither,"  besides  the  four  purchasers,  "  to  set 
out  a  town,  and  inhabit  together."  The  tradition,  that  but 
tour  families  were  found  in  occupancy  of  the  town,  so  late  as 
August,  1G05,  grew  out  of  the  fiict,  most  probably,  that  but 
four  names  are  recorded  as  purchasers  in  Gov.  Nicolls'  Grant. 
It  seems  to  have  been  erroneously  supposed,  that  these  four 
were  the  sole  proprietors  of  the  purchase ;  whereas  the 
Indian  Deed  expressly  conveys  the  land,  as  also  does  Nicolls' 
Grant,  to  the  Associates  of  these  grantees  as  well.  The 
whole  transaction  was  a  concerted  enterprise  ;  thought  of, 
and  talked  over,  and  agreed  upon,  by  a  considerable  number 
of  persons,  like-minded,  and  of  like  origin,  residents  of  the 
same  neighborhood  on  Long  Island.  Denton,  one  of  the 
projectors  of  the  undertaking,  writes,  four  or  five  3'ears 
afterwards, 

Tliat  the  usual  way,  is  for  a  Company  of  people  to  joyn  together, 
either  enough  to  make  a  Town,  or  a  lesser  number ;  these  go  with  the 
consent  of  the  Governor,  and  view  a  Tract  of  Land,  there  being  choice 
enough,  and  finding  a  place  convenient  for  a  Town,  they  return  to  the 
Governor,  who  upon  their  desire  admits  them  into  the  Colony,  and  gives 
them  a  Grant  or  Patent  for  the  said  Land,  for  themselves  and  Associates. 
These  persons  being  thus  qualified,  settle  tlie  place,  and  take  in  what 
inhabitants  to  themselves  they  shall  see  cause  to  admit  of,  till  their  Town 
be  full.* 

This  is,  doubtless,  just  what  occurred  in  this  instance — a 
number  of  persons  combining  and  contributing  to  the  acqui- 
sition, as  is  expressly  stated  in  their  behalf  in  a  legal  docu- 
ment of  a  later  date  : 

True  it  is,  that,  on  the  first  settlement  of  the  said  first  purchases  and 
associates,  it  was  agreed  and  understood,  that  the  lands  so  purchased, 
should  be  divided,  in  proportion  to  the  money  paid  for  the  purchase,  to 
wit,  into  first-lot,  second-lot,  and  third-lot  rights,  the  second-lot  to  be 
double,  and  the  third  lot  treble  what  was  divided  to  those  called  first 
rights.t 

♦  Ponlon's  Description  of  N.  Y..  Ac,  Ed.  of  1845,  p.  17. 

t  Ans.  to  K.  T.  Bill,  p.  22.  The  following  nttestatlon.s,  glvon  nbont  20  yc.irs  after  the  set- 
tlement, fully  establish  these  conjectures:  "Tho  testimony  off  Timothy  Uolstcail,  off 
Hcmsteml,  In  Queens  County  who  doclareth  y'  y«  purchasers  off  Afftor  KuU  (viz.)  Danlell 
Denton,  .J..hn  Baylies  &  Luke  Watson  did  admit  off  my  selff  &  my  brother  alsoo  vpon  y« 
dlsbarscmont  off  ffonr  pounds  a  pceco  in  bever  pay  to  bee  AssociatcB  vr'  y""  In  y«  purchass 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  41 

That  the  movement  was  thus  undertaken  in  concert  by  a 
considerable  number  of  persons,  who  were  interested  in  it 
from  the  beginning,  and  not  several  distinct,  disconnected, 
and  individual  undertakings,  appears  still  more  fully  from  a 
letter,  which  has  happily  been  preserved  among  the  "  Win- 
throp  Papers,"  written  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  James,  pastor  of 
the  church  of  East  Hampton,  L.  I.  It  is  dated,  ISTov.  25, 
1667,  and  is  addressed  to  Gov.  Winthrop,  at  New  London, 
Ct.,  as  follows : 

I  can  say  lesse  then  formerly,  in  respect  of  my  vnsetlednesse :  for  I  was 
intended  to  liaue  reraoued,  with  severall  of  my  brethren  who  are  gone,  as 
Mr.  Bond  and  others,  who  are  remoued  beyond  N.  Yorke  ;  who  were  ex- 
ceeding desirous  to  haue  me  gone  with  them,  and  settled  a  ]>lantation  in 
those  parts  ;  and  my  resohition  was  once  so  to  haue  done,  but  God,  wlio 
hath  the  hearts  and  ways  of  all  in  his  own  hands,  hath  ordered  it  other- 
wise, so  that  I  am  still  here.  "When  it  came  too,  the  people  here  by  no 
meanes  could  bo  perswaded  to  be  willing  to  part  with  mo  vpon  tliat  ac- 

in  case  wos  liked  which  mony  wee  disbursed  ffor  Indean  trade  which  sayd  indean  goods  wont 
to  the  piirchass  of  y«  s-"  land  at  Affter  Kull  at  y=  request  oflf  y"  afforos''  purchasers  wee  dis- 
liking y«  place  vpon  a  view  off  it.  And  they  ingaging  wee  should  bee  payd  ffor  our  goods 
&  wee  acknowledge  y'  wee  have  Received  satisffactioo  off  Dau"  Denton  afforcs*"  one  off 
y'^  purchasers  the  whole  sum  payd  by  selff  and  brother  was  four  pounds  a  peoco  and  two  & 
f--ix  pence.  Sworn  beffore  vs,  y"  l"""  off  Novemf  1CS5,  Ellas  Doughty,  Eich.ard  Cornwell,  Jus- 
tices in  Quorum." 

"S.amuel  Denton  off  Demstead  doth  alsoe  testiffy  y«  y«  above  written  purchasers  did 
.agree  alsoe  w'  him  vpon  y"=  disbursment-off  four  pounds  to  bee  an  equal  Associate  w'  them 
in  case  hee  liked  which  four  pounds  hee  pay^  in  bever  for  goods  y'  went  to  y=  purchass  off 
y"  s"*  land  at  Affter  Kull  att  y"=  de.'^ire  off  y"  purchasers  they  promising  to  Kepay  mce.  And 
I  acknowledge  y'  I  h.ave  deceived  satisffaction  off  Danioll  Denton  one  off  y"  s''  purchasers  ffor 
y'  s""  ffour  pounds; 

"Ffor  y  ffour  pounds  above  mentioned  Sam"  doth  testiffy  y'  exactly  to  y«  sum  hee  can- 
not so  well  remember.  But  is  positive  in  tliis  that  hee  pay"  equal!  w'  y<^  purchasers  Timothy 
llolstcad  &  Sam"  Denton  on  the  other  side  mentioned  doe  ffurthor  testify  lliat  y«  mony  on 
y<^  other  side  mentioned  was  payd  to  y<^  indeans  ffor  all  su<;h  lands  contained  in  y"^  puichass 
made  by  y'  purchasers  on  y"  othorside  mentioned,  ns  well  ffor  Elizabethtown  as  y"  Kest 
ifc  ffurther  y'  wee  layd  doun  our  mony  for  y"=  purchas  at  Daniel  Dentous,  commending  off  y" 
place  to  vs  as  severall  others  did  vpon  incouragement  ffrom  y"  other  purchasers.  And  never 
Received  a  ffartliln  but  ffi-om  Daniel  Denton.  And  y'  Ambross  Sutten  also  was  one  off  our 
Company.  December  y"  3''  16S5.  Attested  before  mce  Ricliard  Cornwell,  Justice  in 
Quorum." 

"  Josiah  Settin  off  Oisterbay  in  Queens  County  tcstifleth  th.at  when  Dan"  Denton,  John 
Baylies  &.  Luke  Watson  did  purchase  Affter  Kull  so  called  off  y"  Indonns  that  I  wenl  w« 
Dan"  Denton  when  heo  carried  y"  goods  to  pay  y  purchass  off  y"  land  And  y'  Samuel 
Denton  &.  Timothy  Ilolstead  &  Ambross  Sutton  was  off  y"  Company  &  payd  mony 
towards  y"  purchass  &  I  payd  my  mony  alsoe  to%vards  y'  purchass  to  Luke  "\Vat«on 
weo  being  all  off  vs  to  have  land  iff  wee  likd  ffor  our  mony  y'  wee  di^bursd.  But  never 
received  ajiy  sati.sffaction  of  Luke  Watson  nor  any  other  off  y"  purchasers  ffor  my  s""  mony 
that  I  layd  out  ffer  y  &<*  purch.iss  nor  ever  had  any  consideration  in  land  or  any  other 
way  taken  vpon  oath  y<^  last  day  off  March  Annoq.  Domini  ICSC.  Before  Meo  John 
Townscnd,  Sen'  Justice  off  y«  pe.ica."    Alb.  Records,  XXXIL  118. 


42  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

count,  fo  thit  I  am  licrc  still,  but  by  reason  tlicreof,  lessehath  becne  done 
then  otlierwisc  might  haue  been.* 

Mr.  Bond,  and  liis  neighbors  from  East  Hampton,  were 
here,  (and  probably  had  been  for  some  time  previous)  as  early 
as  February  166|,  nearly  two  years  before  the  writing  of  this 
letter. 

In  the  absence,  then,  of  every  thing  like  documentary  evi- 
dence to  the  contrary,  it  is  safe  to  conclude,  that  ground  was 
broken,  for  the  settlement  of  the  town,  as  early  as  in  Xovem- 
ber,  1GG4-,  and  that,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  16G5,  a  consid- 
erable number  of  the  Associates,  for  M'hom  the  land  had 
been  purchased,  arrived,  with  their  wives  and  children,  and 
took  possession  of  their  new  homes  in  Achter  Kol. 

»-t  Mass.  His,  Soc.  Coll.,  VII.  435. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY 


CHAPTER   III. 

A.  D.    16G5— 1GG6. 

Arrival  of  the  sliip  Philip,  with  Gov.  Carteret  —  Explanations  —  Lord  John 
Berkeley — Sir  Geo.  Carteret  —  Adherents  of  Royalty  in  the  Civil  War  — 
Their  Services  to  the  Crown  —  Rewarded  with  Offices  and  Land  Grants  — 
Purchase  of  N.  Jersey  from  the  Duke  of  York  —  Letters  of  Hutchinson  — 
Capt.  Carteret  arrives  at  New  York  with  laborers  —  Acquiesces  in  Nicolls' 
Grant  —  Purchases  rights  in  the  new  Town  —  Origin  of  its  Name. 

ScAECELY  lias  the  new  settlement  got  fuirlj  under  way,  the 
ground  about  the  Creek  been  cleared,  and  the  soil  made  read}"- 
for  the  sowing  of  the  winter  grain,  when  tidings  reach  them 
from  ISTew  York  of  a  serious  change  in  their  prospects.  Word 
is  brought,  that  the  Duke  of  York  has  sold  the  territory  west 
of  Hudson's  lliver  to  two  of  the  Lords  of  the  Council,  who 
have  sent  over  a  Deputy  to  arrange  the  matter  with  Gov. 
Nicolls,  and  take  possession,  in  their  name,  of  the  newly- 
created  province.  As  a  matter  of  course  the  coming  of  the 
new  Governor  is  awaited  with  no  little  anxiety. 

Early  in  the  month  of  August,  1665,  the  town  is  stirred  by 
the  first  exciting  event  in  its  history.  The  ship  "  Philip," 
having  arrived  at  New  York,  July  29th,  now  makes  her  ap- 
pearance at  the  Point,  or  entrance  of  the  Creek  on  which 
the  town  is  laid  out.  She  brings  Capt.  Philip  Carteret,  a 
sprightly  youth  of  six  and  twenty,  with  a  company  of  emi- 
grants from  the  old  world.  Among  them,  is  a  French  gen- 
tleman, Robert  Vauquellin, — a  surveyor  by  profession, — with 
his  wife.  Capt.  James  Pollen,  of  New  York,  also,  is  of  the 
number.  With  these  come,  also,  eighteen  men  of  menial 
character,  of  the  laboring  class  ;  possibly  a  few  otliers,  fe 


44  TIIEHISTORYOF 

male?,  i)robal)ly,  of  whom  no  special  mention  is  made, — some 
thirty  in  all.* 

The  settlers  gather  about  the  landing,  to  receive  the  new 
comers,  to  learn  who  they  are,  and  %vhy  their  steps  are  di- 
rected hither.  Capt.  Carteret  presently  submits  his  creden- 
tials to  Ogden  and  his  townsmen.  He  comes  accredited  wdtli 
papers  from  Gov.  Nicolls,  and  a  Governor's  commission  from 
Lord  John  Berkeley,  Baron  of  Stratton,  Somerset  Co.,  Eng., 
and  Sir  George  Carteret,  Knight  and  Baronet,  of  Saltrum  in 
Devon  (both  of  the  Privy  Council),  to  %vhom  the  Duke  of 
York  had  granted  the  Territory  lying  to  the  west  of  Hudson's 
River,  and  east  of  the  Delaware,  to  be  known,  henceforward, 
as  Nova  Csesarea,  or  New  Jersey.  Mutual  explanations  fol- 
low. The  Indian  Deed  is  produced  and  well  considered. 
Gov.  Nicolls'  Grant  is  brought  forward  and  explained. 

The  settlers  appear  to  have  had  a  fair  understanding  with 
Carteret  and  his  company,  and  to  have  procured  a  concession 
of  their  rights  and  titles  as  proprietors  of  the  territory  de- 
scribed in  their  deed.  Tradition  tells  us, — not  a  very  relia- 
ble authority  when  not  supported  by  collateral  evidence  as 
it  is  in  the  present  case, — that  Carteret,  being  informed  of 
their  right  to  the  lands,  "  approved  of  the  same,  and  readily 
and  willingly  consented  to  become  an  Associate  with  them ; 
and  went  up  from  the  j^lace  of  his  landing,  with  them, 
carrying  a  hoe  on  his  shoulder,  thereby  intimating  his  inten- 
tion of  becoming  a  planter  with  them  ; "  glad,  no  doubt,  to 
find  so  promising  a  beginning  in  the  settlement  of  the  unoc- 
cupied and  unexplored  territory  over  which  ho  was  to  exer- 
cise authority.f 

Lord  Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret  were  of  the  court 
of  Charles  IL,  a  monarch,  of  whom  Bancroft  truly  says,  that 
his  reign  "was  not  less  remarkable  for  the  rapacity  of  the 
courtiers,  than  for  the  debauchery  of  the  monarch."  ^  I'l  the 
conflict  wutli  the  Parliamentarians,  they  had  both,  being  tlien 
in  the  full  vigor  of  their  faculties,  adhered  to  the  fortunes  of 
their  king,  Charles  L,  and  laid  their  royal  master  and  his 

•  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  28. 

t  Learning  and  Spicer,  pp.  8-11,  2G-7.    Ans.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  20. 

J  Bancroft's  U.  States,  II.  129. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  45 

profligate  sons,  Charles  and  James,  under  no  small  obligations 
to  them. 

Berkeley  was  the  youngest  son  of  Sir  ]\Iaurice  Berkeley. 
He  was  born  in  1607,  joined  the  army  in  the  operations 
against  the  Scots  in  1638,  and  was  knighted  (June  27)  the 
same  year.  In  the  Parliamentary  war  he  served  as  Commis- 
sary General  for  the  king,  as  Governor  of  Exeter,  and  Gen- 
eral of  the  royal  forces  in  Devon.  After  the  king's  death  he 
went  abroad  with  the  royal  family,  and,  in  1652,  was  made 
Governor  of  the  Duke  of  York's  household.  May  19,  1658, 
he  was  created,  by  royal  favor.  Baron  Berkeley,  of  Stratton; 
and,  at  the  Restoration  in  1660,  he  was  sworn  of  the  Privy 
Council.* 

Carteret  was  the  eldest  son  of  Ilelicr  Carteret,  Deputy 
Governor  of  the  Isle  of  Jersey,  a  descendent  of  the  Lords  of 
Carteret  in  the  Duchy  of  Normandy,  a  family  of  great  re- 
spectability, dating  back  to  the  time  of  "William,  the  Con- 
queror. Philip,  eldest  son  of  Ilelier  Carteret,  married  Rachel 
Paulet,  and  had  six  children  :  Philip,  Helier,  Amice,  Gideon, 
Rachel  and  Judith.  He  was  kniglited  by  Queen  Elizabeth, 
and  lived  to  a  great  age.  Sir  Philip,  the  eldest  son  of  Sir 
Philip,  married  Ann  Dowse,  and  had  eleven  children  :  Philip, 
Peyton,  Zouch,  Gideon,  Francis,  Thomas,  Edward,  Marga- 
ret, Anne,  Elizabeth,  Dowse.  Philip,  the  first-born,  died  in 
1662.  Elizabeth  (for  whom  this  town  was  named)  married 
her  cousin,  George  Carteret.  Her  father,  Philip,  had  (as 
above)  three  brothers.  Helier,  the  second  son  of  the  first  Sir 
Philip,  married  Elizabeth  Diimaresque,  and  had  two  chil- 
dren, George  and  Philip.  The  latter  was  born  in  1610,  and 
died  in  1665. 

George  Carteret  was  born  in  1599,  married  (as  above)  his 
cousin,  Elizabeth,  and  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  His 
sons  were  Philip,  James  and  George.  The  latter  died  un- 
married in  1656.  Philip,  his  eldest  son,  was  knighted,  June 
4,  1670,  and  killed  in  a  naval  battle,  May  28, 1672.  George, 
the  fiither,  entered  the  navy  at  an  early  age.  In  1626,  he 
was  appointed  joint  governor  of  Jersey,  and,  in  1610,  comp- 

♦  N.  T.  Colonial  Doc,  IL  M9.    CuUlns'  Tecraso,  (lid.  ofi:35,)  III.  270-2SL 


4G  THE    UISTORY    OF 

troller  of  the  royal  navy.  In  lG-i2,  the  post  of  Vice  Admiral 
was  offered  him  by  Parliament,  but  declined  in  obedience  to 
his  royal  master.  He  was  knighted  May  9,  1646,  having 
rendered  the  king  great  service  in  the  supply  of  ammunition. 
Witlidrawing  to  his  home  in  Jersey,  his  house,  which  he 
bravely  defended  as  the  last  stronghold  of  the  monarchy,  be- 
came an  asylum  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  others  of 
the  party.  He  followed  his  sovereign  to  France  in  1652,  was 
imprisoned,  in  the  Bastile,  at  the  instance  of  Cromwell,  in 
1657,  and  subsequently  banished  the  kingdom.  He  repaired 
to  Charles  at  Brussels  in  1650,  and  was  one  of  his  escort  when 
received  by  the  city  of  London  in  1660.  He  was  appointed 
Yice  Chamberlain,  and  Treasurer  of  the  ISTavy ;  was  sworn  of 
the  Privy  Council,  and  in  1661  elected  to  Parliament  for 
Portsmouth.  As  early  as  1650,  when  the  royal  cause  ap- 
peared quite  hopeless,  he  is  said  to  have  obtained  the  grant 
of  an  island  in  Yirgiuia,  and  to  have  fitted  out  a  ship  with 
all  sorts  of  goods  and  tools,  with  many  passengers,  for  the 
settlement  of  a  plantation  in  the  new  world.  It  is  thought, 
that  the  project  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  vigilance 
of  the  Cromwellian  party.* 

The  trials,  through  which  the  two  Lords  had  passed  during 
the  civil  wars,  in  which  circumstances  had  brought  them 
into  great  familiarity  with  the  royal  brothers,  Charles  and 
James,  gave  them  great  influence  at  court,  after  the  lles- 
toration.  Lucrative  offices  were  awarded  them  in  and  about 
the  royal  household,  and  frequent  opportunities  given  of  pro- 
moting their  purposes  of  wealth  and  aggrandizement.  The 
new  world  beyond  the  flood  was  attracting  numerous  adven- 
turers, and  ofiering  large  inducements  to  colonists.  The 
gifted  Winthrop,  on  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  England 
in  1661-2,  to  procure  a  new  Charter  for  Connecticut,  had 
been  received  with  great  consideration  at  court,  and,  by  his 
representations  of  wdiat  had  already  been  accomplished  in 
New  England,  had  unwittingly  excited  the  greed  of  many  of 
the  corrupt  and  wily  parasites  of  the  crown.  Clarendon, 
Albemarle,  Ashley,  Colleton,  Carteret,  Craven,  alid  the  two 

•  N.  Y.  Colonial  Doc,  II.  410.    Collins'  Peerage  (Ed.  of  1735),  IV.  G21-S. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  47 

Bei-kelcys,  Lord  John  and  Sir  William,  banded  together,  and 
readily  obtained,  in  16G3,  from  the  pleasurc-lovino;  monarch, 
a  grant  of  the  vast  territory  in  America,  extending  from  the 
36th  degree  of  north  latitude,  to  the  river  Saint  Matlieo,  and 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacilic,  as  proprietors  and  lords, 
with  almost  absolute  authority,  and  the  right  of  assignment 
or  sale, — a  most  extraordinary  grant  of  power ;  and  all  this, 
on  the  plea  of  "  being  excited  with  a  laudable  and  pious  zeal 
for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel "  among  a  "  barbarous  peo- 
ple, who  have  no  knowledge  of  God  " — liypocrites  that  they 
were!  "Avarice,"  says  Bancroft,  "is  the  vice  of  declining 
years ;  most  of  the  proprietaries  were  past  middle  life.  They 
begged  the  country  under  pretence  of  a  'pious  zeal  for  the 
propagation  of  the  gospel,'  and  their  sole  object  was  the  in- 
crease of  their  own  wealth  and  dignity."  * 

Not  satisfied  with  their  share  in  the  lordship  of  such  a  vast 
domain,  Berkeley  and  Carteret  were  eager  to  secure  for- 
themselves  an  investment  in  western  lands  still  more  prom- 
ising, if  possible.  The  notorious  Capt.  Scott,  who  had 
created  so  much  disturbance  on  Long  Island  and  the  Main, 
and  of  whom  Gov.  Nicolls  wrote,  that  he  "  was  borne  to 
work  mischeife  as  farre  as  hee  is  credited  or  his  parts  serve 
him,"  had  sought  of  the  crown  a  patent  for  Long  Island ;  but, 
not  succeeding  in  his  design,  and  conceiving  that  he  had  been 
wronged  by  the  Duke  of  York,  is  reported  to  have  induced 
Berkeley  and  Carteret  to  secure  Xew  Jersey  for  themselves, 
knowing,  as  Nicolls,  also,  declared,  that  it  was  the  most  valu- 
able portion  of  the  Duke's  territory,  f 

The  two  Lords  readily  caught  the  bait,  and  the  Duke,  "for 
a  competent  sum  of  money,"  having,  by  his  patent  from  the 
king,  the  right  of  sale,  as  well  as  possession  and  rule,  con- 
veyed, June  24,  166-1,  the  territory,  now  known  as  New 
Jersey,  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  "  in  as  full  and  ample 
manner  "  as  it  had  been  conveyed  to  himself, — transferring 
to  these  court  favorites  all  his  rights,  titles,  and  autliority  to 
and  over  the  land  in  question. 

♦  Bancroft's  U.  States,  II.  130.  t  N.  Y.  Colonial  Do:.,  III.  105.  Tbompeon's  Long 
Island,  II.  320-3. 


48  THE    HISTORY    OF 

111  tlic  course  of  the  summer,  as  has  been  sceu,  the  Dutch 
\verc  dispossessed,  and  the  country  brought  under  tlie  sway 
of  the  English  crown.  As  soon  as  tidings  carae,  in  the  latter 
part  of  October,  that  the  conquest  was  complete,  the  two 
Lords  began  their  preparations  for  colonizing  their  new  ac- 
quisitions. Guided,  probably,  by  the  terms  of  Winthrop's 
Charter,  and  the  Concessions  subsequently  drawn  up  for  the 
Carolinas,  they  prepared  a  Plan  for  the  government  of  the 
territory  (that  Carteret  had  honored  with  the  name  of  his 
island  home),  which  was  completed  and  signed,  February  10, 
16Cf ,  and  which  the}'  denominated,  "  The  Concessions  and 
agreement  of  the  Lords  Proprietors  of  New-Ccesarea,  or  Kew- 
Jersey.  to  and  with  all  and  every  of  the  adventurers,  and  all 
such  as  shall  settle  or  plant  there  ;  "  a  document,  of  which  it 
must  be  admitted,  that,  while  much  may  be  said  against  it 
and  properl}'-,  it,  nevertheless,  contained  principles  and  con- 
veyed privileges  far  in  advance  of  the  age,  and  much  more 
accordant  with  democracy  than  with  the  imperialism  of  the 
Stuarts. ■'•■ 

Capt.  Philip  Carteret,  a  distant  relative  of  Sir  George,  was 
more  than  content  to  emigrate  to  the  new  world,  and  become 
the  Governor  of  the  new  territory  for  the  Proprietors.  His 
commission  and  letters  of  instruction  bear  the  same  date  as 
the  Concessions.  Mr.  Robert  Vauquellin,  Sicur  des  Prairie, 
of  the  city  of  Caen,  in  France,  receives  the  same  day  an  ap- 
pointment as  Surveyor  General  ot  the  Province.  The  ship 
Philip  is,  also,  put  in  commission,  and  furnished  with  men 
and  supplies  for  the  new  colony. 

Some  allusions  to  the  ship  and  the  undertaking  of  the  two 
Carterets,  that  serve  to  shed  light  on  the  character  and  pur- 
poses of  the  enterprise,  are  found  in  the  "  Winthrop  Papers." 
Samuel  Hutchinson,  ]\[crchant  of  London,  writes,  February 
14,  lOG^,  "  to  John  Wintrop  Esq^  att  New  Lond°  Li  New 
England  :  " 

Sir — ILiving  this  opertunyty  by  way  of  Xcw  Yorke,  in  a  sliip  of  S. 
Goorgo   Cartrcts   bound  fur    Kcw  Jersy  liow  carys  Capt.  Cartret  the 

*  See  Smltli'e  N.  Jersey,  pp.  012-5'Jl.    Grants,  Concessions,  ic,,  pp.  12-25. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  49 

Governor.  I  kuow  yoi*  wontod  costom  to  all  strangers,  not  to  let 
them  lacke  any  Asistauce  or  Advice  you  cane  give  them,  Yor  expery- 
ance  in  those  parts  being  much,  may  doe  him  servis  and  yor  selfe  noe 
predgedis.  Butt  as  you  -will  hearo,  thar  will  ho  a  greater  obligatyon 
then  ordinary,  to  the  ITonGrab"  Sir  Gcorg  Cartrett  and  Capt  Phillip  Car- 
tret  now  Governor  of  New  Jersy 

Some  particulars  about  the  shipping  of  luachiiiery  for  cer- 
tain salt-works  follow,  and  then  he  adds, — 

The"  ffrcnes  of  S''  Georg  and  the  Capt.  in  the  same  is  worth  taking 
notes  of.  If  Capt.  Cartrett  mijllckes  after  lie  corns  into  the  contry  I 
will  tacke  them  of  at  the  same  rate. 

lie  writes  again,  February  20, — 

Capt  Cartret  hath  brought  over  sondry  flVench  men  that  know  the 
making  of  salt  in  ffrance.*  If  you  goe  yo""  self  to  New  Jersy,  I  desier 
you  to  view  the  plantatyons  and  if  you  pich  upon  a  good  track  of  Land 
send  me  word  how  it  leycs,  for  Sir  George  promasis  me  what  in  reson  I 
can  desier  thare,  and  advisa  the  salt  worke  to  be  set  up  in  that  place  if 
convenyant,  if  you  provid3  wht  ocko  pip  staves  I  doe  conscve  thay  may 
be  a  comodety  in  New  England  sondry  ships  will  com  to  Lode  stave  for 
Canarys  and  other  Ilands.f 

The  Philip  is  detained  (probably  on  account  of  the  war 
with  the  Dutch  that  rendered  navigation  hazardous),  nntil 
the  last  of  April ;  and  then  sets  sail,  just  as  "  the  Great 
Plague  "  is  beginning  to  gather  up  its  more  than  threescore 
thousand  victims  in  London.  The  next  we  hear  from  the 
ship  is  on  her  arrival  in  Virginia,  whence  Carteret  writes  to 
Gov.  Winthrop  as  follow^s : 

Newportes  newes,  Virginia,  13°  Junii  16G5.  Honor''  Sir — Pindeing 
the  opportunity  by  this  vessell  bound  for  New  Yorke,  to  send  you  some 
letters  which  I  brought  out  of  England,  I  thought  it  convenient  to  send 
them  to  you  knowcing  the  sooner  they  come  to  your  hands  the  better.  I 
suppose  that  by  them  you  will  understand  tliat  Mr.  Hutchinson  hath  sould 
unto  Sir  George  Carteret  and  myselfe  fds  of  a  salt  worke  and  pottnsh 
worke  which  was  formerly  contrived  by  you.  Also  it  is  agreed  by  ^Mr. 
Hutchinson  and  us  that  for  tlie  care  you  tooke  then  and  the  advice  you 
will  please  to  lend  us  for  the  future,  that  you  sliall  [have]  the  ^V  parte  of 
the  proffitt,  for  I  hope  they  are  arrived  ere  this  time  being  shipt  aboard  of 

»  •'  We  take  notice  that  you  desire  to  have  French  men  sent  you  that  might  bo  cxpcriinced 
in  making  of  salt."  Instructions  of  Mass.  Bay  Co.  to  Gov.  Endicott.  Young's  Chroni- 
cles of  Mass.  Bay,  p.  152.  t  3  Mass.  Uis.  Soc.  Coll.,  X.  49,  51. 

4 


50  THE    HISTORY    OF 

a  shipp  tliat  was  to  como  to  Pescadoe  for  masts  for  tbe^Kiiig.  Tliis  being 
all  at  present  hopeing  (winde  and  weather  permitting)  to  bo  at  New 
Yorkc  in  5  or  six  days  hence,  I  am  ^ir,  your  humble  servant 

Ph  Carteret 

Sir — If  you  please  to  doe  mo  the  favour  to  let  niee  heare  from  you 
direct  your  Letter  to  Cap"  James  Bullaigne  in  Xew  Yorke. 

This  letter  readied  Wintlirop,  July  4,  and  was  answered, 
July  18.     In  liis  reply,  he  says, 

I  knew  nothing  of  any  intention  of  'Mr.  Hutchinson  to  set  up  such 
works  [salt  works]  in  these  parts  of  the  world.  lie  mentions  now  New 
Jarsy,  which  is  a  place  I  know  not  nor  have  ever  heard  where  it  is — it 
would  be  good  to  consider  the  convenience  of  the  place  for  that  commo- 
dity and  for  the  vending  of  it  before  expenses  be  laid  out.  (lie  adds,) 
Salt  is  brought  in  by  sliips  for  ballast,  &c. — from  Turtugas.* 

That  last  sentence,  probably,  put  an  end  to  the  scheme  for 
erecting  salt-works  in  the  new  plantation,  and  to  the  Gov- 
ernor's dream  of  large  protits.  Whether  the  ship  that  bore 
the  freight  ever  arrived  at  Piscataway,  or  not,  is  not  known. 
Carteret  himself  did  not  reach  New  York  until  July  29.f 

Some  few  days,  piobably,  are  occupied  in  arranging  with 
Gov.  Kicolls  tlie  question  of  jurisdiction ;  the  latter  being 
not  at  all  pleased  with  the  partition  of  the  territory.  Car- 
teret now  learns,  for  the  first  time,  that  Kicolls,  by  virtue  of 
his  unrepealed  commission  from  the  Duke  of  York,  has  given 
land  patents  already  for  two  extensive  plantations, — one  be- 
tween the  Raritan  and  the  Passaic  Rivers,  and  the  other 
below  Sand}^  Hook  and  the  Raritan,  afterwards  Middlctown 
and  Sln-ewsbuiy.  Carteret  seems  not  to  have  entered  any 
])rotcst  against  these  grants,  nor  to  have  objected  to  tliem  at 
all,  but  ratlier  to  have  been  gratified  at  the  speedy  prospect 
of  peopling  his  new  colony.  lie  determines  to  locate  him- 
self with  the  Ogden  company,  and  to  make  their  plantation 
the  scat  of  his  government. 

At  that  time,  the  thought  had  not,  apparently,  entered  his 
mind,  that  the  Indian  purchase  and  Kicolls'  Grant  were  of 

•  3  Mass.  His.  Soc.  Coll.;  X.  62-3. 

t  "  V'  Lf*  of  tho  QO""  of  Jan.  came  to  my  hands  tlie  22(1  of  June  ;  'twns  sent  from  Capt. 
Carteret  then  at  Vlrgini.-j,  but  is  horo  arrived  tho  29th  of  July."  Gov.  Kicolls,  in  N.  T. 
Col.  Doc.,  111.103. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  51 

no  validity.  It  does  not  occur  to  him,  that  he  can  locate 
himself  where  he  pleases,  and  appropriate  to  himself  and 
the  Lords  whatever  lands  he  chooses.  He  enters  not  into 
conflict  with  the  planters,  hut  sets  himself  to  acquire,  by- 
purchase,  an  interest  in  their  lands.  Learning  tliat  Baily, 
of  Jamaica,  is  willing  to  part  with  his  rights  in  the  town,  he 
enters  into  a  negotiation  with  him,  soon  after  his  arrival,  and 
buys  him  out.  The  deed  given  him  by  Baily  bears  date, 
September  8,  1C65..  Its  connection  with  subsequent  events 
makes  it  important  to  place  much  of  it  on  record  in  these 
pages.     It  is  as  follows  : 

Indenture  between  ^ohu  Hayies  of  Jamaica  in  Yorksliire 
upon  Long  Island  of  the  one  part  and  I'hilip  Ctit'teyct,  Esq',  Gov- 
ernor of  tlie  Province  of  New  Jersey  upon  tlie  main  laud  of  America  of 
the  other  part.  For  and  in  consideration  of  a  valuable  sum  to  him  in  hand 
paid  by  the  said  Philip  Carteret,  the  said  Bayles  hath  sold  to  Philip  Car- 
tei^et,  all  and  every  my  Lott  or  Letts  part  or  parts  of  a  certaine  peice  of 
land  scituate  lying  and  being  on  the  Maine  Continent  of  America  common- 
ly called  or  known  by  the  Name  of  Arthur  Cull  or  Eraboyle,  or  what 
other  Name  or  Names  soever  It  hath  been  or  now  is  Called  by  which  said 
Parccll  of  Land  he  the  said  John  Bayles  with  severall  others  did  Lawfully 
purchase  from  the  Natives  or  Indians  as  by  his  said  Bill  of  Sayle  from  the 
Indians  bearing  date  the  28tli  day  of  October  16G4  will  more  at  large 
appear  which  was  confirmed  by  The  Eight  Hon.  Col.  Richard  Nicholl 
Governor  of  His  Royal  Highness  Territoryes  in  America  his  Grant  bear- 
ing date  the  first  day  of  December,  1GG4.     To  have  and  to  hold,  &c.* 

What  Baily  sold  to  Gov.  Carteret  was  not  one  fourth  part  of 
the  patent,  but  simply  his  lot,  or  lots,  part  or  parts,  of  the  land, 
his  lights  as  one  of  the  Associates, — a  third  lot  right  ; — sold, 
February  10,  1G6  J,  by  Carteret,  to  a  new  comer,  William 
Pyles,  of  Piscataway  in  New  England ;  "  lying  and  being 
on  the  South  side  of  the  Creek."  So,  also,  in  Nov.  1GC8,  he 
purchases  the  third  lot  right  of  Capt.  Robert  Sealey,  de- 
ceased, for  £15.  By  these,  and  several  other  similar  trans- 
actions on  record,  Carteret  becomes  a  party  to  the  Indian 
purchase;  admits  that  the  land  is  "lawfully  purchased  from 
the  natives  ;"  and  confesses  that  the  Grant  by  Gov.  Nicolls 
conveys    a  valid    title.     The   settlers,  therefore,  had  every 

*  E.  J.  Book  of  Surreys  A.  1,  2    II.  2,  1S2. 


52  THE    HISTORY    OF 

reason  to  be  satisfied  with  their  titles,  confirmed,  as  they  had 
so  fully  been,  by  the  two  Governors,  Nicolls  and  Carteret. 

The  name  of  the  town  had  evidently  not  been  determined 
at  the  date  of  Baily's  deed,  or  it  would  have  been  specified. 
It  is,  therefore,  quite  probable,  that,  in  this  case,  tradition  re- 
ports truly,  when  it  afiirms,  that  the  toM'n  took  its  name  from 
the  Lady  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Sir  George  Carteret.  Of 
this  lady,  Samuel  Pepys,  one  of  her  familiar  friends,  bears 
this  testimony,  during  the  following  year,  Oct.  15,  1G66: 
"  She  cries  out  of  the  vices  of  the  Court,  and  how  they  are 
going  to  set  up  plays  already.  She  do  much  cry  out  upon 
these  things,  and  that  which  she  believes  will  undo  the  whole 
nation."  It  is  well  to  know  something  of  her,  from  whom  is 
derived  the  honored  name  of  ELIZABETH-TOWX.- 

»  E.  T.  Bi:i,  p.  28.    Per  contra,  see  Ans.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  20. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A.  D.    1660. 

The  "  Concessions  "  —  New  Immigrants  —  Loss  of  Town  Book  —  Extracts  from 
it  —  Oath  of  Allegiance  —  By  whom  taken  — Names  of  the  Associate  Found- 
ers—  Also  of  Carteret's  Servants  —  Notices  of  Strickland  and  the  six  Peti- 
tioners— Bailey,  Daniel  and  Nathaniel  Denton,  Benedict,  Foster  and  'Watson 
—  Also  of  the  Patentees,  Baker  and  Ogden. 

•  The  town  has  now  entered  npon  its  work  of  subduing  the 
wilderness,  and  planting  the  institutions  of  religion  and  civ- 
ih'zation.  The  people  are,  at  least,  reconciled  to  the  change 
in  their  government,  believing  that  their  rights  will  be  as 
carefully  guarded  by  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  as  they  would 
liave  been  by  the  Duke  of  York.  "  The  Concessions,"  with 
which  they  now,  for  the  first  time,  become  acquainted,  were 
well  fitted  to  attract  a  large  immigration  from  the  puritan 
towns  of  ISTew  England,  and  the  neighboring  colony  of  New 
York.  This  instrument  accorded  the  utrAost  freedom  of  con- 
science, consistent  with  the  preservation  of  the  public  peace 
and  order,  in  matters  pertaining  to  religion  ;  provided  every 
practicable  safeguard  for  political  freedom  ;  and  offered  the 
most  liberal  terms  to  immigrants.  It  committed  the  work 
of  legislation  and  taxation  to  a  Legislature,  of  which  tlie 
popular  branch  were  to  be  chosen  directly  by  the  people ; 
and  thus  early  established,  in  this  favored  colony,  the  doc- 
trine, for  which,  a  century  later,  the  colonies  so  fetrenuously 
and  successfully  contended,  that  representation  is  not  to  be 
separated  from  taxation — that  the  j^eople  must  liave  a  voice 
in  determining  the  expenses  of  government.* 

•Learning  and  Spicer,  pp.  12-26.  Smith's  History  of  N.  J.,  pp.  512-21.  E.  T.  Bill,  pp. 
12-10.    £.  J.  Records,  III.  60-74. 


54  TUEUISTORYOF 

Care  was  taken  to  give  publicity  to  these  Concessions. 
The  Associates,  with  whom  Carteret  had  wisely  identified 
himself,  found  the  document,  doubtless,  of  considerable  use, 
in  overcoming  the  hesitancy  of  some  of  their  former  friends 
and  neighbors  to  embark  in  the  new  enterprise.  Some  few 
others,  who  had  not,  probably,  thought  i^reviously  of  re- 
moving, but  were  somewhat  unsettled,  were  thereby  led 
to  take  np  their  abode  in  this  new  "  El  Dorado,"  the 
"Great  West"  of  1605.  But  the  settlers  of  the  first  two 
or  three  years  were  mainly  of  one  class,  and  of  the  same 
general  origin — almost  wholly  New  Englanders  from  Long 
Island  and  Connecticut.  Yery  few  of  the  planters,  for  the 
first  five  years,  came  over  directly  from  the  mother  coun- 
try. This  will  appear  from  an  examination  of  the  names 
of  these  pioneers,  recorded  as  early  as  February  166|-,  and 
to  be  fomid  on  subsequent  pages. 

Very  soon  after  the  commencement  of  their  undertaking, 
various  meetings  for  consultation  and  agreement,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  division  or  allotment  of  the  lands,  and  other 
regulations  for  the  orderly  transaction  of  the  business  of 
the  town,  were  held,  a  record  of  which  was  made  in  a 
book  provided  for  the  purpose,  by  one  of  their  number, 
appointed  to  this  service,  and  known  as  the  Town  Clerk. 
The  character  of  this  Town  Book,  and  the  nature  of  the 
record,  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  Town  Book  of  New- 
ark, published  in  1SG4  by  the  N.  Jcrsc}'  Historical  Society. 
This  book,  so  necessary  for  a  proper  understanding  of  the 
early  history  of  the  town,  was  safely  kept,  and  records  con- 
tinued to  be  made  in  it,  until  the  year  1718,  when,  during 
the  troubles  of  that  period,  the  book  disappeared,  having 
been  purloined  or  destroyed,  or  both,  and  has  not  since  been 
forthcoming.  The  loss  is  irreparable.  Extracts  from  this 
book  have 'been  preserv^ed,  the  particularity  of  which  deep- 
ens the  regret  felt  at  the  loss  of  so  much  invaluable  material. 
The  earliest  record,  of  whicli  we  have  now  any  knowledge, 
is  the  following : 

At  a  Meeting  Court  held  at  Elizabetli  Town  in  the  Province  of  New 
Jersey,  the  Iflth  of  February  166f,  by  tho  Frechoklcrs  and  Inhabitants 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  55 

thereof,  James  Bollen,  Esq.,  President,  by  the  approbation  of  the  Gov- 
ernor Philip  Carteret,  Esq. ;  it  was  concluded  and  agreed,  that  the  afore- 
said town  shall  consist  of  fourscore  families  fur  the  present,  and  that  if 
hereafter  more  shall  present,  they  may  make  an  addition  of  twenty  more, 
according  to  their  discretion  for  tlie  good  and  benefit  of  tlie  town  [as  to 
them]  shall  seem  fit. 

A  true  copy  fiora  Elizabeth  Town  Book  of  Records,  No.  A,  fol.  14,  per 

Samuel  "Wliitehead,  Town  Clerk.* 

Another  record  of  the  same  date  has,  in  like  manner,  been 
rescued  from  oblivion : 

It  is  further  ordered  and  agreed,  by  the  consent  as  aforesaid,  that  all 
persons  that  have  taken,  or  shall  take  lots,  shall  come  and  settle  and  in- 
habit the  same,  by  the  fifteenth  day  of  April  next ;  otherwise  that  tlie  said 
lots  shall  be  disposed  of  to  any  other  persons  that  will  come  and  settle 
thereon :  and  that  every  person  that  shall  take  up  a  home-lot,  shall  be 
obliged  to  continue  upon  the  same,  or  in  the  town,  for  the  space  of  three 
years,  either  by  himself  in  person,  or  by  his  servants,  or  some  other  per- 
son that  he  shall  bring  into  the  town,  that  shall  be  approved  of;  and  not 
to  imploy  any  for  that  purpose,  that  are  already  belonging  to  the  town  ; 
and  that  he  shall  not  make  any  sale  of  the  said  lot,  for  any  time  during 
the  space  of  three  years  to  come  ;  but  first  shall  make  profibr  to  the  in- 
habitants thereof,  October  28th,  1GG7  ;  and  it's  further  ordered  That  who- 
soever shall  break  this  order,  shall  pay  four  pounds  a  month,  and  propor- 
tionably  during  the  time  of  their  so  Entertainmcnt.t 

A  similar  regulation  was  adopted  by  the  Newark  people, 
in  the  year  following.:|:  Some  division  of  the  town  plot  into 
lots  convenient  for  the  settlers  must  have  been  made  on  their 
Urst  coming.  At  this  same  meeting,  or  possibly  at  an  earlier 
date, 

It  was  agreed,  That  small  parcels  of  land  should  be  laid  out  to  every 
inhabitant  who  came,  in  part  of  what  he  was  intitled  to.  To  wit.  To 
every  inhabitant  in  the  Town  Plat  of  Elizabeth  Town,  a  homo  lot  con- 
taining about  four  acres,  and  a  pittle  or  addition  to  it  containing  about 
two  acres.§ 

■"Every  settler,  whatever  proportion  he  may  have  con- 
tributed to  the  general  expense,  was  put  upon  the  same  foot- 
ing as  regarded  his  homestead,  the  only  diflorcnce  being  in 

*  E.  Town  Bill,  p.  32.    Ans.  to  do.,  p.  23.  t  Nowark.  Town  Kceonls,  p.  C. 

t  E.  Town  Bill,  p.  32.    Ans.  to  fj.  T.  B.,  §  K.  Town  Bill,  p.  33. 

p.  24. 


56  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  choice  of  a  location  ;  and  this,  probably,  was  determined, 
as  at  Newark,  by  lot. 

They  agreed  amongst  themselves  to  go  over  and  fix  the  Lotts,  which 
was  hefore  by  the  whole  Committee  agreed  upon  to  be  Six  acres ;  and 
after  the  Lotts  prepared,  and  how  they  should  begin  and  Succeed,  the 
matter  was  solemnly  submitted  to  the  Lord  for  his  Guidance.* 

TIic  lots  were  laid  out  on  both  sides  ot"  the  Creek,  begin- 
ning with  the  first  npland  above  the  salt  meadows,  and  ex- 
tending ui)  the  Creek  some  two  miles.  The  ordinaiy  dimen- 
sions of  these  lots  were  4  chains  in  breadth,  and  10  chains  in 
length  ;  making  a  front,  on  the  street,  of  2G4  feet,  and  ex- 
tending back  660  feet.  In  some  cases,  owing  to  the  irregular 
course  of  the  River  and  highways,  the  shape  of  the  lots,  which 
was  ordinarily  a  parallelogram,  varied  from  the  regular  form 
and  size  ;  but,  as  well  as  might  be,  equal  privileges  were  se- 
cured. Owing  to  the  indefiniteness  of  the  surveys  as  recorded, 
and  for  want  of  every  thing  like  a  map  or  diagram  of  the 
town  platt,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  determine  the  locality  of 
each  settler. 

At  the  town  meeting  just  mentioned,  the  male  inhabitants 
of  the  town  were  required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  of 
which  and  the  names  subscribed,  a  record  has  been  pre- 
served as  follows : 

The  Oath  of  A  Leagance  and  Fidelity  taken  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Eliza- 
beth Town  and  the  Jurisdiction  thereof  beginning  the  19th  February 
16G5. 

You  doe  sware  upon  the  Holy  Evangelist  contained  in  this  book  to  bare 
true  faith  and  Alegianco  to  our  Soveraing  Lord  King  Charles  the  Second 
and  his  Successors  and  to  be  true  and  faithfull  to  the  Lords  propryetors 
their  Successors  and  the  Government  of  this  Province  of  New  Jarsey  as 
long  as  you  shall  Continue  an  Inhabitant  under  the  same  without  any 
Equivocation  or  Mentall  Reservation  whatsoever  and  so  help  von  God. 

Mr  John  Ogden  sen'  Thomas  Leonards  Joakim  Andris 

Capt  Thomas  Young  Jonas  "Wood  John  "Waynes  "Waynes 

Michaell  Simpkin  Jacob  Clais  Jacob  Moullains 

Abraham  Shotwell  Rodriok  Powell  "William  Johnson 

Thomas  Skillman  Luke  "Watson  John  Gray 

John  Woodrofe  Stephen  Crane  Nicolas  Carter 

*  Newark  Town  KccorJs. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY. 


57 


Thomas  Po;)C 
"William  Cramer 
Barnabas  Wines 
Thomas  Tomson 
Nathaniel  Tuttle 
Robert  Mosso 
Peter  JNIosse 
William  Trotter 
Euan  Salsbury 
George  Packo 
Thomas  More 
Samuel  Marsh 
Moses  Peterson 
John  Haynes 
Caleb  Carwithy 
William  Oliuer 


Humphry  Spinago 
Joseph  phrasie 
Zackery  Graues 
Peter  Wooluerson 
Charles  Tucker 
Benjamin  Homan 
Jeifry  Joanes 
Christopher  Young 
Jerremy  Osbourne 
John  Dickenson 
Dennis  denis  White 
John  Ogden  Jun' 
Dauid  Ogdden 
Robert  Vauquellin 
Benjamin  Price 
Ben.  Concklin 


Robert  Bond 
Joseph  Bond 
Moses  Tomson 
Joseph  Oiburne 
John  Brackett  sen' 
William  Meacker 
Isaack  Whitehead 
Nathaniel  Bunnell 
Mathias  Ileathfield 
Jonathan  Ogden 
Leonard  Headley 
John  Parker 
Daniel  Harris 
Richard  Paynter 
Francis  Barber  * 


The  wliole  number  is  sixtj-live.  Capt.  Jolm  Baker's  name 
is  wanting,  on  account  of  his  absence  in  tlie  service  of  Gov. 
Nicolls,  at  Alban}'.  Some  names  are  found  in  this  list,  not 
inchided  in  the  list  of  Associates.  They  were  the  names, 
probably,  of  temporary  residents^  employed  as  laborers  or 
helpers.  Baily  and  Denton  had  sold  out ;  the  former  to 
Carteret,  and  the  latter  to  Ogden, 

The  most  reliable  statement  of  the  names  of  the  original 
Associates  is  found  in  Elizabeth  Town  Book,  B,  some  fifty 
years  after  the  settlement  of  the  town,  and  is  thus  expressed  : 

Richard  Nicolls,  by  virtue  of  the  Power  and  Authority  vested  in  him 

by James  (then)  Duke  of  York  &:c  Did  thereby  Grant  Bargain 

Sell  and  Confirm  unto  Cap'  John  Baker  (then)  of  New  York,  John  Ogden 

(then)  of  North-IIampton,  and John  Baily  and  Luke  Watson,  and 

their  Associates  the  Premises  afores'' — In  ffee-simple,  Tvhich  same  Associates 
(together  with  them  the  s*  Baker,  Ogden,  Baily,  and  Watson  (equally 
seised  each  to  a  Third  Lot-Right  in  the  pmisses)  Avere,  the  said  John 
Baker,  John  Ogden,  Jn"  Baily,  and  Luke  Watson,  and  -with  them  Thomas 
Young,  Benjamin  Price,  John  Woodruff,  Philip  Carteret,  Two  Third 
lotts,-  Robert  Bond,  Scaly  Champain  (Transfer'd  to  Benjamin  Parkhurst,) 
William  Meeker,  Thomas  Thompson,  Samuel  Marsh,  Town  Lott  for  the 
Minister,  Will"  Piles,  Peter  Couenhoven,  John  Brocket  (Transfer'd  to 
Sam"  Hopkins)  James  Bollen,  Jacob  Melyen,  Nicholas  Carter,  and 
Jeremiah  Peck.  %lnd.  To  each  a  Second  Lot-Riglit  in  the  same 
Premisses,  Isaac  Whitehead,  Joseph  Meeker,  Humphry  Spinning,  Jeoffry 

*  E.  J.  Records,  III.  other  end,  7. 


58  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Jones,  Georgo  Ross,  Joseph  Bond,  Mattliiaa  Ilotfield,  Barnabas  "Winds, 
Robert  "White,  Peter  Mors;",  Jolm  Winans,  Josepli  Sayrc,  Richard  Beach, 
Moses  Tliompson,  John  Gray,  "William  Johnson,  John  Brocket  Ju',  Simon 
Rouse,  "William  Trotter,  Jolm  Ogden  Jim',  Jonas  Wood,  Robert  Morss, 

^['  Loprary,  Caleb  Oarwithe,  "William  Pardon,  and  Stephen  Osborne. 

»lii<l  to  each  a  first  lot  Right  in  the  same  Premises,  Jonathan  Ogden, 
Abraham  Shotwell,  David  Ogden,  ^Tathanael  Tuttell,  Benjamin  Price  Ju', 
Roger  Lambert,  Abraham  Lawrence,  John  Hindes,  Thomas  "Moor,  Joseph 
ffrazcy,  Yokam  Andross,  Denis  "White,  Xathanael  Norton,  (since  Trans- 
fer'd  to  Ilenry  Norris,)  Great  John  "Willson,  Ilnr  Thompson,  Benjamin 
Oman,  Evan  Salsburry,  Little  John  "Willson,  Stephen  Crane,  Henry  Lyon, 
John  Parker,  John  Ogden  for  John  Dickinson,  Leonard  Ileadley, 
Nathanael  Bonncl,  George  Morris,  Joseph  Osborn,  Pardey,  (Transfer'd  to 
Ilenry  Norris,)  Georgo  Pack,  John  Pope,  ffrancis  Barber,  "William  Oliver. 
Richard  Painter,  and  Charles  Tooker.* 

The  number  is  eighty  ;  of  whom  twenty  one  liad  third  lot- 
rights,  twenty  six  had  second  lot-riglits,  and  thirty  three  had 
first  lot-rights.  Carteret  had,  in  addition  to  his  own  third 
lot-right,  tlie  third  lot-right  of  Baily,  of  whom  he  had  pur- 
chased it.  Twenty  six  had  been  admitted  subsequently  to 
the  taking  of  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  February,  1G6|:  of 
whom  some  were  sons  of  the  first  settlers. 

Carteret  brought  over  with  him,  in  the  ship  Philip,  eighteen 
male  servants,  belonging  to  Sir  George  and  himself,  a  portion 
of  whom  were  Frenchinen,  probably  from  the  Island  of 
Jersey  : — 

John  Dejardin  Wm  Hill  Claude  B:irbour 

Docf  Rowland  Ilenry  Hill  Chas  Seggin 

Claude  "V^ allot  Erasmus  House  Dan  Perrin 

Rich''  Pewtinger  John  Tayler  John  Mittins 

Richaril  Michell  John  Clarck  Robert  "Wallis 

Richard  Skinner  "Wm John  alias  Peter 

besides  severall  others  the  same  time  imported,  and  many  others  since. f 

In  the  first  importation  must  have  been  included  some 
female  servants, — ^NFariah  Thorell,  Susannah  Poulain,  and 
Ellen  Prou  (all  French)  being  of  the  number.  Of  the  male 
servants,  two  Avere  subsequently  admitted  as  Associates : 
Claude  Yallot  and  William  Hill."  Pichard  Michell  had  land 
given  him  by    the  Governor,  but   Avas  not   admitted  as  an 

*  E.  Town  Book,  B,  pp.  2-3.  f  E.  J.  Records,  III.  o.  e.  30. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  69 

Associate.  Carteret's  iramigrunts  were  a  distinct  class,  in  an 
inferior  station,  witli  whom  the  original  planters  had  but  little 
congeniality  and  familiarity. 

"Whence  came  these  Associates,  and  what  were  they?  It 
is  not  to  be  supposed,  that  men  of  such  plain  habits,  and  of 
such  humble  stations,  so  unpretending,  and  so  unknown  to 
fame,  should  have  left,  on  the  historic  page,  any  thing  like 
full  and  distinct  memorials  of  their  origin  and  migrations. 
Their  records  have  mostly  perished.  Of  many  of  them  almost 
nothing  of  their  previous  history  can  be  learned.  Of  none  of 
them  can  any  thing  very  remarkable  be  related. 

"  Far  from  the  madding  crowd's  ignoble  strife, 
Their  sober  wishes  never  learned  to  stray ; 

Along  the  cool  sequestered  vale  of  life 
They  kept  the  noiseless  tenor  of  their  way." 

It  is  proper  to  inquire,  first,  into  the  antecedents  of  the  men 
who  were  prominent  in  procuring,  from  Gov.  Nicolls  and  the 
Indians,  Dermission  to  found  the  settlement. 

John  Stkickland's  name  occupies  the  first  place  among 
those  who  sought  here  a  home.  He  was,  as  already  seen,  a 
resident  of  Huntington,  L.  I.  His  application  was  in  behalf 
of  "  a  Company  of  the  inglish  nasion,"  He  was  simply 
their,  agent.  The  names  of  the  "  Company  "  have  not  been 
preserved.  Strickland  was  an  Englishman.  He  came  over, 
in  1630,  with  Winthrop's  company,  and  was  admitted  a 
freeman,  in  the  Bay  Colony,  May,  1631.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  churcli  of  Watertown,  Mass.,  from  which  he,  Jonas 
"Wood,  and  others,  were  dismissed,  May  20,  1635,  to  form  a 
new  church  on  the  borders  of  the  Connecticut  river.  Soon 
after  he  removed  to  Wethersfield,  Ct.  His  son,  Thwait, 
settled  tliere  ;  but  the  f\ither,  after  a  short  sojom-n,  removed 
to  Uncowah  [Fairfield],  Ct.  Subsequently  he  took  part  in  a 
bloody  fight,  at  Greenwich,  between  the  Dutch  and  Indians 
at  a  spot,  since  known  as  "  Strickland's  Plain."  In  1644,  he 
sold  his  estate  at  Uncowah  to  "William  Frost,  and  united  with 
the  Rev.  Eobert  Fordham,  John  Ogdcn,  John  Karman,  John 
Lawrence,  and  Jonas  "Wood,  in  settling  on  "  the  Great  Plains 


60  THE    HISTORY    OF 

on  Long  Island,*'  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  Ileemstede. 
In  tlie  patent,  obtained,  Nov.  16,  lGi4,  he  is  called,  "  Stick- 
Ian."  In  IGGl,  it  appears,  tliat  he  resided  at  Huntington, 
whence  he  sought  to  remove  to  this  place.  He  was  induced, 
however,  to  settle  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  and,  in  1663,  was  one  of 
the  freeholders  of  that  town.  Yet  he  was  a  patentee  of 
Huntington,  in  1666,  and  still  later  a  resident  of  Hempstead. 
The  names  of  at  least  four  of  his  associates  at  Fairfield  and 
Hempstead  are  found  among  the  E.  Town  Associates.  It  is 
quite  likel}"  that  they  were  interested  in  the  petition  of  1661. 
The  petitioners  of  1664  were  all  of  them  his  neighbors  at 
Jamaica,  as  some  of  them  had  been  at  Watertown,  TVethers- 
field,  Fairfield,  and  Hempstead.* 

Jonx  Bailies  [Baylie,  Bailt],  the  first  signer  of  the  peti- 
tion of  1664,  was,  probably,  the  same  who  resided  at  Guil- 
ford, Ct,  in  1642.  A  John  Baily  was  admitted  a  freeman 
of  Ct.,  May  21,  1657,  and  was  chosen  constable  at  Hartford 
March  16,  165-^.  This  may  have  been  his  son.  Previous  to 
1662,  he  had  removed  to  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  where  he  was  fami- 
liarly called  "  Goodman  Baylie,"  and  was  licensed  to  keep  an 
Ordinary  for  the  town.  He  was  one  of  the  four  patentees  of 
this  town,  but,  probably,  did  not  become  a  resident,  as  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  here,  Sep.  8,  1665,  to  Gov.  Carteret, 
for  "  a  valuable  sum."  He  was  still  living  at  Jamaica,  in 
16S3.t 

Daniel  Denton,  the  next  in  order  of  the  petitioners  of 
1664,  and  his  brother  jSTathaniel,  the  fourth  in  order,  were 
sons  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  "  a  Yorkshire  man,"  first 
settled  at  Halifax  in  England,  who  came  to  AVatertown,Mass., 
in  1634,  then  to  Wethersficld,  Ct.,  in  1635,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Stamford,  in  1641,  and  thence  to  Hempstead,  L.  I,, 
in  1644,  having  been  the  first  minister  of  each  of  the  last 
three  towns.  He  returned  to  England,  in  1658,  and  died,  in 
1662,  at  Essex.  His  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Nathaniel,  were 
among  the  first  patentees  of  Jamaica,  L.  L,  in  1656.     Daniel 

•  TrumlniU's  Connecticut,  1. 1C3, 4.  Brodhcad's  N.  York,  1. 391,  note.  Ct  Col.  Kecords, 
I.  2,  4C5-6.    Thomp-son's  L.  Isld.,  II.  4-5.     Macdonalii's  Jftraaica,  p.  8S. 

t  lb.  p.  .33.  Ct.  Col.  Records,  I.  207, 320.  Tliompson's  L.  I..  I.  4G3.    N.  Y.  Doc.  History,  U.  521 . 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  Gl 

was  the  first  Clerk  of  the  town,  taught  school,  practised  medi- 
cine, and  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  wrote  "A  Brief 
Description  of  New  York,"  -which  was  published  at  London, 
in  1G70,  and  was  the  first  printed  work  on  the  subject  in  the 
English  language.  In  1673,  he  was  a  resident  of  Piscatawaj, 
and  a  magistrate.  Nathaniel  continued  at  Jamaica,  and  was 
living  in  1683.  The  two  brothers  sold  their  rights  in  the  E. 
Town  purchase,  in  1665,  to  Capt.  John  Baker  and  John  Og- 
den.  Another  brother,  Samuel,  as  appears  from  the  depo- 
sitions on  a  previous  page,  was  also  interested  in  the  pur- 
chase.* 

Thomas  Benedict  [Bentdick],  the  third  of  the  petitioners 
of  1664,  was  a  native  of  Nottingham,  Eng.,  where  he  was 
born,  in  the  year  1617.  He  was  bred  a  weaver,  and  mi- 
grated to  New  England,  in  1638,  witli  his  step-sister,  Mary 
Bridgum,  whom,  shortly  after,  he  married.  She  was  the 
mother  of  the  numerous  American  family  of  Benedicts.  Not 
long  afterwards,  they  removed  to  Southold,  L.  I.,  where  their 
five  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born.  In  June,  1656,  they 
were  residents  of  Huntington,  L.  L,  and  were  neighbors  of 
the  Stricklands.  In  1662,  "Goodman  Benedick"  was  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  Jamaica.  AVith  Daniel  Denton,  his 
townsman,  he  represented  Jamaica  in  the  Hempstead  Con- 
vention, March  1,  166f .  The  same  year,  instead  of  carrying 
out  his  original  design  of  removing  with  his  neighbors  to 
Achter  Kol,  he  became  a  resident  of  Norwalk,  Ct.,  wliich 
henceforth  became  the  home  of  the  family.f 

John  Foster,  the  fifth  of  the  petitioners  of  1664,  was  a 
resident  of  Jam.aica.  Ilis  father,  Thomas,  was  of  the  Hemp- 
stead company,  whither  he  came  from  Fairfield,  Ct.,  as  early 
as  1644.  The  family  were  dwelling  at  Jamaica  in  1663. 
Foster  was  still  a  citizen  of  Jamaica  in  1688.  His  interest 
in  the  new  purchase  was  disposed  of  to  another,  but  to 
whom,  and  for  what  cause,  does  not  appear.:]: 

*  Macdonald's  Jamaica,  p.  4G.  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  11.  6S7.  Cliapin's  Glasteiibiiry,  p.  SI. 
Mather's  Magnalin,  B.  III.  c.  9.  vol.  I.  860.    N.  Y.  Doc.  His.  II.  Ml. 

t  Hall's  Norwalk,  pp.  300-11. 

I  Macdon.il<rs  Jain.aica,  pp.  88,  3S,  41,  42,  242.  Ct.  Col.  Eccords,  I.  405.  E.  J.  Record?, 
II.  17,95,  and  10,  o.c. 


62  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Luke  Watson,  the  last-iiaiued  of  tlie  petitioners  of  1664, 
was  the  only  one  of  them  all  that  retained  an  interest  in  the 
Jersey  enterprise,  and  became  one  of  the  founders  of  this 
town.  His  father  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Frost,  of  Fairfield,  Ct.,  and  had  died  before  1645.  His 
widow  was  then  married  to  John  Gray,  and  with  her  hus- 
band, and  son,  Luke  Watson,  removed  first  to  Newtown,  and 
then  to  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  whence  they  came  hither.  Watson 
was  a  man  of  some  consideration  at  Jamaica,  being  one  of 
the  "  four  men  "  chosen,  August  6, 1659,  "  to  be  presented  for 
magistrates  to  y®  Governor."  He  was  among  the  first  emi- 
grants to  this  place.  lie  was  located  next  north  of  Capt. 
Baker.  He  had  an  allotment  of  170  acres  of  upland  on  the 
W.  side  of  Rahway  river,  and  N.  of  its  W. branch;  also,  130 
acres  of  upland  on  the  E.  N.  E.  of  Rahway  river,  and  W. 
of  William  Johnson  and  Jeffry  Jones ;  also,  100  acres  on  the 
S.  side  of  the  Creek ;  also,  24  acres  of  meadow  on  Rahway 
river,  and  6  acres  elsewhere.  His  wife's  name  was  Sarah. 
He  sold,  July  22,  1673,  to  "  William  Case  of  Road  Island," 
for  "  2000  Pounds  of  good  and  Merchantable  Sheep  Wool," 
all  his  "  jSTeck  of  Upland  and  Meadow  laying  and  being  on 
the  East  End  of  Elizabeth  Towne  River  and  known  by  the 
Name  of  Luke  AVatson's  point  within  the  bounds  of  Elizabeth 
Towne,"  computed  to  be  100  acres.  He  obtained,  Jan.  21, 
1675,  a  warrant  for  the  survey  of  400  acres.  The  next  year, 
he  removed  to  the  Hoar-kill  settlement  [Lewes]  in  Delaware, 
renting  his  house  and  lot  to  Benjamin  Wade,  to  whom  he  sold 
them,  March  16,  167!;,  for  £24.  The  remainder  of  his  in- 
terest here,  he  sold,  in  1678,  to  William  BroadwcU  and  Joseph 
Frazey.  He  was  an  active  and  useful  citizen  while  here,  and 
in  1683,  1687,  1680,  and  1600,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  of  v/hicli  his  son  Luke,  Jr., 
was  a  member  in  1697.^^' 

Such  were  the  original  petitioners — all  of  them  originally 
from  New  England,  and  in  full  sympathy  with  the  prevailing 
sentiments  of  that  region.     Two  of  them  only — Bailey  and 

•  ct.  Col.  Eecoids,  I.  4C5.  Macdonald's  Jamaica,  pp.  32,  37.  46.  Proud's  Pa.,  I.  236,  S35, 
C40  852,  417. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  63" 

Watson — became  Patentees ;  and,  of  these,  only  one  a  set- 
tler, and  he  but  for  ten  or  eleven  years.  The  other  Patentees 
were  Capt.  John  Bahcr  and  John  Ogden. 

Captain  Joun  Bx\ker  heads  the  list.  lie  had  been,  for 
some  time,  a  resident  of  New  Amsterdam,  thongli  an  English- 
man by  birth,  and  had  acquired  a  familiarity  with  the  Dutch 
language,  that  made  him,  on  several  occasions,  useful  as  an 
interpreter  in  dealing  with  the  Indians.  It  is  probable,  as 
previously  intimated,  that  he  was  thus  employed,  b}'  Denton 
and  his  Associates,  in  the  Staten  Island  negotiations  for  this 
town,  and  so  became  interested  in  the  enterprise.  The  earli- 
est definite  information  of  him  is  found  in  the  Records 
[Dutch]  of  a  Court,  held  at  the  City  Hall,  N.  Orange  [N. 
York],  JSTov.  14,  1673,  in  an  action  against  Captain  John 
Backer  : — 

Jan  Smedes  and  Jan  Myndersen,  Ccarters  declare  that  about  nine  years 
ago  shortly  after  the  surrender  of  this  place  [16G4],  they  rode  300  p's  of 
firewood  out  of  the  bush  for  Claes  Dietlofsen,  and  afterwards  brought  the 
same  firewood  to  Capt.  Backer's  house  within  this  city,  and  the  bill  for 
carting  has  not  yet  been  paid  them  by  said  Backer  as  tliey  are  prepared 
to  declare  on  oath.  Capt.  Backer  resided  in  Broadway  in  the  houss  now 
occupied  by  Willem  Van  der  Scheure  [Schuyren]. 

As  Capt.  Baker  belonged,  in  1GT3,  to  another  jurisdiction, 
Claes,  probably,  gained  nothing  by  the  suit.  The  house  that 
ho  occupied  in  Broadway,  was  on  the  East  side,  a  short  dis- 
tance below  "Wall  st.  After  the  conquest  of  the  city.  Gov. 
^Nicolls  appointed  him,  Sep.  25,  1665,  Chief  Military  Ofiicer 
at  Albany.  On  this  account,  his  name  is  not  included  among 
those  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  here  in  February  fol- 
lowing. In  August,  1669,  he  was  subjected  to  a  court  mar- 
tial, at  Fort  James,  "N".  York,  for  an  assault  on  William 
Paterson,  a  merchant  of  Albany,  and  judgment  was  rendered 
against  him,  Oct.  6,  1669.  He  continued  in  command  at 
Albany,  until  May  1-1, 1670,  from  which,  time  he  became  per- 
manently a  resident  of  this  town.  His  house-lot  was  of  the 
ordinary  size,  bounded  S.,  E.,  and  W.,  by  highways,  and 
K,  by  Luke  Watson.  Afterwards,  it  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Matthias  Hatfield,  Esq.,  the  grandson  of  the  planter 


64  THEniSTORYOF 

of  that  name.  lie  obtaiucd,  Mar.  14,  1GT5,  a  warrant  for 
the  survey  of  12C0  acres,  for  "  himself  and  his  Wife,  and 
eight  other  Persons  "  of  his  fiimily.  He  was  appointed  Coro- 
ner, Marcli  28,  1683,  and  Judge  of  Small  Causes.  He  was  a 
leading  man  in  the  communitj,  and  ever  among  the  foremost 
in  resisting  the  Proprietary  assumptions,  of  which  such  fre- 
quent mention  is  made  in  the  subsequent  part  of  this  history. 
He  died  in  1702." 

John  Ogden,  the  other  Patentee  who  became  a  permanent 
resident,  was  one  of  the  most  influential  founders  of  the  town. 
He  was  at  Stamford,  Ct.,  in  1G41,  within  a  year  after  its  set- 
tlement. He  had  previously  married  Jane,  wdio,  as  tradition 
reports,  was  a  sister  of  Robert  Bond.  In  May,  1642,  he 
and  his  brother,  Richard,  both  of  them,  at  the  time,  of  Stam- 
ford, entered  into  a  contract  with  Gov.  Wm.  Kieft,  Gisbert 
op  Dyck,  and  Thomas  Willet,  of  ISTew  Amsterdam,  Church- 
wardens, to  build  a  stone  church  in  the  fort,  72  by  50  feet, 
for  the  sum  of  2500  guilders  ($1000),  to  be  paid  in  beaver, 
cash,  or  merchandise;  one  hundred  guilders  to  be  add  d  if 
the  work  proved  satisfactory  ;  and  the  use  of  the  company's 
boat  to  be  given  the  builders,  for  carrying  stone,  a  month,  or 
six  weeks  if  necessary.  The  work  was  duly  and  satisfacto- 
rily completed. f 

It  was,  probably,  in  this  way  that  the  two  brothers  became 
acquainted  with  the  West  end  of  Long  Island.  Early  in  1G44, 
in  company  with  the  Rev.  Robert  Fordham,  Rev.  Richard 
Denton  and  a  few  others,  they  removed  from  Stamford  and 
settled  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  of  which  John  Ogden  was  one  of 
the  Patentees.  At  the  expiration  of  five  or  six  years,  not 
liking  the  control  of  the  Dutch,  with  whom  he  had  consid- 
erable dealings  at  New  Amsterdam,  and  disgusted  with  the 
cruelties  practised  upon  the  natives,  of  whom  scores,  soon 
after  his  settlement  at  Hempstead,  had  there,  by  order  of  the 
government,  been  put  to  death,  he  removed  to  the  East  end 

•Munscirs  Albany,  VII.  9S,  101,  257,  9,  203.  Alb.  nocords,  XXII.  7S-94.  N.  Y.  Col. 
nociiits.,  Ill,  117,  9, 143,  8.  E.  J.  Kecords,  I.  70;  II.  IS  ;  B.  239;  C.  13, 19;  L.  8  ;  O.  88. 
E.  T.  Book,  B.  103.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  110. 

tninmnn's  First  Puritan  Settlers  of  Ct.,  I.  232.  Alb.  Col.  Rocorfc,  II.  IS,  109;  IV.  240. 
0"Callaglian's  Now  Netlicrland,  I.  102.  Thompson's  L.  IslJ.,  II.  4,  5.  The  uamc  appears,  at 
times,  as  "Odgden,"  "  Ocbdcn." 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  65 

of  the  Island,  to  dwell  among  his  own  countrymen.  In  1647, 
he  had  obtained  permission,  of  the  town  of  Southampton,  to 
plant  a  colony  of  six  families,  at  "North  Sea,"  a  tract  of  land 
bordering  on  the  Great  Peconic  Bay,  opposite  Hobbin  Island, 
and  about  three  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Southampton. 
Some  two  or  three  years  elapsed  before  his  removal,,  and  the 
planting  of  the  settlement  at  the  North  Sea,  called,  in  the 
Colonial  Records  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  as  well 
as  in  Nicolls'  Grant,  '•  Northampton." 

He  was  made  a  freeman  of  Southampton,  March  31,  1650, 
and  was  chosen  by  the  General  Court,  at  Hartford,  Ct.,  May 
16,  1656,  and  again  in  1657  and  1658,  one  of  the  magistrates 
for  the  colony.  He  sat  in  the  General  Court,  as  a  Represent- 
ative from  Southampton,  ii)  May,  1659 ;  and  in  the  upper 
house.  May,  1661,  and  afterwards.  His  name  appears  re- 
peatedly in  the  new  Charter  of  Connecticut  (obtained,  Ap. 
23,  1662,  by  Gov.  Winthrop,  from  Charles  IL),  as  one  of  the 
magistrates  and  patentees  of  the  colony  ;  also,  quite  fre- 
quently, in  the  Records,  both  of  Connecticut  and  New  Ha- 
ven. He  was  held  in  high  honor  at  home,  being  one  of  their 
first  men. 

During  his  residence  at  Northampton,  Ogden,  by  frequent 
visits  as  a  trader  to  New  Amsterdam,  had  kept  up  his  ac- 
quaintance with  his  old  friends  and  neighbors  on  the  West 
End  of  the  Island.  When,  therefore,  after  the  conquest,  it 
was  proposed  to  him  to  commence  a  fourth  settlement,  in  the 
new  and  inviting  region  of  Achter  Kol,  under  English  rule, 
he  readily  entered  into  the  measure,  and,  in  company  with 
his  old  friend,  Capt.  Baker,  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
Dentons  and  Goodman  Benedict,  and  thus  became,  being  a 
man  of  substance  and  distinction,  the  leading  man  of  the  new 
colony.  He  was  among  the  very  first,  with  his  five  full- 
grown  boys,  John,  Jonathan,  David,  Joseph  and  Benjamin, 
to  remove  to  the  new  purchase  and  erect  a  dwelling  on  the 
town-plot.  He  located  his  house,  it  is  thought,  on  the  Point 
road,  now  Elizabeth  Avenue,  near  where  Robert  Ogden,  his 
great-grandson,  and  Col.  Barber,  afterwards  lived.  The 
bounds  of  his  home-lot  are  not  recorded. 
5 


66  TIIEUISTORYOF 

lie  was  appointed,  Oct.  26,  1665,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and,  Nov.  1,  one  of  the  Governor's  Council.  In  the  Legisla- 
ture of  1668,  he  was  one  of  the  Burgesses,  from  tliis  town. 
To  carry  forward  his  improvements,  or  to  meet  previous  ob- 
ligations, he  borrowed,  Oct.  9,  1668,  of  Cornelius  Steenwick 
(the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York,  a  wealthy  merchant), 
£191.  5. 0,  "  one  fourth  part  thereof  to  be  paid  in  good  Wheat 
at  416  p'  Bushell  one  fourth  part  in  good  drie  Ox  hides  at  6 
stivers  p""  pound  dutch  weight  One  fourth  part  in  good  mer- 
chantable Tobacco  at  4  stivers  p'  pound  like  Aveight  and  one 
fourth  part  in  Good  Corn  fed  fat  Pork  well  packtin  casks  and 
delivered  at  New  Yorke  at  Three  Pounds  ten  Shillings  p' 
Barrell."  As  security,  lie  mortgaged,  Ap.  29,  1669,  "a  Cer- 
tain "Water  Mill  now  in  my  Tenure  or  Occupation,"  as  the 
mortgage  expresses  it,  "near  unto  the  Mansion  or  Dwelling 
House  of  Gov.  Carterett  in  Elizabeth  Towne." 

This  mill  was  located  immediately  west  of  the  Broad-st. 
Stone  bridge,  and,  with  the  dam  across  the  Creek  just  above, 
was,  doubtless,  constructed  by  Mr.  Ogden  ;  whence  the  Creek 
was  frequently  called,  "  Mill  Creek,"  or  "  Mill  Kiver."  The 
Governor's  house  was  located  east  of  the  bridge,  and  north  of 
the  Creek,  on  the  ground,  latterly  occupied  by  the  Thomas 
house. 

Three  of  his  sons,  John,  Jonathan,  and  David,  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  Feb.  166|,  and  were  mmibered  among  the 
original  Associates.  The  house-lot  of  John,  Jr.,  contained 
four  acres,  and  was  12  by  4  chains  in  length  and  breadth  ; 
bounded,  S.  E.,  by  John  Woodruff,  and  Leonard  Headley; 
N.  E.,  by  a  highway  ;  N.  AV.,  by  Mrs.  Hopkins,  Sen"" ;  and, 
S.  W.,  by  the  Creek  ;  a  highway  between  him  and  Mrs.  Hop- 
kins, lie  had,  also,  twelve  acres  of  •'  upland  Lying  upon  the 
way  that  goes  to  the  Governor's  point ;  "  also,  sixty  acres  of 
"  upland  Lying  in  the  plaines  "  between  Henry  Norris  and 
Leonard  lleadley  ;  also,  nine  acres  of  "  meadow  Lying  at  the 
East  end  of  y*  great  Island."  Jonathan  had  a  house-lot  of 
six  acres,  15  by  4  chains  ;  bounded,  S.  E.,  by  his  younger 
brother,  Joseph  ;  and,  on  the  other  sides,  by  highways.  He 
had  twenty  two  acres  of  upland  in  a  triangle,  bounded  by  the 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  67 

Governor  and  Benjamin  Parkis ;  also  eighty  four  acres  of  up- 
land "  Lying  in  a  plaine,"  bounded  by  Benjamin  Parkis, 
Leonard  Headley,  Isaac  Whitehead,  Jr.,  and  the  Mill  brook  ; 
also,  fourteen  acres  of  meadow  in  two  plots,  on  the  Creek, 
and  on  the  Great  Island.  David's  house-lot  contained  five 
acres,  and  was  bounded,  E.,  by  the  Mill  Creek  ;  JST.,  by  Jef- 
fry  Jones ;  and,  TV.  and  S.,  by  highways.  He  had,  in  addi- 
tion, sixty  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Joseph  Prazee,  AVil- 
liam  Letts,  Samuel  Marsh,  Jr.,  and  Capt.  Baker ;  also  eight 
acres  of  meadow  on  Thompson's  Creek.* 

*  Alb.  Records,  11. 169 ;  IV.  240.  Iloadly'a  New  Haven  Records,  1. 178  ;  II.  89, 191,  8,293, 
393.  Trumbull's  Ct.  Records,  I.  280,  1,  2,  ^95,  7,  314,  6;  IL  3-11.  Doc.  Hist,  of  N.  Y.,  I.  684. 
E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  30,  106,  8, 110.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  8  ;  o.  c.  2;  II.  19,  22,  o.  e.,  21,  4,  5,  36,  42,  91,  2, 
7;  III.  3,  4;  L.  18,  21.    UinmaD,  I.  2S9,  729.    Howell's  Southampton,  pp.  26,  7,  90. 


08  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    V. 

A.  D.,  1C66. 

The    eighty  Associates,    their   Origin,   their    Location — Of  Puritan  Principles 
—  No  Congeniality  with  Carteret  and  his  Company. 

Such,  as  just  narrated,  were  the  original  Petitioners  and 
Patentees.  Who  were  the  other  Founders  of  the  town  ? 
What  was  their  origin — what  were  tlieir  principles,  and 
where  did  they  locate  ?  In  answering  these  inquiries,  those, 
who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  including  all  who  were  on 
the  ground  during  the  first  year  of  the  settlement,  will  be 
considered,  in  alphabetical  order. 

JoAKDi  Andkis  [Yokam  Andross,  Andrews]  was,  proba- 
bly, from  New  Haven,  Ct.,  and  a  son  of  Wm.  Andrews, 
who  came,  to  New  Haven,  previous  to  1643,  with  a  family 
of  eight  persons.  His  house-lot  contained  4  acres,  and  was 
bounded,  N.  and  E.,  by  a  highway  ;  S.,  by  Matthias  Hat- 
field ;  and,  W.,  by  Dennis  WJiite.  He  had  died,  in  1675, 
and  liis  widow,  Am}^,  sold,  June  22,  1675,  to  Thomas  Moore, 
"  the  house  Orchard  Garden  Home  Lott  Pasture  for  Calves," 
and  all  that  might  be  claimed  by  the  Concessions — a  first 
lot-right — except  20  acres  sold  by  her  husband  to  Peter 
Moss,  "  and  one  ])eare  tree  and  some  Gousberry  bushes," 
reserved  for  lier  own  use.* 

Francis  Barber  has  left  no  memorial  of  his  origin.     He 
sold,  Mar.  20,  1674-,  to  Vincent  Ronyon,  carpenter,  a  house- 
lot  (bought  of  Wm.  Pylcs,  who  had  bought  it  of  Thomas. 
Moore),  40  rods  by  16  ;  bounded,  N.,  by  George  Pack  ;  and 
fronting  on  the  highway.     He  was  still  here  in  the  following 

•  Barber's  HIb.  Colh  of  Ct.,  p.  ICO.    E.  J.  Records,  I.  4C,  7.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  lOS. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  69 

year,  but  must  have  removed,  soon  after,  to  Staten  Island, 
where,  on  the  W.  side  of  the  Island,  on  Smoking  Point,  Dec. 
21,  1680,  88  acres  of  woodland  and  meadow  were  surveyed 
for  him ;  and  where,  in  1686,  he  served  as  Commissioner  of 
Excise.  The  Barber  family,  of  a  later  date,  had  another 
origin  and  a  more  illustrious  record.* 

Robert  Blackwell  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
town,  though  his  name  is  not  found  in  any  town  docu- 
ment now  extant.  In  a  deed,  on  record  in  New  York, 
Robert  Blackwell  is  spoken  of  as  "late  of  Elizabeth-town 
in  New  Jersey,  merchant."  He  married,  Ap.  26,  1676, 
Mary  Manningham,  stepdaughter  of  Capt.  John  Manning 
(by  whom  the  cit^--  was  surrendered,  in  1673,  to  the  Dutch) ; 
and  so  became  the  owner  of  Manning's  Island,  since  known 
by  his  own  name.f 

Robert  Bond  was  the  father  of  Joseph,  and  a  resident  of 
Southampton,  L.  I.,  as  early  as  1643.  He  was  appointed, 
Oct.,  164:4:,  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Moore,  "to  demand  of  each  family  of  Southamp- 
ton, the  amount  they  would  give  for  the  maintenance  of 
scholars  at  Cambridge  College."  He  was  one  of  the  com- 
pany that  settled  East  Hampton,  in  161:8.  He  came,  origi- 
nally, from  Lynn,  Mass.,  and  was,  doubtless,  of  the  same 
stock  with  the  Watertown  family.  He  had  a  principal  part 
in  securing  the  land  of  East  Hampton  from  the  natives,  and 
in  transacting  the  bjisiness  of  the  town.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  magistrates  of  the  place,  and  repeatedly  represented  the 
town  in  the  General  Court  of  the  Colony.  John  Ogden  and 
Capt.  John  Scott  having  had  some  differences  with  the  town 
about  Meantaquit  [Montauk]  in  1662,  Robert  Bond  was 
chosen  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  settle  it.  'His  intimacy 
with  Ogden  [tradition  says  that  each  married  the  other's  sis- 
ter], and  others  of  his  neighbors,  who  were  about  to  remove 
to  these  parts,  led  him  to  cast  in  his  lot  witli  them,  and  lend 
his  valuable  counsels  to  the  settlement  of  this  town,  where 
his  influence  was  second  only  to  John  Ogden's.     Carteret,  at 

*  E.  J.  Kecords,  I.  24.    N.  T.  Col.  Docnits.,  III.  409,  404.    ^bany  Land  Papers,  I.  190. 
t  N.  York  Deeds,  1. 130.    Alb.  Records,  XXXIII.  309.    N.  York  Marriages,  p.  31. 


70  THE    HISTORY    OF 

his  coming,  was  glad  to  avail  himself  of  his  mature  experi- 
ence, and  appointed  him,  Jan.  2,  166},  one  of  his  Council, 
and  an  Assistant  to  the  Justices.  Gov.  "VVinthrop,  of  Con- 
necticut, highly  commended  him.  lie  was  appointed.  Mar. 
13,  16 7|,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  first  wife  was  Hannah, 
a  sister  of  John  Ogden.  After  her  death  he  married,  at 
Xewark,  in  1672,  Mary,  the  widow  of  Hugh  Roberts.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Hugh  Calkins,  an  emigrant  from  Wales, 
in  1640,  and  a  resident,  first  of  Gloucester,  Mass.,  and  then 
of  New  London,  Ct.  He  thus  became  interested  in  the 
Newark  colony,  and  was  elected,  the  same  year,  their  Repre- 
sentative. He  continued  still  to  reside  in  this  town,  where 
he  died,  April,  1677.  His  wife  survived  him  24  years. 
Stephen  Bond,  of  Newark,  was  one  of  his  sons.  The  father 
received  a  Warrant  for  360  acres  of  land  at  E.  Town,  June 
30,  1675,  but  a  caveat  was  entered  against  it,  Jan.  16, 1677, 
by  Benjamin  Price,  Sen',  Joseph,  at  the  same  date,  received 
n  Warrant  for  160  acres.* 

John  Brackett,  Sen"",  was  from  New  Haven,  Ct.,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers.  He  assented  to  the  Cove- 
nant there,  June  4,  1639,  and,  as  late  as  1643,  was  unmarried. 
At  the  seating  of  the  congregation,  in  1646,  places  were 
provided  for  him  and  "  Sister  Brockctt,"  showing  that,  pre- 
vious to  this  time,  he  had  taken  to  himself  a  wife.  He  was 
frequently  employed  in  laying  out  lands  about  the  town, 
and  his  name  is  of  frequent  occurrence  jn  the  Colonial  Rec- 
ords, until  1660.  When  troops  were  raised  to  resist  the 
encroaching  Dutch,  he  was  appointed,  June  23,  1654,  one  of 
the  "  surgions."  He  was  probably  induced  to  accompany 
his  neighbors  to  this  colony,  in  order  to  aid  them  in  laying 
out  their  lands.  Near  the  close  of  1667,  several  of  the  plant- 
ers having  urged  the  Governor  to  define  the  exact  bounds  of 

•  ct.  Col.  Records,  I.  SOS,  400,  429.  Howell's  Sonthampton.  pp.  28,  ISO.  K.  Y.  Doct. 
nis.,  I.  67T,  680,  4.  Hinman's  P.  S.  of  Ct.,  I.  2S9, 290,  729.  Newark  Bicentenary,  pp.  Ill,  181. 
Xcwark  Town  Records,  pp.  10,  28,  49, 85.  Miss  Calkins'  Korwich,  p.  171.  Stearns' Newark, 
p.  79.    3  Mass.  Uis.  Soc.  Coll.,  X.  84.     E.  T.  Bill,  p.  104.    E.  J.  Records,  II.  3,  III.  25,  124, 133. 

In  the  Inventory  of  his  estate,  Ap.  18,  1C77,  his  house  and  all  his  land  were  valued  at 
XTO;  two  oxen,  £12.  10.  0;  two  cows,  and  calves,  £9;  one  ''farrow  cow,"  £'i.  V>.  0;  two  two- 
year  old  heifers,  £5;  a  canonj  £1.  5.  0.    Tho  whole  amounted  to  £151. 11.  6. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  71 

their  several  possessions,  he  deputed  Brackett,  Dec.  19, 1667, 
in  the  absence  of  Vauquellin,  the  Surveyor-General,  "  to  lay 
out,  survey,  and  bound  the  said  bounds  of  Elizabeth  Towne 
the  planting  feilds  towne  lotts  and  to  lay  out  every  particu- 
lars man's  proportion  according  to  his  allotments  and  the 
directions  "  of  tlie  Governor  ;  "  for  the  avoiding  of  all  con- 
troversies and  disputes  hereafter  concerning  the  same,  hav- 
ing had  certain  notice  of  the  good  experience,  knowledge, 
skill  and  faithfulness  of  John  Brackett  in  the  surveying  and 
laying  out  of  land."  In  the  controversies  of  a  later  day,  it 
was  affirmed  by  the  town's  party,  that  they  had  "  not  seen, 
known,  or  heard  of  any  one  Survey  made  in  pursuance  of  that 
commission."  The  surveys  were  probably  made,  but  were 
superseded  by  later  and  more  accurate  surveys,  and  lience 
were  not  preserved.  Brackett  sold  out  his  rights,  as  early  as 
1670,  to  Samuel  Hopkins,  and  returned  to  New  Haven,  both 
he  and  his  son,  who,  also,  had  been  admitted  as  an  Associate. 
John,  Jr.,  died  at  New  Haven,  Nov.  29,  1676.  "  Brackett's 
Brook,"  a  branch  of  the  E.  Town  Creek,  in  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  indicates,  probably,  the  locality  of  their  allotment.* 

Nathaniel  Bunnell  [Bonnel]  was,  undoubtedly,  also,  from 
New  Haven,  Ct,  and  of  the  same  family  with  William  and 
Benjamin,  of  that  town.  William  was  there  previous  to  1650. 
Nathaniel  had  a  house-lot  of  six  acres,  15  by  4  chains, 
bounded, E., by  Thomas  Price;  W.,  and  N.,  by  Isaac  White- 
head, Sen"";  and  S.,  by  a  highway.  He  had,  also,  an  allot- 
ment of  120  acres,  '"  Lj'ing  upon  the  South  Branch  of  Eliz*^ 
Town  Creek,  and  }-'  plaine  which  said  above  mentioned  Creek 
passeth  through;"  also,  "  12  acres  of  meadow  Lying  in  the 
great  meadows  u[)on  John  AV^oodruffe's  Creek."f 

Nicolas  Cartek  came  from  Newtown,  L.  I.  His  name 
appears,  Ap.  12,  1656,  among  the  purchasers  of  that  place 
from  the  natives.  His  allotment  there  was  20  acres.  He 
came  there,  in  1652,  from  Stamford,  Ct.  He  is  repeatedly 
spoken  of,  in  the  Newtown  Records,  among  the  leading  men 

•  N.  Haven  Col.  Records,  Index  of  Vol.  L  E.J.  Kccords,  III.  12.  E.  T.  Book,  B.,  20,  7. 
Ads.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.   23.     Ilinman,  I.  240. 

t  Savage's  Gcncal.  Die,  I.  800.    E,  J.  Kccorde,  II.  180,    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  103. 


72  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  the  town,  until  1G65,  the  date  of  his  removal  to  this  place. 
His  son,  Nicholas,  born,  165S,  was  apprenticed,  Mar.  25, 
1669,  to  "  llichard  Painter,  Tayler,"  of  Elizabeth  Town. 
The  Indenture  says, — "  Unlawfull  Sports  and  Games  he  shall 
not  use.  Taverns  or  Tipling  houses  hee  shall  not  haunt  or 
frequent,  his  Masters  Goods  he  shall  not  Imbezle  purloin  or 
by  any  unlawfull  means  diminish  or  Impair,  his  Masters 
Secrets  he  shall  not  disclose."  His  house-lot  contained  five 
acres,  10  by  5  chains,  bounded,  E.,  and  S.,  by  highways ;  N., 
by  the  Creek  ;  and  S.,  by  William  Hill.  He  had,  also,  twenty 
acres  of  upland  on  Luke  Watson's  Point,  adjacent  to  Edward 
Case  and  Jacob  Melyen ;  also  forty  acres  of  upland  "  in  a 
swamp  lying  at  the  E.  side  of  the  blind  Ridge,"  bounded 
partly  by  Aaron  Thompson  and  Jacob  Melyen.  This  tract 
and  his  house-lot  he  sold,  Mar.  16,  167-^,  to  Benjamin  Wade, 
for  £30,  payable  in  Pipe  staves.  He  had,  also,  seventy  acres 
of  upland,  bounded  by  Roger  Lambert,  George  Pack,  and 
the  swamp;  also,  193  acres  of  upland,  on  the  Mill  Creek, 
bounded  by  Barnabas  Wines,  the  plain,  a  small  brook,  and 
the  Creek ;  also  22  acres  of  meadow,  in  the  Great  Meadow, 
and  18  acres  on  Thompson's  Creek.  His  allotments  con- 
tained 368  acres.  He  bought,  also.  Mar.  9,  167|,  of  Jacob 
Melyen,  then  of  the  city  of  N.  York,  101  acres  of  land  on  the 
South  Neck.  The  most  of  his  lands  he  sold,  May  18,  1681, 
to  Samuel  Wilson,  and  shortly  after  died.* 

Caleb  Cakwitiiy  [Carwithe,  Corwith]  was  the  son  of 
David,  a  resident  of  Southold,  L.  I.,  where  he  died,  Novem- 
ber, 1665.  Caleb  was  a  mariner,  and  quite  a  rover.  At 
Hartford,  Ct.,  he  was  arraigned,  Oct.,  1646,  for  pursuing  an 
absconding  debtor  on  the  Sabbath-day.  Previous  to  165-1, 
he  made  trading  voyages  between  New  Haven  and  Boston. 
In  1661,  he  resided  at  Southampton,  L.  I.  He  was  admitted, 
in  1661,  a  freeman  at  Huntington,  L.  I.  The  following  year 
he  came  to  this  place.  In  the  winter  of  166^,  he  entered 
into  an  Association  with  John  Ogden,  Sen*",  Jacob  Melyen, 
William  Johnson,  JeiFry  Jones  and  others  of  this  town,  for 

•  E.  J.  Records,  I.  7,  73, 101 ;  II.  92,  3 ;  III.  21 ;  IV.  34.  E.  T.  Bi'l,  p.  104.  Biker-.t  New- 
town,  pp.  48,  6,  50,  6'2,  419. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  Y3 

whaling  purposes.  His  house-lot  adjoined  Charles  Tucker 
on  tlie  West,  and  George  Ross  on  the  I^.  "West.  lie  sold 
thirty  acres  of  land,  Feb.  8,  167^,  for  £11,  to  William  Piles. 
A  year  or  two  after,  lie  removed  to  Southampton,  L.  I.,  where 
he  was  living  in  1G83,  and  where  his  descendants  have  been 
quite  numerous  and  respectable.* 

William  Ckamer  was  a  carpenter,  from  Southold,  L.  I., 
where  he  married  Elizabeth,  the  sister  of  Caleb  Car  withy. 
He  attached  himself  to  the  Governor's  party,  and  seems  not 
to  have  been  numbered  with  the  Town  Associates.  lie  was 
appointed,  Ap.  27,  1G70,  Constable  of  the  town,  in  place  of 
William  Pilles.  His  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  of  irregu- 
lar form,  bounded,  on  the  ]^r.  W.,  by  Evan  Salisburj^,  and  on 
every  other  side  by  highwaj^s.  He  had,  also,  5  acres  of  up- 
land, adjoining  John  Little ;  also,  10  acres  of  upland,  Ij'ing 
in  the  swamp,  bounded  by  Barnabas  Wines,  Richard  Beach, 
and  John  Little ;  also,  20  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Stephen 
Crane,  Roger  Lambert,  and  the  great  swamp  ;  also,  60  acres, 
adjoining  the  last  plot  and  Crane's  brook,  bounded,  also,  as  be- 
fore, by  Crane,  and  Lambert ;  also  80  acres,  "  at  the  two  mile 
brook,"  bound  by  unsurveyed  land  and  the  brook;  also,  8  acres 
of  upland  "  in  the  Neck,"  bounded  by  Caleb  Carwithy,  Luke 
Watson,  and  the  Creek  meadow  ;  also,  6  acres  of  meadow  on 
the  Creek,  and  1-i  acres  of  meadow,  "  at  Rahawack  :" — in  all 
209  acres.  He  sold  out,  Sept.  1,  1677,  to  John  Toe,  weaver, 
and  soon  after  removed  with  Luke  Watson  to  the  Hoar-Kill 
[Lewes],  Delaware.     He  had  died  in  1695. f 

Stephen  Crane  was  from  Connecticut,  and  was,  probably, 
nearly  related  to  Jasper  Crane,  of  Newark,  who  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  1639,  was  at  Bran  ford 
in  1652,  and  at  Newark,  in  1667;  The  family  is  quite  ancient 
and  honorable.  Ralph  Crane  accompanied  Sir  Francis  Drake 
to  America  in  1577,  and  Robert  Crane  was  of  the  lirst  com- 
pany that  came  to  Mass.  Bay,  in  1630.  Sir  Robert  Crane 
was  of  Essex  Co.,  Eng.,  in  1630;  and  Sir  Richard,  in  1643, 

♦  ct.  CoL  Kocords,  L143,  42S;  11.  120.  E.  .1.  Records,  I.  66;  H.  22,  34;  III.  22.  Howoll, 
pp.  4S,  217.     Bacon's  N.  Havon,  p.  366.     N.  T.  Doc.  History,  II.  538. 

t  E.  J.  r.econls,  I.  100,  160  ;  II.  10,  30;  HI.  35.    E.  T.  Book,  B.  56.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  106. 


Y4  THEniSTORYOF 

of  Wood  Rising,  Norfolk,  Eng.  Henry  and  Benjamin  Crane 
were  of  Wetherslield,  Ct.,  at  an  early  day,  and  the  former 
removed  thence  to  Guilford.  Stephen  was  born,  not  later 
than  1640,  and  was  married  fs  early  as  1663.  Ilis  house-lot 
contained  six  acres,  and  was  bounded,  S.  E.  by  Samuel  Trot- 
ter ;  N.  W.  by  Crane's  brook ;  E.,  by  the  Mill  Creek ;  and,  W., 
by  the  higlnvay.  lie  had,  also,  60  acres  between  two  swamps, 
and  adjoining  William  Cramer ;  also,  72  acres,  on  Crane's 
brook,  bounded  by  the  brook,  William  Cramer,  Richard 
Beach,  Nathaniel  Tattle,  and  William  Pardon  ;  also,  18  acres 
of  meadow,  "  towards  Rawack  point ;  " — in  all  156  acres, 
lie  died  about  1700.* 

John  Dickinson  was  from  South  old,  L.  I.,  and  a  son,  or 
brother,  of  Philemon,  who  came  over,  in  the  Mary  Ann,  1637, 
to  Salem,  Mass.,  was  admitted  to  the  church,  in  1641,  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Payne,  of  Salem,  removed  to 
Southold,  about  1649,  was  Capt.  of  a  sloop,  in  those  parts, 
and  resided  at  Oyster  Bay,  in  1653.  John  was  one  of  the 
witnesses,  Aug.  18,  1665,  to  the  payment,  to  the  Indians,  of  a 
part  of  the  purchase  money  for  the  town  lands,  and  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  in  Feb.  following.  He  died  soon  after,  and 
Lis  rights  were  transferred  to  John  Ogden.f 

Joseph  Ffrazey  [FfwAzee]  came  with  the  first  settlers,  but 
whence  does  not  appear.  His  house-lot  contained  6  acres,  of 
the  usual  form,  15  by  4  chains ;  and  was  bounded,  S.  W.,  by 
David  Ogden ;  N.  E.,  by  William  Letts ;  S.  E.,  by  a  highway ; 
and,  N.  W.,  by  a  swamp.  He  received.  May  9,  1676,  a  war- 
rant for  120  acres.  Feb.  1,  1685,  he  received  a  warrant  for 
50  acres  adjoining  his  own  land  "  betwixt  Raway  River 
and  the  branch,  in  Compensation  for  two  liigliways  made 
through  his  Land  one  leading  to  Vincents  and  the  other  to 
Woodbridge."  His  son,  Joseph,  had,  also,  135  acres  on 
"  Raway"  River  adjoining  Dr.  Robinson's  land  ;  and  15  acres 
of  meadow  between  Rah  way  River  and  ''  Emet's  Creek." 
The  house-lot  he  sold,  to  William  Looker,  then  of  AYood- 
bridge.     Frazee  bought,  Sep.  21,  1678,  of  Luke  Watson,  182 

•  E.  J.  Records,  II.  20,  85.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  104.     Ilinmttn,  I.  742-51. 

t  Savnge,  II.  49.    Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  4S6.    4  Mass.  Ills.  Boo.  Coll.,  I.  99. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  75 

acres ;  and,  July  4,  1682,  William  Broadwell's  town  lands. 
His  possessions  were  mostly  along  the  Railway  river ;  and 
the  family  settled  eventually  in  Westfield  and  New  Provi- 
dence. A  tract  of  land  on  the  Passaic  river  has,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  locating  upon  it,  been  called,  "Frazeys  Mead- 
ows." Mr.  Frazey  sold,  Sept.  7,  1698,  39  acres,  E.  of  the 
Rahway,  to  Samuel  Pack.     He*  died  in  January,  ITl J." 

John  Gray  was,  as  elsewhere  said,  the  step-father  of  Luke 
AVatson,  having  married,  as  early  as  1644,  Elizabeth,  AYat- 
son's  mother,  and  daughter  of  William  Frost,  of  Uncowah 
[Fairfield],  Ct.  He  was  one  of  the  patentees  of  Newtown, 
L.  L,  being,  with  three  exceptions,  the  largest  contributor, 
among  many,  to  the  expense  of  the  purchase.  He  incurred, 
in  1653,  the  wrath  of  the  Dutch  Government  (for  what  does 
not  appear),  and  sentence  of  banishment  was  pronounced 
against  him,  March  24.  Again,  Aug.  10,  1654,  he  was  on 
trial  "accused  of  divers  crimes,"  of  which  "abusing  the 
magistrates  "  of  the  town  alone  is  specified.  He  confessed, 
was  indicted,  and  sentenced,  Jan.  26,  1656,  he  is  spoken  of 
as  "a  fugitive  from  justice."  Yet,  in  1658,  he  was  still  re- 
siding at  Newtown.  His  offence  was,  probably,  political. 
He  must  have  been  well  advanced  in  life,  when  he  accom- 
panied Watson  to  this  town,  and,  having  lost  his  first  wife, 

had  married  Hannah ,  to  whom,  by  deed,  Sep.  10, 1675, 

he  gave  his  estate.  In  April,  1673,  when  he  sold  his  meadow 
land  to  William  Pilles,  he  had  removed  to  New  Piscataway. 
He  probably  died  soon  after  the  gift  to  his  wife.  No  record 
is  found  of  his  allotments. f 

Daniel  Harris  was  from  Northampton,  L.  I.,  and  a  son 
of  George,  who  was  one  of  the  neighbors  of  John  Ogden. 
He  came  on  witli  the  first  emigration  (probably  unmarried), 
induced,  it  may  be,  by  his  early  companions,  Ogdcn's  boys. 
He  has  left  no  memorial.  Henry  Harris,  who  was  one  of 
Mr.  Harriman's  parishioners  in  1696,  may  have  been  his  sod, 
and  George  Harris,  in  1725,  a  grandson.:}: 

•  E.J.  Records,  1,87,115, 1S7;  11.10,22;  IV.  19  ;  G.  137.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  107.   Will.^No.l- 
t  E,  J.  Records,  I.  61.    Riker,  p.  43.    N.  Uavcu  Col.  Records,  I.  465.    Calendar  of  Dutch 
MSS.,  pp.  46,  131,  139,  169, 165,  19S. 

J  Howell's  Southampton,  pp.  234-5.    Harriman's  Lodger,  p.  104. 


76  THE    HISTORY    OF 

* 
Lkonard  IIeadley  has  left  no  memorial  of  his  origin.    He 

had  surveyed,  Oct.  1-i,  1G7S,  "  in  right  of  himself  and  his 
wife,"  150  acres.  His  house-lot  contained  4  acres,  10  by  4 
chains,  bounded,  N.  W.,  b}^  John  Ogden,  Jr.,  and,  on  the 
other  sides,  by  highways.  He  had  8  acres  of  upland  "  at 
Bracket's  Spring,"  and  along  the  brook,  adjoining  Hur 
Thompson,  and  a  swamp;  also,  G  acres  of  upland,  "lying in 
the  way  going  to  the  point,"  bounded  in  part  by  John  Ogden, 
Jr.,  and  John  Woodruff;  also  20  acres  on  the  Creek,  bounded 
by  Daniel  DeHart  and  Robert  Yauquellin  ;  also,  33  acres, 
"  in  the  plaine,"  bounded  by  George  Morris  and  John  Ogden, 
Jr.  ;  also,  65  acres  of  upland  "  at  the  North  end  of  the  plaine," 
"  by  the  Mill  brooke,"  and  bounded  by  Margaret  Baker,  Jona- 
than Ogden,  and  Benjamin  Barkis;  also  14  acres  in  the  Great 
Meadow.  He  died,  Feb.,  1683,  and  Sarah  Smith  administered 
on  his  estate,  which  was  valued  at  £99.  3.  6.* 

Matthias  Heatiifield  [Hetfield,  Hatfield]  was  a  weaver, 
and  came  hither  from  New  Haven,  Ct.,  where  he  took  the 
oath  of  fidelity,  May  1,  1660.  In  the  Record  of  Surveys, 
Aug.  29,  1676,  he  is  called  "  Hatfeild,"  and,  in  his  will, 
"  Hattiield."  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  son  of  Thomas 
Hatfield,  of  Leyden,  a  member  of  John  Robinson's  church, 
and  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  Eng.  Mr.  Thomas  Hatfield, 
who  settled  about  the  same  time  at  Mamaroneck,  N.  Y.,  was, 
probably,  his  brother.  His  house-lot  contained  5  acres,  10  by 
5  chains,  bounded,  E.,  by  the  highway  and  Thomas  Moore ; 
N.,  and  S.,  by  unsurveyed  land  ;  and,  W.,  by  Denis  White. 
He  had,  also,  22  acres  of  upland,  "  in  a  triangle,"  bounded 
by  William  Letts,  John  Winans,  Samuel  Marsh,  and  a 
swamp  ;  also,  12  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Nathaniel  Bou- 
nd, Robert  Vauquellin,  and  a  way  that  parted  him  from 
Gov.  Carteret ;  also,  112  acres  of  uj^land  on  "the  two  mile 
brook.; "  also,  40  acres  of  upland,  "  towards  the  west  branch 
of  Elizabeth  Town  River,"  bounded  by  John  Winans  and  an 
Indian  path  ;  also,  14  acres  of  meadow  "  at  Rawack,"  and  3 
acres  of  meadow  on  the  N.  side  of  E.  Town  Creek ;  in  all 

•  E.  J.  Records,  II.  3,  93,  A.  ISI. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  77 

208  acres.  He  was  a  boatman,  as  well  as  a  weaver,  and 
seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  considerable  means.  "  For 
twelve  hundred  gilders  secured  to  him  by  bill"  (a  large 
sum  in  those  days),  he  purchased,  Dec.  5, 1673,  of  "  Abeauam 
LuBBERSON  of  Ncw  Orauia  in  the  ]^ew  Netherlands,  his 
dwelling-house  and  home-lott,  with  all  other  accommodations 
belonging  to  s'*  first  Lott,  within  the  bounds  of  Elizabeth  both 
upland  and  meadow." 

It  thus  appears,  that  Mr.  Lubberson  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  town.  He  liad  been  a  citizen  of  New  Amster- 
dam, before  the  conquest,  and  resided,  in  1665,  in  De  Iloogh 
Straat  [High  st.],  now  Pearl,  east  of  Broad  sts.,  having  pre. 
viously  lived,  for  several  years,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Prince 
Graft  [Broad  st.].  This  latter  residence  he  sold,  Sep.  5, 1671, 
and  is  spoken  of,  in  the  deed,  as  "  Abram  Lubberse  of  Eliza- 
beth towne  in  New  Jcarsic."  He  was  one  of  the  Skippers 
of  the  Port,  having  command  of  a  Hudson  river  sloop.  He 
came  here  in  1666,  or  7,  and  built  the  stone  house,  on  the 
lower  part  of  Pearl  st.,  at  its  junction  with  Hatfield  st.,  now 
in  the  possession  of  Abel  S.  Hatfield.  It  is,  undoubtedly,  the 
oldest  house  in  town,  is  in  good  repair,  and  has  never  been 
alienated  from  the  family  since  its  purchase  in  1673.  Mr. 
Lubbersen  had  three  children  born  here :  Abraham,  Josias, 
and  Andries.  On  the  reconquest  of  New  York,  by  the  Dutch, 
in  1673,  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  New  Orange,  as  the 
city  was  then  called. 

Mr.  Hatfield  was  the  original  owner  of  the  land  on  which 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  stands,  and  is  entitled  to  the 
credit  of  having  given  it  to  the  town  for  a  church  and  burial 
place.  When  the  church-property  was  surveyed  in  1766, 
the  Trustees  afhrmed  "  tliat  the  first  Purchasers  and  Asso- 
ciates did  give  the  af""  Tract  of  land  for  the  use  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  tlie  Ilecord  of  which  on  or  about  the  year 
1719  was  either  lost  or  destroyed."  This  statement  was  ad- 
mitted by  the  Town  Committee,  and  they  allowed,  Aug.  27, 
1766,  the  above  "  Lot  of  Land  to  the  s"  Trustees  their  Heirs 
and  Successors  on  the  right  of  Matthias  Hatfield,  one  of  the 
s  Associates."     A  grandson  of  Mr.  Hatfield  had  then  been  a 


78  THEUISTORYOF 

Trustee  of  the  Church  for  12  years,  and  was  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  tlie  Board.  He  must  have  known  the  exact  state  of 
tlie  case.  Mr.  Hatfield  died  in  December,  1687,  his  wife, 
Maria  (of  Dutch  nativity),  and  three  sons,  Isaac,  Abraham, 
and  Cornelius,  surviving  him.  It  is  not  known,  though  it  is 
quite  probable,  that  he  left  daughters  also.* 

John  Hinds  [Heynes,  IIaynes,  Haines],  and  his  brother, 
James,  were  "  East  Enders"  from  Long  Island.  They  were 
sons  of  James  Hinds,  who  came  over  from  England  to  Salem, 
Mass.,  as  early  as  1637,  when  he  was  admitted  a  freeman. 
He  married  in  1638,  and,  at  an  early  day,  removed  to  South- 
old,  L.  I.,  where  he  died,  March,  165f ,  his  estate  being  valued 
at  £123.  5.  4.  He  had  eight  children :  John,  James,  Ben- 
jamin, Mary,  James  2d,  Jonathan,  Sarah,  and  Thomas.  His 
widow  was  married,  in  June  1656,  to  Ealph  Dayton,  of  South- 
old.  John  was  the  oldest  son,  and  was  baptized,  Aug.  28, 
1639.  James  was  baptized,  Feb.  27, 164|^.  Benjamin  Haines, 
who  was  at  Southampton,  in  1639,  and  a  resident  of  North 
Sea  [Northampton]  in  1657,  was,  probably,  a  brother  of 
James  Sen^  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Stephen,  who  re- 
moved to  this  town  as  early  as  1725,  and  was  the  ancestor  of 
Gov.  Daniel  Haines. 

John  Hinds,  the  son  of  James,  Sen',  of  Southold,  was  bred 
a  cooper.  No  record  remains  of  his  allotments  of  land.  He 
married  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Goodman  Thompson,  and  their 
daughter  had  been  married,  as  earl}'  as  1700,  to  Isaac  White- 
head, Jr.  He  was  a  constable  of  the  town  in  1710  and  1711. 
A  curious  record  of  him  occurs  in  the  Ledger  of  Rev.  John 
Harriman :  "  169|^,  ffeb.  28,  pr  acco^  of  teaching  my  son 
Samuel  the  mister}"  of  a  cooper,  tho''  not  pformed  accord- 
ing to  bargain— £4.  00.  00." 

James  was,  also,  a  cooper,  and  came  here,  about  ten  years 
later  than  his  brother,  John.  He  received,  July  11,  1677,  a 
warrant  "  in  Right  of  himself  &  his  wife,"  for  120  acres  of 
land ;  on  account  of  which  he  had  a  survey  of  108  acres  of 

♦  N.  n*v«n  Col.  Records,  I.  141.  E.  .T.  Ilcconls,  II.  24.  106-7 ;  26,  o.  e. ;  B.  306.  Valen- 
tine's N.  V.  Manual  for  1850,  p.  452;  1861,  p.  440;  1S53,  pp.  475,  8,  4S0 ;  1SC3,  p.  792  ;  1865, 
pp.  CCl,  672,  706,  710.    E.  T.  Book,  B.  47,  170. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  79 

upland  bounded  by  Richard  Clark,  James  Emot,  and  the 
West  brook ;  also,  12  acres  of  "  meadow  in  the  great  Meadows." 
He  purchased,  Sep.  4, 1G76,  of  William  Looker,  then  of  Jamai- 
ca, L.  I.,  his  house,  garden,  orchard  and  house-lot,  probably 
in  the  way  of  trade,  as  he  continued  still  to  reside  in  this 
town,  and  was  living  in  1703.* 

Benjamin  Homan  [Oman]  was  from  the  East  End  of  Long 
Island.  John  Iloman  was  at  Setauket  [Brookhaven],  a  few 
years  later,  and  was,  it  may  be,  either  his  father,  or  his  son. 
He  was  one  of  the  Associates  of  the  Town,  and  had  the  usual 
allotments  of  land,  but  no  mention  is  made  of  them  in  the 
.records.  He  lived  a  bachelor  until  his  death,  Ap.  1,  1684. 
He  gave,  by  will,  six  acres  to  Benjamin  Meeker,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  his  estate,  valued  at  £63.  5.  6,  to  Martha  Barkis 
[Barkhurst]  of  E.  Town,  widow.  She  may  have  been  his 
sister.f 

William  Johnson  was  at  New  Haven,  Ct,  as  early  as  the 
year  1648.  Thomas  and  John,  who  came  to  Newark,  in  1666-7, 
the  one  from  Milford,  and  the  other  from  Branford,  the  sons 
of  Robert,  an  emigrant  to  New  Haven,  from  Hull,  Eng.,  were, 
probably,  his  cousins.  They  had  a  brother,  William,  but  he 
continued  at  Guilford,  Ct.,  was  a  deacon  of  the  church,  and 
grandfather  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  of  N.  York.  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  of  this  town,  had  a  house-lot  of  four  acres,  10 
by  4  chains,  bounded,  W.,  by  Humphry  Spinage  ;  S.,  by  Ja- 
cob Melyen  ;  and  N.,  and  E.,  by  highways ;  also,  12  acres  of 
upland,  on  "the  little  Neck,"  bounded  by  George  Ross, 
Humphry  Spinage,  and  his  own  meadow  ;  also  60  acres  of 
upland  on  "  Rawack  "  river,  bounded  by  Symon  Rous,  the 
swamp,  the  river,  and  his  meadow — "  a  highway  to  pass 
through  the  said  Land ; "  also,  60  acres  of  upland,  on  "  Rawack 
plaine,"  bounded  by  Luke  Watson,  Symon  Rous,  a  swamp, 
and  unsurveyed  land  ;  also,  100  acres  of  upland,  on  "the  W. 
branch  of  Rawack  River ;  "  also,  6  acres  of  meadow  on  Ra- 
wack river;  also,  6  acres  of  meadow  on  E.  T.  Creek,  joining 

•  N.  Haven  Col.  Records,  II.  15S,  9.    Savage's  Gen.  Die,  IL  8SS-9.    nowcll,  pp.  31,  236 
t.  J.  Records,  IL  65 ;  O.  S9.    Macdonald's  Jamaica,  p.  61.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  105. 
t  Thompson's  L.  I.,  II.  399.    E.  J.  Records,  15.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  103. 


30  THEHISTORYOF 

his  12  acre  lot ;  also  13  acres  of  meaclaw,  on  the  Rawack 
river;  in  all,  262  acres.  He  mortgaged,  'Nov.  11,  1678,  his 
whole  estate  in  the  town  to  Roger  Lambert,  to  secure  the 
payment  of  £100,  and  subsequently  Lambert  became  the 
owner.* 

Jeffry  Jonfs  was  from  Southold,  L.  L,  where  he  was 
made  a  freeman.  May,  1664.  He  and  Edward  Jones,  who  was 
at  Southampton,  as  early  as  1611,  it  is  thought  were  sons  of 
the  Rev.  John  Jones,  who  came  with  tlie  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard, 
of  Cambridge,  and  the  Rev.  John  Wilson,  of  Boston,  Mass., 
from  England,  arriving  Oct.  2, 1635  ;  was  a  colleague  of  Rev. 
Peter  Bulkley,  of  Concord,  Mass.,  from  1636  to  1611,  when 
he  came  to  Fairfield,  Ct,  and  resided  there  until  his  death, 
1661,  being  over  70  years  of  age.  One  of  the  sons,  Rev. 
Eliphalet  (born,  Jan.  9, 1640),  was  the  first  minister  of  Hunt- 
ington, L.  I.  Jeffry  Jones'  had  a  liouse-lot  on  the  "West  side 
of  Mill  Creek,  between  David  Ogden  on  the  S.,  and  AVilliam 
Cramer,  on  the  N.  He  had  a  warrant  for  ISO  acres,  but  no 
return  of  the  survey  is  on  record.  His  house-lot  he  sold, 
Aug.  24, 16S6,  to  Jonas  Wood.  He  was  associated,  May  20, 
1668,  with  Ogden,  Bond,  and  Watson,  in  running  the  bound- 
ary line  between  this  town  and  Newark.  He  was,  also,  one 
of  the  Whaling  Company,  incorporated,  Feb.  15,  166-|.  An 
action  of  Trespass  and  Ejectment  was  brought  against  him 
by  "  the  Proprietors,"  in  the  name  of  James  Fullerton,  in 
1693,  because  of  his  refusal  to  take  out  a  Patent  from  them 
for  his  lands,  and  to  pay  them  "  Quit  Rents."  Judgment 
having  been  rendered  against  him,  he  appealed  to  the  King 
in  Council,  by  whom,  Feb.  25,  1696,  it  was  set  aside.  He 
outlived  the  most  of  the  founders  of  the  town,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  Dec.  1717.t 

Thomas  Leonards  was,  doubtless  of  the  Southampton  stock. 
He  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  Connecticut,  in  1658.  He 
probably  died  soon  after  his  coming,  as  no  subsequent  trace 
of  him  has  been  found.:}: 

•  E.  J.  Kccor(l.«,  I.  108.  127;  II.  20,  150.     Ct.  Col.  Kcconls,  I.  94.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  103. 
t  lb,  pp.  44,  lOG,  120,2.  E.  J.  Rccora.s  I.  89  ;  II.  21 ;  III.  eS,  119  ;    Wills,  A.  8'J.    Savage,  II. 
6C2.    Ncwnrk  Records,  p.  10.    Ct.  Col.  Eecords,  I.  42T.    Shattuck's  Concord,  pp.  14S- 164. 
J  Savage,  III.  60. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  81 

Samuel  Maksii  was  from  Now  Haven,  Ct.,  where  lie  took 
the  oath  of  fidelity,  May  2, 1647.  He  came  here,  among  the 
first  settlers  from  Ct.,  with  his  wife  and  seven  children.  His 
house-lot  contained  seven  acres,  of  irregular  form,  6  chains 
broad,  and  in  length,  15  chains  on  the  W.  side,  and  10  chains 
on  the  E.  side,  bounded,  on  the  W.,  by  Jonas  Wood,  and  on 
the  other  sides  by  highways.  He  had,  also,  18  acres  of  up- 
land "  in  the  Neck,"  bounded  by  John  AVinans,  Matthias 
Hatfield,  and  William  Letts ;  also,  100  acres  of  upland,  "  at 
Rawack,"  called  by  the  Name  of  Ragged  Neck,  bounded  by 
Jefii-y  Jones,  Simon  Rouse,  and  his  own  meadow  ;  also,  GO 
acres  of  upland,  adjoining  tlie  100  acre  lot,  bounded  by  Jefi'ry 
Jones,  a  great  swamp,  and  his  own  land ;  also,  14  acres  of 
meadow,  on  the  N.  side  of  liis  upland,  and  G  acres  of  meadow 
at  Luke  Watson's  Neck,  on  the  N.  side  of  Thompson's  Creek : 
in  all  205  acres.  His  eldest  son,  Samuel,  Jr.,  was  admitted 
among  the  80  Associates,  and  had  an  allotment  of  80  acres 
of  upland,  at  "  Rahawack,"  bounded  by  Robert  Vauquellin, 
Simon  Rouse,  Tliomas  Moore,  Benjamin  Wade,  and  a  great 
swamp ;  also,  10  acres  of  upland  on  the  two-mile  brook,  ad- 
joining Matthias  Hatfield,  and  David  Oliver;  also,  10  acres 
of  meadow,  "lying  at  Rahawack  in  the  Meadow  of  Samuel 
Marsh,  Sen^ :  "  in  all,  100  acres.  "  Old  Mash,"  as  the  father 
was  familiarly  called,  died  in  September,  1683.* 

William  Meeker  was,  also,  from  New  Haven,  Ct.,  where 
he  took  the  oath  of  fidelity,  July  1,  1644.  He  was  pro- 
pounded, Oct.  7,1646,  to  "be  loader  to  mill,"  "for' a  12 
month,"  "  to  goe  in  all  seasons  except  vnreasonable  weatlie]"." 
Frequently  he  appears  in  the  records  as  "Meaker,"  and 
"  Mecar."  His  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  N., 
by  Henry  Norris ;  W.,  by  the  highway ;  S.,  by  his  son,  Jo- 
seph ;  and,  E.,  by  the  swamp.  He  had,  also,  13  acres  of 
upland,  bounded  by  his  son,  Benjamin,  Robert  Bond,  and 
Joseph  Osborne  ;  also,  45  acres  of  upland  "  by  Henry  Lyon," 
bounded  by  his  son,  Benjamin,  and  Robert  Bond  ;  also,  75 
acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Hur  Thompson,  a  small  brook, 

*  N.  Haven  Col.  Records,  I.  140,  229,  283,  270, 1,  373,  474.  E.  J.  Ilccords,  I.  160 ;  II  20,  01, 
35  ;  A.  102.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  105,  S.    Savnge,  III.  155. 

6 


82  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  a  swamp ;  also,  12  acres  of  meadow,  on  the  S.  side  of 
Bound  Creek,  and  2^  acres  on  E.  Town  Creek :  in  all,  152 
acres.  He  was  appointed,  Oct.  13,  1671,  constable  of  the 
town,  and,  in  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  became 
obnoxious  to  the  Governor  and  his  party,  and  the  property 
just  described  was  forfeited  in  favor  of  "William  Pardon,  as 
related  on  a  subsequent  page.  His  sons,  Joseph  and  Ben- 
jamin, were,  also,  numbered  among  the  80  Associates.  Jo- 
SEPii  had  a  house-lot,  containing  six  acres,  bounded,  N.,  by 
his  father;  S.,  by  his  brother,  Benjamin;  E.,  by  Robert 
Yauquellin  ;  and,  W.,  by  a  highway.  He  had,  also,  35  acres, 
bounded  by  Joseph  Sayre,  a  small  brook,  a  fresh  meadow, 
and  a  highway  that  goes  into  the  Meadows ;  also,  45  acres, 
"  adjoining  to  Master  Bond,"  bounded  by  Henrj^  Lyon,  Rob- 
ert Bond,  Henry  Xorris,  and  John  Woodruff;  also,  12  acres 
"  on  the  AYest  Side  cf  the  plaine,"  bounded  by  Moses  Thomp- 
son, Isaac  Whitehead,  Sen'',  Moses  Hopkins,  and  the  Mill 
Creek:  in  all,  98  acres.  Benjamin  had  a  house-lot,  contain- 
ing five  acres,  9  by  5^  chains,  bounded,  AV".,  by  a  highway ; 
E.,  b}'  George  Morris  and  Henry  Lyon  ;  IST.,  by  his  brother, 
Joseph  ;  and,  S.,  by  unsurveyed  land.  He  had,  also,  24  acres 
of  upland,  bounded  hy  Joseph  Osborne,  Robert  Bond,  and 
"a  run;"  also,  60  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Robert 
Bond,  Henry  Lyon,  and  Isaac  AVhitehead,  Sen' ;  also,  GG 
acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Ilur  Thompson,  two  small 
brooks,  and  a  swamp  ;  in  all,  155  acres.  He  was  one  of  the 
town  constables  in  1711.  Josepli  kept  a  country  store,  and 
Benjamin  was  a  carpenter  ;  while  both  were  planters.  The 
father  died  in  December,  1690." 

Jacob  Melyen  [Moullains,  Murline,  Mi^lleyns,  Melyn, 
Mi'XEiNs]  came  here  from  Kew  Haven,  Ct.,  but  was  previ- 
ously of  JSTew  Amsterdam.  He  was  the  son  of  the  patroon, 
Cornells  Melyn,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  every  student  of 
Dutch  American  history.  The  father  was,  born,  1602,  at 
Antwerp,  Holland,  and  emigrated,  in  1639,  to  N'ew  Nether- 
land.     He  returned,  in  1610,  for  his  wife    (Janneken)   and 

•  N.  Ilavcn  Col.  Records,  I.  122,  ISO,  273.  E.  J.  Eccordf,  II.  1,18,  24,  CO,  146;  III.  47,  S2; 
O.  70, 1.    E.  T.  Bill,  r.  103. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  83 

cliikiron,  and  obtained  a  grant  of  Staten  Island.  There  he 
planted  a  colony,  in  IG'il,  which  was  broken  np  by  the  Indian 
war  of  lG-i3.  Reraoving  to  New  Amsterdam,  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Broad,  between  Stone  and  Pearl,  sts.,  on  the  E. 
side.  He  espoused  the  popular  side  in  politics,  for  which  he 
was  lieavily  fined  by  Gov.  Stuyvesant,  and  banished  for 
seven  years.  Pie  returned  to  Holland  for  redress,  was 
wrecked,  Sep.  27,  lGi7,  and  lost  one  of  his  sons,  barely 
escaping  with  his  own  life.  The  Home  Government  sus- 
tained his  appeal,  but  Stuyvesant  still  ])ersisted  in  his  oppo- 
sition. After  another  voyage  to  Holland,  he  re-established 
himself,  in  1650,  on  Staten  Island,  continuing  there  until  the 
colony  was  again  dispersed  by  the  Indians,  in  the  massacre 
of  1655.  He  removed  to  New  Haven,  Ct.,  where  he  and  his 
son,  Jacob,  took  the  oath  of  fidelity,  Ap.  7,  1657.  In  1659, 
he  repaired  again  to  Holland,  cftected  a  settlement  of  his 
difiiculties,  relinquished  Staten  Island  to  the  "West  India 
Company,  and  soon  after  returned  to  New  Netherland.  He 
had  died  in  1674,  leaving  his  M'ife,  three  sons, — Jacob,  Cor- 
nelis,  and  Isaac, — and  three  danghteus,  Marian  (married  and 
residing  at  N.  Haven),  Susanna  and  Magdaleen,  who  were 
married  subsequently  to  Jacob  Schellinger  and  Jacob  So]^ei", 
merchants  of  N.  York. 

Jacob,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  at  Antwerp,  Holland,  about 
1640,  and  came  an  infant  to  America.  His  boyhood  was 
passed  in  the  midst  of  the  exciting  scenes  just  referred  to, 
•by  which  he  was  educated  in  the  love  of  liberty  and  hatred 
of  oppression.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  Holland  and 
back,  in  1659,  returning  to  N.  Haven,  He  was  reprimanded. 
May  1,  1660,  by  Gov.  Newman,  as  related  in  the  "Blue 
Laws"  of  Ct.,  for  kissing  and  taking  other  improper  liberties 
with  Miss  Sarah  Tiittlc.  He  married,  in  166'2,  Hannah, 
the  daughter  of  George  Hubbard,  of  Guilford,  Ct.  Her 
sister,  Abigail,  in  1657,  had  become  the  wife  of  Humphrey 
Spinning.  He  and  Spinning  attached  themselves  to  the  band 
of  pilgrims,  who,  in  1665,  emigrated  from  New  Haven  to 
this  town.  He  had  been  familiar,  doubtless,  witli  this  par- 
ticular locality  from  his  childhood,  by  reason  of  his  residence 


84  THE    HISTORY    or 

on  Statcn  Islaiul.  His  knowledge  of  the  Dutch  language, 
;  and  possibly  of  the  Indian  tongue  also,  made  him  a  valuable 
acquisition  to  the  new  colony  of  Achter  Kol. 

His  house-lot  contained  four  acres,  10  by  4  chains,  and 
was  bounded,  W.,  by  his  brother-in-law,  Humphrey  Spinning; 
S.,  by  John  Winans  ;  N.,  by  William  Johnson  ;  and,  E.,  by 
a  highwa}'.  This  lot,  with  his  house,  barn,  orchard,  &c,,  he 
sold,  Feb.  8,  1C7},  to  John  Winans.  He  had  100  acres  on 
the  South  Neck  of  E.  T.,  which  he  sold,  Mar.  9,  167f,  to 
Nicholas  Carter.  For  himself,  wife,  and  two  servants,  he 
was  allowed  360  acres.  His  patent  gave  him  450  acres.  He 
was  a  partner  in  the  whaling  company  of  1660.  During  the 
Dutch  rule,  1673-4,  he  was  in  high  favor,  being  appointed 
one  of  the  Schepens  of  the  town,  and  Captain  of  the  militia 
company.  He  removed  to  New  York  in  1674,  and  resided 
in  the  Mill  st.  Lane  [S.  "William  st.].  Two  of  his  children, 
Susanna  and  Jacob,  were  baptized  in  the  Dutch  chh.,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  3,  1674;  and  three  others,  Daniel,  Samuel,  and  Abigail, 
Aug.  7,  1677.  Subsequently  to  1683,  he  removed  to  Boston, 
probably  for  the  convenience  of  educating  his  son,  Samuel 
(afterwards  a  minister  of  this  town),  who  graduated,  in  1696, 
at  Harvard  College.  At  Boston,  he  traded  in  leather,  and 
served,  several  years,  as  constable.  His  decease  occurred  in 
December,  1706,  his  wife  surviving  until  1717.  His  daugh- 
ter, Abigail,  married  (1.)  William  Tilley,  and  (2.)  Chief  Justice 
Samuel  Scwall.  His  daughter,  Joanna,  born  in  1683,  about 
the  time  that  he  removed  to  Boston,  became  the  wife  of  the 
Hev.  Jonathan  Dickinson  of  this  town.  In  his  will,  he 
affirms  that  he  had  spent  £300.  on  Samuel's  education.  In 
the  Boston  News  Letter,  Oct,  1,  1705,  is  an  Advertisement 
■  in  these  words  :  "  A  House  and  Land  in  the  High-Fore-Street 
at  the  Sign  of  the  Buck,  in  the  South  End  of  Boston,  now  in 
the  Occupancy  of  Mr.  Jacob  Melyen,  to  be  Sold."''"' 

Teiomas  More  [Moor,  Moore]  was  from  Southold,  L.  I, 
He  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  who  came  over,  in  1630,  in  the 

•  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  109.  E.  J.  KecorclS;  I.  101,  S,  1C3 ;  II.  4C;  III.  23,  N.  Y.  Col.  Docrnts.,  II. 
571,682,603,700.  Calendar  of  N.  Y.  Ills.  Mes,  2S,  40,  40,  124,  ISl.  Savago,  III.  195.  Valen- 
tine's N.  T.,  1863,  p.  795.    Boston  News  Letter,  No.  76. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  85 

Maiy  and  John,  to  Dorchester,  Mass. ;  joined  the  Church,  at 
Salem  ;  was  admitted  a  freeman.  May  18, 1G31 ;  and  removed, 
with  his  brother,  Deacon  John  Moore,  first  to  Windsor,  Ct., 
then  to  Southampton,  and  tlion  toSouthold,  L.  L  The  father 
was  a  man  of  influence,  and  represented  Southold  in  the 
General  Court  at  New  Haven,  in  1658,  and  at  Hartford  in 
1664.  Thomas,  Jr.,  was  at  Newtown  in  1664,  whence,  the 
following  year,  he  came  to  this  town.  His  house-lot,  "for- 
merly belonging  to  Joachin  Andrissen,"  he  sold  to  William 
Pyles,  previous  to  1672,  and  purchased,  June  22,  1675,  the 
house-lot,  containing  four  acres,  bounded,  N.,  and  E.,  by  a 
highway  ;  S.,  by  Matthias  Hatfield  ;  and  W.,  by  Denis  Wliite. 
He  had,  also,  60  acres  of  upland,  "towards  Rahawack,"  ad- 
joining Benjamin  Wade  ;  also,  42  acres  "  on  the  South  side  of 
Elizabeth  River,"  bounded  by  Benjamin  Wade,  Humphr}' 
Spinage,  the  River,  and  the  plain  ;  also,  60  acres  of  upland, 
"  on  tlie  Korth  side  of  the  said  River,"  bounded  by  Hum- 
phry Spinage,  Steplien  Osborne,  and  "  the  branch  of  the  said 
Elizabeth  River ; "  also  20  acres  of  meadow,  adjoining  William 
Pilles  upland  ;  in  all,  187  acres,  Thomas  Moore,  in  1676,  had 
80  acres  surveyed  for  him  on  the  S.  side  of  Staten  Island. 
He  surviv^ed  until  June,  1708.* 

Robert  Mosse  [Morss,  Morse],  and  his  son  Peter,  were, 
from  Massachusetts.  They  were  at  Boston,  in  1644,  at  New- 
bury in  1654,  and  still  later  at  Rowley,  whence,  in  1665,  they 
came  hither.  The  father  was  a  tailor,  and  had  a  large  famil}'. 
His  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  N.,  by  his  son, 
Peter;  S.,  by  William  Pardon  ;  W.,  by  the  highway;  and, 
E.,  by  Elizth.  river  and  a  highway.  He  had,  also,  12  acres 
of  upland,  bounded  by  William  Trotter,  his  son,  Peter,  and 
Crane's  brook;  also,  44  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  the 
river,  AVilliam  Pardon,  William  Trotter,  Daniel  Tuttle,  his 
son,  Peter,  and  the  Common ;  also,  "  a  Neck  of  Land  Lying 
between  two  brooks,"  66  acres,  bounded  by  West  brook^ 
Peach  Garden  brook,  and  Tliompson's  Creek ;  also,  another 

*  N.  ir.  Col.  Records,  II.  52,  6C,  159,  230,  C,  358,  892,  406.  Ct.  Col.  Eeoord?,  I.  28, 112»  886, 
8.  Alb.  Records,  JII.  116.  Savnge,  III.  227-201.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  24,  46, 157 ;  II.  21,  81.  E. 
T.  BiU,  p.  lOS. 


86  TIIEHISTORYOF 

plot  of  6G  acres,  adjoining  on  tlic  West,  lying,  on  Peacli  Gar- 
den brook  ;  also,  6  acres  of  meadow  on  Thompson's  Creek,  9 
acres  on  the  Sound,  and  7  acres  on  Peacli  Garden  and  West 
brooks :  in  all,  202  acres.  The  tract  on  the  E.  T.  Creek  he 
disposed  of,  Sep.  2G,  IGSl,  to  his  son-in-law,  William  Broad- 
well  ;  and  several  other  tracts,  June  2-i,  1G86,  to  Jonas  Wood. 
The  next  day  he  obtained  a  warrant  for  150  acres  more. 

Peter's  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  W.,  by  a 
highway  ;  N.,  by  William  Trotter  ;  S.,  by  his  father ;  and,  E., 
by  E.  T.  Creek.  lie  had,  also,  12  acres  of  upland,  adjoining 
his  father;  also,  40  acres  of  upland,  "near  the  Ash  Swamp 
upon  a  hill,"  bounded  by  William  Pardon,  Stephen  Crane, 
John  Little,  and  the  Common ;  also,  "  a  Neck  of  Land  at 
Rawack,"  140  acres,  along  West  brook,  Pawack  Swamp,  and 
the  Common ;  also,  IS  acres  of  meadow  on  Thompson's  Creek, 
and  6  acres  on  Luke  Watson's  Point:  in  all  224  acres;  of 
which  20  acres  were  "  in  Right  of  Joachim  Andrissen."  The 
homestead  Avas  on  "  Thompson's  Creek,"  hence  more  gener- 
ally known  of  late  as  "Morse's  Creek,"  long  the  boundary 
between  Rahway  and  Elizabeth.  Peter  died  in  May, 
1702.* 

Nathanael  Norton  was  from  the  E.  end  of  Long  Island, 
but,  though  admitted  one  of  the  80  Associates,  was  induced, 
after  a  short  sojourn,  to  return  to  the  Island.  He  took  up 
his  abode  at  Brookhaven,  where  he  M'as  living  in  1675,  and 
in  1088.  Ilis  E.  Town  rights  were  transferred  to  Henry 
Norris.f 

William  Olivkr  cannot  now  be  traced  with  any  certainty. 
lie  Avas,  probably,  the  son  of  John,  who  died  in  1G4G,  or 
of  Thomas,  who  died  in  1652,  at  Boston  or  its  vicinity,  each 
of  them  leaving  a  large  family.  Thomas  was  of  Bristol,  and 
came  over,  in  1632,  from  London.  William  had  a  house-lot 
containing  eight  acres,  20  by  4  chains,  bounded,  W.,  by- 
Charles  Tucker;  S.,  by  Jonas  Wood;  and,  N.,  and  E.,  by 
highways.     He   had,  also,  12   acres   of  upland,    "  at   Luke 

•  Savage,  III.  2U.  K.  J.  Eccords,  I.  14?,  0,  150;  IL  19,  23;  III.  150,  9;  B.  121,  132  ;  L. 
00.     E.T.  Bill,  p.  104. 

t  N.  York  Doo.  Ilis  ,  II.  46S,  533. 


^ 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  ^V 

Watson's  point,"  hounded  by  JcfFry  Jones,  Caleb  Carwithy, 
the  meadows,  and  a  highway  ;  also,  84  acres  of  upland  "  at 
Eawack,"  bounded  by  Peter  Morse,  Samuel  Marsh,  Sen'", 
David  Oliver,  and  William  Pillcs.     He  died  about  1694* 

Joseph  Osborn  [Osbourne,  Osbukne],  and  Jeremy  Os- 
BORN  were  from  East  Hampton,  L.  I.  They  were  the  sons  of 
Goodman  Tliomas  Osborne,  one  of  the  founders  of  that  town, 
in  1649,  or  1650.  He  had  been,  also,  one  of  the  founders  of 
New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  1639,  where,  in  1643,  he  was  rated  at 
£300,  and  had  a  family  of  six,  Richard,  then  of  New  Haven, 
and  afterwards  of  Fairfield,  was  his  brother.  Thomss  was  at 
Hingham,  Mass.,  in  1635,  and  removed  to  Connecticut  before 
the  Pequot  war  of  1637,  in  Avliich  he  served.  Thomas,  John, 
Jeremiah,  Joseph,  and  Stephen  were  his  sons.  The  first  two 
settled  in  East  Hampton  ;  the  others  joined  the  company  of 
emigrants  to  Achter  Kol,  and  were  founders  of  this  town. 
Jeremiah  was  a  witness,  Aug.  IS,  1665,  to  tlie  payment  of 
the  money,  to  the  Indians,for  the  purchase  of  the  town.  He, 
probably,  died  soon  after,  as  his  name  does  not  ap])oar  among 
the  original  Associates.  His  brother,  Stephen,  had  taken  his 
place  before  1673.  Jeremiah  Osborn,  who  was  one  of  Mr. 
Harriman's  parishioners  from  1687  to  1705,  and  afterwards 
became  a  Quaker,  was  a  son  of  Stephen,  was  born  in  1661, 
removed  to  Morris  Co.,  and  lived  to  an  extreme  old  age. 
He  made  a  long  deposition.  Mar.  23,  1741,  in  the  celebrated 
case  of  Daniel  Cooper  vs.  John  Crain  and  others,  printed  at 
length  in  the  E.  T.  Bill  in  Chancery,  Schedule  X. 

Joseph  Osborn  received  a  M'arrant  for  150  acres  of  land, 
but  the  returns  of  the  survey  are  not  on  record  ;  consequently 
his  several  parcels  of  land  cannot  now  be  located.  Stephen 
had  two  house-lots  "  Eying  and  being  in  Eh'zabeth  Towne 
Upon  the  Mill  Creek,"  containing  12  acres,  12  l)y  10  chains, 
bounded,  W.,  by  the  Creek  ;  S.,  and  E.,  by  highways;  and 
N.,  by  an  unsurveyed  house-lot.  One  of  these  two  lots,  prob- 
ably, was  Jeremiah's.  He  sold  them  botii,  Oct.  13,  1689,  to 
Joseph  Wilson.     He  had,  also,  12  acres  of  upland  on  "  the 

♦  N.  E.  His.  &  Oen.  Rosister,  XII.  53.  E.  J.  Roeonls,  II.  13,  103  ;  25,  o.  e. ;  III.  159.  E.  T. 
Bill,  p.  lOS.    Saviigo,  IV.  101. 


8'8  THE    HISTORY    OF 

little  N"cck,"  bounded  by  Jereniiali  Peek,  Joseph  Sayre, 
Joliii  Woodruff,  Moses  Thompson,  and  a  swamp ;  also,  121 
acres  of  upland  on  "  the  South  branch  of  Elizabeth  Towne 
Creek,"  bounded  by  Nathaniel  Bonnel,  Thomas  Moore, 
George  Ross,  and  the  branch ;  also,  three  acres  of  meadow 
on  the  E,  T.  Creek,  and  12  acres  "  in  the  great  Meadows  at 
the  upper  end  of  Forkey  Creek":  "  in  all  160  acres.  He  died, 
July,  1698.     Joseph  was  living  in  1707.* 

George  Pack  came  with  the  first  colonists,  but  whence  can- 
not now  be  learned.  lie  had  a  house-lot  containing  six  acres, 
bounded,  N.  W,,  by  John  Little,  and  on  the  other  sides  by 
higliways.  He  had,  also,  30  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by 
Barnabas  Wines,  John  Little,  Nicholas  Carter,  and  unsur- 
veyed  land ;  also,  40  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Joseph 
Sayre,  Nicholas  Carter,  two  small  brooks,  and  unsurveyed. 
land';  also  4  acres  of  swamp,  and  12  acres  of  meadow  on 
"  the  great  Eiver  "  [the  Sound]  :  in  all,  118  acres.  He  died, 
Feb.  i704.t 

PiciiAKD  Patntkr  [Painter]  was  a  tailor,  who  came  hither 
from  New  York,  but  originally  from  Southampton.  Carter's 
son  was  apprenticed  to  him,  Mar.  25,  1669.  His  house-lot 
contained  three  acres,  10  by  3  chains,  bounded,  S.,  by  Capt. 
Philip  Carteret — formerly  Abraham  Shotwell;  and,N.,E.,  and 
W.,  by  highways.  He  had,  also,  20  acres  of  upland,  bounded, 
by  a  round  hill,  the  Mill  Creek,  and  Mrs.  Baker;  also,  96 
acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Isaac  Whitehead,  Jr.,  Leonard 
Headley,  Joseph  Sayre,  and  the  Mill  brook ;  also,  15^  acres 
of  meadow  :  in  all,  134^  acres.  His  residence  here  was  of 
short  duration.  In  the  Avinter  of  1670-1,  he  removed  to  New 
York,  and  sold,  Ap.  3, 1671,  his  "Plantation  with  the  Dwell- 
ing House,  etc."  to  Balthazar  De  Hart  of  New  York,  Mer- 
chant. De  Hart  died  in  January,  1672,  and  his  Executors 
sold,  July  4, 1672,  to  Ilicbard  Skinner,  of  E.  T.,  "  Joyner,"  the 
house  and  property  bought  of  Kichard  fainter,  ("  Avherein 
the  above-named  Richard  Skinner  now  Livetli  and  was  ser- 

•  Snvage,  III.  319.  Barber's  Ct.,  p.  160.  TLouipson's  L.  I.,  I.  295.  E.  J.  Records,  II.  21, 
24,  129.     K.  T.  Bill,  pp.  lOG,  103,113-5. 

t  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  103.    E.J.  Kccords,  11.19,  21,96. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  89 

vant  unto  tlie  said  Kicluird  Painter  and  also  to  the  said  Bal- 
thazar Do  Hart,")  lor  £48;  "£16  in  Porke  at  Three  Pounds 
the  Barrel],  Wheat  at  four  Shillings  the  Bushell,  Pease  at  three 
shillings  the  Bushell  Beef  in  Life  at  three  Pence  the  Poun^." 
Skinner  must  have  forfeited  the  property  for  want  of  fulfil- 
ment of  the  conditions  of  payment,  and  it  was  again  sold, 
March  21,  IGSf,  by  Daniel  De  Hart,  to  George  Jewell,  then 
a  recent  comer  from  Piscataway.  Painter  was  living,  in 
1679,  at  Southampton  "  on  the  west  street  running  by  the 
swamp."  * 

John  Parker,  it  is  thought,  was  from  the  East  End  of  Long 
Island,  probably  of  the  Bridgehampton  family.  His  house- 
lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  E.,  and  N.,  by  Gov.  Car- 
teret; S.,  by  the  highway  ;  and,  AV".,  by  Joseph  Ogden.  He 
had,  also,  six  acres  of  upland  on  "  the  North  Neck,"  bounded 
by  Leonard  Headley,  John  Ogden,  Jr.,  and  "  the  Common 
pasture  ; "  also,  60  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  John  "Wood- 
ruff", the  Meadow,  and  the  "  Common  Land  ; "  also,  12  acres 
of  upland  on  the  W.  side  of  Mr.  Woodruff",  and  between  two 
swamps  ;  also,  12^  acres  of  meadow  in  the  same  vicinity  :  in 
all,  96  acres.  His  house-lot  he  sold  to  Carteret,  Aug.  15, 
1675,  for  £8,  probably  without  improvements.  He  died  in 
Dec.  1702,  leaving  his  property  to  liobert  Smith  of  Egg  Har- 
bor, Widow  SaraliBrowne,  Thomas  Headley,  and  "the  Church 
of  Christ  in  Elizabeth  Town  ; "  to  the  latter  £3.t 

Thomas  Pope  was  an  associate,  in  1614,  of  Strickland,  Og- 
den, the  Dentons  and  Jonas  W^ood,  in  settling  Hempstead, 
L.  I.  He  seems  to  have  either  accompanied  or  followed 
John  Ogden  to  the  East  End  of  tlie  Island,  as,  in  1652,  he 
had  a  house-lot  of  3  acres,  "next  to  Mr.  Stanbrough,"  granted 
him  at  Southampton.  His  son,  John,  also,  is  named  among 
the  early  settlers  of  that  town.  His  house-lot  here  was  on 
the  S.  side  of  the  Creek,  adjoining  the  Governor.  He  sold 
it,  Feb.,  166A  to  William  Pillcs.  He  died  previous  to  1677. 
Mary,  his  widow,  and  her  son,  John,  sold,  Feb.  25,  167^, 
their  dwelling  house  and  lot,  with  60  acres  of  upland,  for 

*  E.J.  Records,  I.  7,  25,  3G;  11.15,  73;  A.  113.   E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  102,  7.    Howell,  p.  158. 
t  Unwell,  p.  200.    E.  T.  Bi;i,  p.  103.    E.  J.  Records,  I.  1J9 ;  II.  3,  26. 


90  TIIEHISTORYOF 

£39,  to  Benjamin  AVade.  John  was  one  of  the  80  As- 
sociates. He  received,  Mar.  28,  1676,  a  warrant  for  100 
acres;  and,  July  9,  1686,  another  for  150  acres.  Of  this 
last,  120  acres  were  located  "  on  Raway  River,"  bonnded  by 
the  river,  "  Pope's  brook  "  [in  the  township  of  Springfield,  near 
Milltown],  and  unoccupied  land.  The  other  30  acres  were 
bounded  by  Jeffry  Jones,  William  Johnstone,  and  "Common 
Land."  Of  the  first  grant,  a  plot  of  SO  acres  was  bounded  by 
John  Miles,  Joseph  Frazee,  and  unsurveyed  land.  He  had 
died  in  17lf.     He  gave  the  name  to  "  Pope's  Corners."* 

Benjamin  Price  was  from  East  Ham])ton.  He  came  to 
the  Island,  it  is  thought,  with  Lion  Gardiner,  in  1639.  He 
subscribed,  as  a  witness,  the  deed,  given,  March  10,  16|-f, 
by  James  Farrct,  Lord  Stirling's  Agent,  to  Gardiner,  for  the 
island  that  has  ever  since  borne  his  name.  He  settled  first 
at  Southampton  ;  but,  in  1619,  united  Avith  several  of  his 
neighbors  in  settling  East  Hampton.  He  resided  on  the  E. 
side  of  the  main  street,  not  far  from  Gardiner,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  James,  and  next  to  "  the  Parsonage-lot,  in  the  hart 
of  the  Towne."  He  took  a  leading  part  in  town  affairs  ;  was 
appointed,  Oct.  7,  1651,  Recorder,  or  Town  Clerk  ;  and, 
Aug.  1,  1660,  was  one  of  the  Patentees  of  Montauk  Point. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  furthering  the  emigration  of  so 
many  East  Enders  to  this  locality,  and  was  held  in  honor  by 
his  townsmen  here.  In  1675,  he  represented  the  town  in  the 
House  of  Burgesses  ;  and  was  appointed,  Dec.  13,  1682,  one 
of  Gov,  Rudyard's  Council ;  Feb.  4,  16S|,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  ;  Mar.  28,  1683,  one  of  Gov.  Lawrie's  Council ;  and, 
Jan.  29,  169f,  one  of  the  Judges  of  Small  Causes.  He  out- 
lived the  most  of  the  founders,  his  deatji  occurring  after  Aug. 
30,  1705,  when  his  will  was  made,  and  not  later  than  Oct.  7, 
1712,  when  it  was  admitted  to  probate. 

The  locality  of  his  liousc-lot  is  not  on  record.  He  had  24 
acres  of  upland,  "  along  the  Road  Leading  to  the  Point," 
adjoining  his  son,  Daniel ;  also,  50  acres  of  upland,  adjoining 
"Henry  Lyon's  House,"  the  Town  Creek,  "  a  Little  Crceke 

*  E.  J.  Records,  II.  20;  B.  370;  L.  99,  19T.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  109.  Thompson's  L.  1,,  II.  6. 
Howell,  pp.  306,  7. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  91 

on  wliicli  Henry  Bakers  Tannfatt  stands,"  Margaret  Baker, 
John  WoodruiF,  Leonard  Ileadley,  Epliraim  Price,  and  Peter 
Woolverton  ;  also,  20  acres  of  upland,  on  the  Point  road,  ad- 
jofning  Margaret  Baker ;  also,  120  acres  of  upland  near  the 
Great  Meadow  ;  also,  9  acres  of  upland  in  the  Great  Meadow, 
ISTorth  of  Capt.  Young  ;  also,  8  acres  of  upland  "  on  the  Long 
Meadow  Island,"  on  this  side  Kahway  Piver ;  also  25  acres 
of  upland,  on  the  Point  road,  adjoining  Margaret  Baker  ; 
also,  14  acres  of  meadow  :  in  all  270  acres. 

Benjamin,  Jr.,  his  son,  was  also  one  of  the  80  Associates. 
He  was  appointed,  Aug.  22,  1695,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace.  His  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  S.,  and 
E.,  by  the  highway  ;  "W.,  by  his  brother,  Thomas,  and  N., 
by  Isaac  Whitehead,  Sen'.  He  had,  also,  41  acres  of  upland, 
bounded  by  Robert  Bond,  Joseph  Bond,  and  unsurveyed 
land  ;  also,  19  acres  of  upland,  adjoining  his  father  and  un- 
surveyed land  ;  also,  14  acres  of  upland,  adjoining  his  father 
and  Joseph  Ogden  ;  also,  88  acres  of  upland  "  near  the  Gov- 
ernors point,"  bounded  by  his  father  and  Daniel  Dellart ; 
also,  ten  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  his  father  and  Col. 
Richard  Townley ;  also,  two  acres  on  "  j"  way  to  y*  meadows," 
adjoining  his  father ;  also,  ten  acres  "  of  Salt  Marsh  in  the 
great  Meadow  ; "  also  8  acres  of  meadow,  "  by  the  Long  pond 
&  the  forked  Creek  ;  "  also,  six  acres  of  meadow  "  on  a  creek, 
called  the  Long  Creek  or  fforked  creek  :  "  in  all  200  acres.* 

Evan  Salsburt,  of  whose  origin  nothing  certain  can  now 
be  ascertained,  was,  probably,  Carwithy's  friend  and  asso- 
ciate, coming  with  him  from  the  East  End  of  Long  Island. 
His  house-lot  adjoined  "William  Cramer,  on  the  S.  E.  He 
bought  Cramer's  house-lot,  and  his  second  lot-right ;  but  sold 
the  two,  Dec.  26,  1670,  to  John  Little,  for  £65.  He  is  called 
a  "  brickmakcr,"  but  was  bred  a  carpenter,  and  had  previ- 
ously, it  is  thought,  followed  the  seas.  Capt.  Jolin  Young, 
of  Southold,  L.  I.,  sold  him,  Oct.  4,  1671,  his  shallop  of  8 
tons  burden,  "  or  there  about,"  with  all  its  appurtenances,  the 

•E.  J.  Records,  II.  21 ;  A.  1C9;  C.  5,  75, 171,  233;  E.  119 ;  L.  1, 19;  O.  40, 105,  6,  7.  E.  T. 
Bill, pp.  102,  9.  Doc.  His.  of  N.  Y.,  I.  GSO,  6.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  295,  9.  Hedges' E.  HninptoD, 
pp.  6,  82-4. 


92  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

mast,  sails,  rigging,  cable,  anchor,  &c.,  for  "  ISOOOgood  Mer- 
chantable "White  Oak  pipe  Staves,"  a  bond  being  given  for 
the  payment,  signed  by  Salsbnry,  Carwithy,  and  Cramer. 
The  witnesses  were  Benjamin  Price  and  Joseph  Sa3^re.  It 
is  quite  likely  that  he  and  Carwithy,  who  disappears  from  the 
records  about  this  time,  became  "  coasters,"  and  of  uncertain 
residence.  Salsbnry  was  here  when  the  Dutch  enrolment 
was  made  in  1673,  but  no  further  mention  of  him  is  made.* 

Abraham  Shotwell,  whose  original  is  not  known,  was  cer- 
tainly' in  sympathy  with  the  popular  party  of  the  town.  In 
the  contentions  between  the  people  and  Carteret,  described 
in  succeeding  pages,  Shotwell  was  bold  and  outspoken 
aga'nst  the  Governor's  usurpations.  lie  became  the  victim 
of  Carteret's  wa-ath,  his  house  and  grounds  were  confiscated, 
and  he  liimself  driven  into  exile.  His  house-lot  was  "  next 
E.  of  the  mill."  In  July,  1683,  it  -was  thus  described : 
"  Bounded  on  the  North  by  the  Land  now  in  possession  of 
George  Jewell  and  runs  along  by  his  Fence  three  Chains  and 
one  third  of  a  Chaine  from  thence  running  upon  a  South  and 
by  West  Line  twelve  Chains  to  the  highway  which  Leads  to- 
wards the  Mill  or  meeting  house  from  thence  it  runs  by  the 
said  highway  westward  three  chains  and  one  third  part  of  a 
chain  and  from  thence  it  runs  along  by  the  highway  that 
leads  from  the  Mill  towards  Newark  upon  a  North  and  by 
East  Line  Twelve  chains  Containing  in  all  four  acres.  Also, 
a  small  pecce  more  Containing  One  Acre  English  measure 
running  by  the  highway  which  Leads  from  the  Mill  or  meet- 
ing house  Eastward  three  Chains  and  one  third  part  of  a 
Chain  from  thence  it  runs  downward  to  the  Creek  upon  a 
South  and  by  West  Line  Three  Chains  Sz  from  thence  it  runs 
away  Westward  as  the  Creek  or  highway  runs,  three  Chains 
and  one  third  part  of  a  Cliaine  and  from  thence  it  runs  by  the 
highway  which  Leads  from  the  Mill  towards  Newark  ujion  a 
North  and  by  East  Line  three  Chains."  It  is  easy  to  iden- 
tify this  property,  as  including  the  whole  East  Side  of  Broad 
Bt.  from  the  stone  bridge  to  a  point  792  feet  north  of  Elizth. 

♦  E.  J.  Records,  I.  25-6,  59.    E.  T   Bill,  p.  lOT. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  93 

Avenue.  A  most  valuable  piece  of  property.  Sliotwell  re- 
tired to  N.  York,  and  appealed  to  the  Lords  Proprietors. 
In  tlic  mean  time,  he  returned  to  his  home,  sustained  by  Iiis 
townsmen.  His  appeal  was  not  sustained,  and  he  was  in- 
formed, by  orders  from  the  Proprietary  Government,  that  he 
must  depart  the  town,  and,  should  he  return,  that  he  would 
be  subjected  to  severe  indignities.  His  property  was  sold  at 
public  auction,  Aug.  25,  1GT5,  for  £12,  to  Thomas  Blumfield, 
carpenter,  of  Woodbridge,  who  resold  it,  a  fortnight  later, 
for  £14.  to  Gov.  Carteret.  It  was  on  Shotwell's  one  acre  lot 
that  the  Governor  is  thought  to  have  built  his  new  house, 
where  he  resided  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  Shotwell  ob- 
tained a  grant  of  land  from  the  N.  York  government,  and 
died  in  exile.  Daniel,  wdio  settled  on  Staten  Island,  was, 
probably,  his  son,  John,  another  son,  married,  at  N.  York, 
Oct.  1679,  Elizabeth  Burton.  After  Carteret's  removal  and 
death,  John  appealed  to  Gov.  Pudyard,  who  restored  him, 
by  order.  May  29,  1683,  the  property  that  had  been  arbitra- 
rily wrested  from  his  father.  The  Shotwell  family  settled 
mostly  in  the  S.  and  S.  W.  parts  of  the  town.'^'^' 

MicHAKL  SiMPKix  was  tVom  Stamford,  Ct.  Nicholas  Sim- 
kins,  in  1634,  was  Capt.  of  the  Castle  at  Boston.  Vincent 
Sindvins  [Sraiking],  a  son  or  brother,  probably,  of  the  Capt., 
accompanied  the  early  colonists  to  Wetherslield,  and  was  one 
of  the  Company  that  bought,  Oct.  30,  1640,  Pippowaras 
[Stamford]  from  the  New  Haven  people,  where  he  married, 
1641,  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Ackerly.  He  had,  at  least, 
two  sons,  Daniel  and  John  ;  most  likely,  Michael,  also.  He 
had  died  in  1656.  Daniel  settled  in  Bedford,  N.  Y.,  and 
Jqhn,  with  his  "widowed  mother,  removed  to  this  town,  where 
the  mother,  soon  after,  became  the  wife  of  William  Oliver. 
He  had  an  allotment  of  80  acres  of  upland,  on  the  "W.  brook, 
bounded  by  AVilliam  Cramer  and  William  Oliver,  a  swamp 
and  the  two  mile  brook ;  also,  4  acres  of  meadow  adjoining 
Aaron  Thompson;  also  3  acres  of  meadow  on  "Pawack 
Piver;"   also  2  acres  of  meadow  adjoining  Jacob  Melyen 

•E.J.  Records,  II.  10  ;  III.  61;  A.  41;  L.  1,  4.    E.  T.  Eii;,  p.  110.    N.T.  Land  Calendar, 
p.  309.    N.  Y.  Marriages,  p.  349. 


94  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  George  Pack :  in  all  89  acres.  John  died  unmarried 
before  Sep.,  1679,  and  his  mother  administered  on  his  estate. 
Michael  must  have  died  soon  after  his  coming,  as  no  further 
mention  of  him  is  found.* 

IIuMPUKY  Spin  AGE  [Spinning]  was  from  Xew  Haven, 
Ct,  He  was  a  nephew  of  Goodman  Humphrey  Spinage,  one 
of  the  original  settlers  of  Xew  Haven,  and  one  of  the  ])arty 
that  attempted  to  plant  a  colony  on  the  Delaware,  in  1651. 
The  nephew  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  at  New  Haven,  April  7, 
1657 ;  and,  Oct.  1-1,  1657,  married  Abigail,  the  3d  daughter 
of  George  and  Mary  Hubbard  of  Guilford,  and  sister  of  Han- 
nah, the  wife  of  Jacob  Melyen.  George  Hubbard  came  from 
England  about  1635,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
"Wethersfield,  Ct.  He  removed,  in  16i4,  to  Milford,  and,  in 
16-18,  to  Guilford,  The  house-lot  of  Humphrey  Spinning 
contained  four  acres,  12  by  4  chains,  and  was  bounded,  N.  E., 
and  E,,  by  the  rear  of  the  house-lots  of  his  brother-in-law, 
Jacob  Melyen,  William  Johnson,  and  John  Winans;  and,  on 
every  other  side,  by  a  highway.  He  had,  also,  12  acres  of 
upland" "  on  the  Neck,"  bounded  by  JefFry  Jones,  William 
Johnson,  the  meadows,  and  a  highway  ;  also,  80  acres  of  up- 
land, "  by  Peach  Garden  Hill,"  bounded  by  Jacob  ]\Ielyen, 
Charles  Tucker,  Peach  Garden  brook,  and  his  own  meadow  ; 
also,  40  acres  of  upland,  on  the  S.  side  of  the  branch  of  Elizth. 
Kiver,  bounded  by  Thomas  Moore,  John  Winans,  the  plain 
and  Elizabeth  Creek  ;  also  60  acres  on  the  N.  side  of  the 
branch,  bounded  by  Benjamin  Wade,  Thomas  Moore,  the 
plain,  and  "  the  said  lliver  into  Cranberry  meadow ; "  also, 
7  acres  of  meadow  on  Peach  Garden  brook ;  also  6  acres  of 
meadow  on  Elizth.  Creek ;  also,  9  acres  on  "  the  Point  .of 
Rawack  Neck : "  in  all,  218  acres.  He  died,  Sept.,  1689, 
leaving  an  estate,  valued  at  £223.  8.  O.f 

Thomas  Tomson  [Thompson]  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
East  Hampton,  L.  L,  in  1649,  having  come  from  Lynn,  Mass., 
by  way  of  New  London,  Ct.     At  E.  Hampton,  he  resided  on 

•  ninman's  P.  S.  Ct.,  I.  232.  Savngo,  IV.  101.  E.  J.  Kecords,  II.  41, 102 ;  24,  o.  c;  III. 
159.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  109. 

t  N.  H.  Col.  Kocorils,  L  26, 140,  202,  411.  Savago  ,IV.  150.  Chapln's  Glastcnburv,  p.  172. 
E.  J.  Records,  II.  19,  86.    E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  105, 113. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  95 

the  AY.  side  of  the  street,  near  Robert  Bond  aud  tlie  two  Mul- 
fords.  Goodman  Thompson  was  one  of  the  Deputies  of 
Elizabeth-Town  in  the  Legislature  of  1672.  He  was  active  in 
opposing  the  arbitrary  measures  of  Gov.  Carteret,  and  was 
mulcted  for  bis  patriotism.  His  house-lot  contained  six  acres, 
bounded,  N.,  and  S.,  by  Barnabas  Wines  ;  W.,  by  a  highway ; 
and  E.,  by  the  Mill  Creek.  He  had,  also,  18  acres  of  upland, 
"  on  Luke  AYatson's  Keck,"  bounded  by  Jacob  Melyen,  David 
Ogdcn,  and  a  highway  ;  also,  52  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by 
Stephen  Crane,  Dennis  AYhite,  George  Pack,  and  his  own 
land  ;  also,  20  acres  of  npland  adjoining  the  last,  bounded 
by  his  son  Hur,  Joseph  Sayre,  George  Pack,  and  unsurveyed 
land ;  also,  4  acres  "  in  Pawack  Meadow  ;  "  also  18  acres  of 
meadow  on  a  creek,  which  was  named  for  him,  "  Thompson's 
Creek,"  and  since,  "Moris  Creek:"  in  all  118  acres.  His 
three  sons,  also,  were  among  the  original  Associates.  Moses, 
"who  took  the  oath  in  Feb.  lC6f ,  had  a  warrant  for  180  acres, 
but  the  survey  is  not  on  record.  Aarox,  came  into  posses- 
sion of  the  homestead,  at  his  father's  death,  Sept.  IGTG,  and 
had  a  warrant  for  60  acres,  in  his  own  right,  of  which  no 
return  was  made.  HuRhad  a  house-lot,  containing  four  acres, 
bounded,  S.,  and  E.,  by  a  highway ;  J^.,  by  Thomas  Osborn  ; 
and  E.,  by  unsurveyed  land.  He  had,  also,  12  acres  of  up-» 
land,  bounded  by  Leonard  Headley,  Joseph  Osborn,  John 
Wilson,  and  a  highway  ;  also  45  acres  of  upland,  bounded 
by  Joseph  Sayre,  2  small  brooks,  and  unsurveyed  land ;  also, 
40  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Benjamin  Meeker,  a  small 
brook,  and  the  Common ;  also  45  acres  of  upland,  bounded 
by  AYilliam  Pardon,  a  small  brook,  the  AVcst  brook,  and  un- 
smweyed  land ;  also  6  acres  of  meadow  on  the  Bay,  4  acres 
on  Woodruff's  Creek,  and  10  acres  more ;  in  all  161  acres. 
The  father's  estate,  at  his  death,  w^as  valued  at  £152.  15.  6.* 
AYiLLiAM  Trotter  came  from  Kewbury,  Mass.  It  may 
have  been  at  his  suggestion,  that  so  many  of  his  former  towns- 
men came  on,  in  the  course  of  1666-Y,  and  settled  the  town 
of  AVoodbridge.     His  house-lot  contained  four  acres,  bounded, 

*  Hedges'  E,  nninplon,  pp.  4,  44.    E.  J.  Records,  II   21,  24,  29,  104 ;  20,  o.  c.    E.  T.  Bill, 
pp.  104,  5. 


96  THE    HISTORY    OF 

E.,  and  W.,  b}'  a  liiglnvay  ;  S.,  bj'  Peter  Morse ;  and  IST.,  by 
Stephen  Crane  ;  also,  an  addition  of  two  acres,  bounded,  E., 
by  the  river,  and  on  the  other  sides,  as  the  house-lot;  also, 
13  acres  of  uphand,  bounded,  IN".,  and  W.,  by  liobcrt  Morse  ; 
S.,  and  E.,  by  "Elizabetli  Town  brook  ;"  also,  138  acres  of 
upland,  bounded  by  William  Broadwell,  a  swamp,  and  un- 
surveyed  land ;  also,  23  acres  of  meadow  in  "  the  Common 
Meadow:"  in  all,  ISO  acres.  In  167G,  he  had  died.  His 
name  was  given  to  a  bridge  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town 
plot.* 

CiiARLKS  TccKKR  [Tooeer]  was,  alsc*,  a  Xew  Englander, 
coming  hither,  with  the  East  Enders  of  Long  Island.  His 
parentage  has  not  been  determined.  He  was,  probably,  the 
son  (or  may  have  been  the  brother)  of  John  Tooker  of  ISouth- 
old,  residing,  as  early  as  1655,  in  that  part  of  the  town  that 
was  called  River  head,  originally  from  the  vicinity  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  and  made  a  freeman  at  Southold,  Oct.  9, 1662.  Charles 
had  a  house-lot,  containing  eight  acres,  bounded,  N.,  by  the 
highway  ;  E.,  by  William  Oliver  ;  W.,  by  Caleb  Carwithy  ; 
and,  S.,  by  "  the  Swamp  in  Common ;  "  also,  21  acres  of 
meadow  on  Thompson's  Creek,  and  adjoining  "  the  great 
Island."  He  had,  at  first,  a  plot  of  upland  containing  86 
acres  ;  but,  as  this  was  found,  by  survey,  to  be  included  in 
Jacob  Melj'en's  allotment,  he  obtained,  in  lieu,  69  acres  of 
upland  on  the  two  mile  brook  ;  he  had,  also,  a  parcel  of  land, 
called  "  Peach  Garden  Hill,"  containing  86  acres,  bounded 
by  Capt.  John  Baker,  Humphrey  Spinage,  Peach  Garden 
brook  and  tlie  Common  :  in  all,  184  acres.f 

Nathaniel  Tuttle  [Tuthill]  was  from  Southold,  L.  I. 
His  father,  John  Tuthill,  and  uncle,  AVilliam,  were  from 
Norfolkshire,  Eng.  The  latter  came  over,  in  1635,  in  the 
"Planter,"  landing  at  Boston.  The  two  brothers  settled  at 
New  Haven,  in  1639-40.  John  came  to  Southold,  in  1641, 
with  the  Rev.  John  Youngs.  In  1647,  he  was  one  of  the 
four  patentees  of  Oyster  Ponds,  L.  I.  Nathaniel  can^e  here 
with  the  first  emigration,  probably  a  young  and  unmarried 

*  Savngc,  IV.  882.    ColTln's  Nowbury,  pp.  (52, 116.    E.  J.  Records,  II.  50 ;  L.  So. 
t  E.  J.  Bocords,  1. 177  ;  II.  8.  22.  88.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  105.    Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  409.   . 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  97 

man.  His  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  K.,  by 
William  Pardon  ;  E.,  by  the  Mill  Creek  ;  S.  E.,  by  Aaron 
Thompson,  and  Barnabas  Wines,  a  sfnall  hollow  and  a  high- 
way lying  between  ;  W.,  and  S.,  another  highway.  lie  had, 
also,  12  acres  of  upland,  on  the  S.  side  of  Crane's  brook, 
adjoining  Richard  Beach;  also,  34  acres  of  upland,  adjoin- 
ing George  Pack  and  William  Pardon  ;  also,  T5  acres,  bound- 
ed by  Richard  Beach,  William  Pardon,  Ste])hcn  Crane,  Rob- 
ert Morse,  and  the  Mill  Creek  ;  also,  6  acres  on  "  the  great 
River"  [the  Sound],  near  "the  Points  of  Rawack;"  also, 
20  acres  of  meadow  on  the  W.  of  Thompson's  Creek;  in 
all  153  acres.  At  his  death,  Feb.,  169| ,  his  estate  was  valued 
at  £107.  3.  O.-'^ 

Robert  Vauquellin,  and  his  wife,  came  over  with  Gov. 
Carteret,  in  the  ship  Philip,  landing,  July  29,  1665,  at  New 
York.  He  was  a  native  of  the  city  of  Caen,  Lower  l^or- 
mandy,  France  ;  and  a  grandson,  doubtless,  of  Jean  Yau- 
fpielin  de  la  Fresnaye,  Lieut,  General  of  the  Bailiwick  of 
Caen,  and  Chief  Justice  of  that  country,  whose  decease  oc- 
curred, 1606,  in  his  71st  ^year.  Robert  is  styled,  in  the  E. 
Jersey  Records,  "  Sieur  des  Prairies  [de  la  Prairie]  of  the 
city  of  Caen,  France ;  "  whence  he  is  commonly  called,  in 
the  Records  and  other  documents  of  the  day,  "  Laprairio,"  f 
In  modern  histories,  he  is  more  frequently,  but  erroneously 
called  Van  Qiiellin,  as  if  he  had  l)een  a  Dutchman  and  not 
a  Frenchman.  Jersey,  the  home  of  the  Carteret  family,  Avas 
inhabited  principally  by  Frenchmen,  and  there,  most  prob- 
ably, Vauquellin  resided  before  his  emigration.  lie  accom- 
panied Capt.  Philip  Carteret,  Jan.,  IGGj,  to  England,  and, 
Feb.  10,  166 1,  was  appointed,  by  Berkeley  and  Carteret, 
Surveyor  General  of  their  new  domain  in  America.  The 
surveys,  i-ecorded  in  the  E.  J.  Records,  from  1675  tol6Sl,all 
bear  his  signature,  generally — "  Ro  Vauquellin,"  and  somc- 

*  K.  J.  Ilccords,  I.  ICO;  II.  19,  24.  E.  T.  Bill,  p  105.  Savage,  IV.  350.  Tliompson's  L. 
I.,  I.  374,  886. 

t  The  varifltic'S  of  ortboprapliy  at  this  period  nro  shown  by  the  fact,  that  this  name  was 
written  in  at  least 22  different  ways:  Vauqiielin,  Vauquellin,  Vaugucllin,  Van  Quellin,  Van- 
quillen,  Voclin  (as  pronounced),  Voclan,  Vorklain,  La  Prairie,  La  prairjf,  La  prarij,  Laparary, 
La  prcrio.  La  Trio,  La  priore,  Lcpr.iry,  Liprory,  Delnprary,  Uelopray,  Ucleprierre,  Delap;drs, 
and  Delapierre. 


98  TnE    HISTORY    OF 

times,  "La  Prairie."  He  ^vas  appointed,  Feb.  2,  1C6|,  one 
of  Carteret's  Council,  and  adhered  faithfully  to  the  Gover- 
nor's party  and  interests.  Though  admitted  by  the  town  as 
one  of  the  80  Associates,  he  had  scarcely  any  interest  in 
common  with  these  sturdy  Puritans. 

He  had  a  warrant  for  300  acres  of  land  "  in  Right  of  him 
and  his  wife  that  came  with  the  Governor."  He  had  a 
house-lot,  containing  12  acres,  30  by  4  chains,  bounded,  E., 
hy  Philip  Carteret,  Esq.,  and  Richard  Pewtinger ;  W.,  by 
William  Pardon,  Joseph  Meeker,  Benjamin  Meeker  and 
George  Morris  ;  S.,  by  a  highway  ;  and,  N.,  by  his  own 
land ;  also,  8  acres  of  upland  or  swamp,  bounded  by  George 
Morris,  Richard  Pewtinger,  Henry  Norris,  and  a  highway  ; 
also  4  acres  of  upland  "  near  the  Gov'  point,  on  the  S.  Side 
of  Math.  Hatfeilds  Line;"  also,  40  acres  of  upland,  bounded 
by  John  WoodruiF,  Benjamin  Parkhurst,  Samuel  Moore, 
George  Mon-is,  and  a  highway  ;  also,  40  acres  of  upland  "  at 
Rawack,"  bounded  by  Simon  Rouse,  Samuel  Marsh,  Jr.,  un- 
snrveyed  land,  a  small  brook,  and  "  Rawack  river ; "  also, 
40  acres  of  upland,  "  iat  the  two  mile  brook  ; "  also,  27  acres 
of  upland,  bounded  by  Leonard  Ilc'adley,  Joseph  Sayre,  Isaac 
"Whitehead,  Joseph  Meeker,  unsurveyed  land,  and  the  Mill 
Creek ;  also,  4  acres  of  meadow,  on  E.  T.  Creek,  4  acres  on 
"Rawack  River,"  and  12  acres  "on  a  small  branch  in 
Rawack  River :  "  in  all,  191  acres.  A  caveat,  or  protest, 
was  entered  by  Benjamin  Price,  against  the  four  acres  ad- 
joining Matthias  Hatfield.  He  was  naturalized.  Mar.  8, 
1669-70.  Finding,  at  length,  that  the  puritanic  townsmen, 
with  whom  he  was  compelled  to  associate,  were  any  thing 
but  congenial  compan}',  he  concluded  to  change  his  res- 
idence. Li  1678,  he  had  removed  to  Woodbridge.  He 
obtained,  Feb.  4,  1081,  a  warrant  for  200  acres  of  Land 
and  Meadow  on  the  Raritan,  ibr  himself,  "  in  Right  of 
two  men  Servants  and  one  Woman  viz.  Elizabeth  Hallard, 
Edward  fox  &  Francis  the  Sjvaniard  ; "  also,  shortly  after, 
another  warrant  for  500"  acres  on  tlie  Raritan.  He  had 
obtained  a  Patent  for  175  acres  in  Woodbridge,  as  early 
as  Dec.  20,  1669.     He  received  a  warrant,  Mar.  10,  168^, 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  99 

for  200  more  acres  adjoining  his  own  land  in  \Yood-" 
bridge.  After  this  no  further  mention  is  made  of  him 
in  tlie  Records.  In.  16S1,  he  was  succeeded  by  John  lleid, 
as  Surveyor  GeneraL* 

Dknnis  WmxE  w^as  from  Southampton,  L.  I.  John  "White, 
tlie  first  settler  of  this  name  there,  was  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  in 
1630,  and  at  Southampton  in  1G47.  Dennis  was  either  his 
son,  or  his  brother,  lie  had  a  hcuse-lot,  containing  nine 
acres,  bounded,  E.,  by  Thomas  Moore,  Matthias  Hatfield, 
and  unsurveyed  land ;  S.  S.  E.,  by  Jonas  Wood  ;  W.,  and 
N.  W.,  by  highways.  He  had,  also,  90  acres  of  upland,  ad- 
joining Aaron  Tliompson  ;  also,  12  acres  of  meadow  :  in  all, 
101  acres.  In  1675,  this  property  had  come  into  the  pos- 
session of  Gov.  Carteret.  It  is  likely,  therefore,  that  Dennis 
White  had  removed  from  the  town  previous  to  that  date,  as 
nothing  more  is  heard  of  him.  Robert  White  (his  brother, 
^it  is  thought),  was  also  numbered  among  the  80  Associates, 
and  had  come  in  at  an  eijrly  date.  His  house-lot  contained 
8  acres,  bounded  S.  W.,  by  Roger  Lambert ;  IsT.  E.,  by  John 
Little  ;  S.  E.,  by  William  Letts  ;  and  K.  W.,  by  a  highway. 
He  had,  also,  50  acres  of  upland,  bounded  "  by  a  little  brook 
&  a-  highway  tiiat  goes  to  Woodbridge,"  John  Winans,  his 
own  land,  unsurveyed  land,  and  the  mile  brook;  also,  34 
acres  of  upland  adjoining  Jonas  Wood;  also,  4  acres  of 
swamp,  and  12  acres  of  meadow  :  in  all,  108  acres,  granted 
him,  "  in  Right  of  himself  his  wife  &  Daughter."  The 
latter,  whose  name  was  Ann,  was  old  enough  in  March,  16T| 
to  be  married.  His  wife  Agatha  had  become  a  widow  in. 
1688.t 

Isaac  WniTEUEAD  was  of  the  iSTew  Haven  Company  of  im- 
migrants. He  was  the  son  of  John,  one  of  the  founders  of 
N.  Haven.  Isaac  was  a  planter  there,  as  early  as  1643,  and 
took  the  oath  of  fidelity  Mar.  7, 164}.  He  resided  on  the  E. 
side,  next  the  sea,  beyond  the  Cove  River.  He  came  hither 
with  a  wife  and  7  children.     He  was  chosen  the  first  Tommi 

*  Morori's  His.  Die.  of  1740,  VIII.  torn.  ii.  49.  E.  J.  Kecords,  I.  15,  lnT,  139,  239  ;  II.  3,  91, 
132,143;  o.e.  22;  111.7,167  ;  L.  189.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  109. 

t  Savago,  IV.  310.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  327.  Uowdl,  pp.  15,  S9,  96,  2S6,  7.  E.  J.  Eecords,  I. 
166;  0.0. 1;  II.  3, 19,  51,  73;  o.  e.  4;  B.  333,  4;  C.  C.  64.    E.  T.  B.ll,  pp.  106, 110. 


100  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Clerk,  aiul  served  as  such  until  his  death.  He  was  appointed, 
Mar,  22,  lOH,  Captain  of  the  Military  Coui})anj  ;  also,  Mar. 
28,  1683,  one  of  the  Judges  of  Small  Causes  ;  also,  in  1686  ; 
also,  Dec.  3, 1683,  Coroner  of  the  County.  He  had  a  house- 
lot,  containing  six  acres,  bounded,  S.  E.,  by  jS^athaniel  Bon- 
nell ;  N.  "W".,  by  his  son,  Isaac  ;  N.  E.,  by  his  own  land  ;  and, 
S.  W.,  by  a  highway.  lie  had,  also,  18  acres  of  upland, 
bounded  by  his  son,  Isaac,  Benjamin  Price,  Jr.,  Nathaniel 
Bonnell,  and  his  own  house-lot ;  also,  12  acres  of  upland,  "  at 
the  W.  side  of  the  plain,"  bounded  by  Robert  Yauquellin, 
Samuel  Hopkins,  and  Joseph  Meeker ;  also,  20  acres  of  up- 
land, on  "  the  Long  Neck,"  bounded  by  Robert  Bond,  Benja- 
min Price,  Jr.,  Nicholas  Carter,  and  Henry  Lyon ;  also,  45 
acres  of  upland,  adjoining  Benjamin  Meeker  and  Henry 
Lyon  ;  also,  55  acres  of  upland,  "  at  the  great  pond,"  bounded 
by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck,  Henry  Lyon,  and  "  the  Sinking 
Marsh  ;  "  also,  8  acres  of  meadow  on  Woodruff's  creek ;  also, 
10  acres  of  meadow  on  "  Arthur  Cull's  bay  ; "  also,  3^-  acres 
of  meadow,  on  E.  T.  Creek  :  in  all  1771-  acres.  His  decease 
occurred  in  Eeb.  1695. 

His  eldest  son,  Isaac,  born  at  New  Haven,  Nov.  20,  1652, 
was  bred  a  cordwainer,  and  early  became  one  of  the  Asso- 
ciates. He,  too,  was  held  in  much  consideration  ;  he  became, 
Nov.  4,  1693,  captain  of  the  militia ;  was  appointed,  Sep. 
16,  1692,  Sheriff  of  the  town  ;  also,  Jan.  29,  169|,  one  of  the 
Judges  of  Small  Causes  ;  also,  April  1,  1693,  Coroner  for  the 
County  ;  and,  Aug.  22,  1695,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Essex. 
He  had  a  house-lot  containing  four  acres,  bounded,  E.,  by  his 
father,  and  on  the  other  sides  by  highways ;  also  another 
house-lot,  of  six  acres,  bounded,  N.,  and  W.,  by  his  father; 
E.,  by  Thomas  Price ;  and,  S.,  by  a  highway  ;  also,  64  acres 
of  upland,  "  on  the  East  Side  of  the  Mill  Creek  of  Elizabeth 
Town,"  bounded  by  Jonathan  Ogden,  John  Ogden,  Jr.,  and 
Baltus  Dellart ;  also,  65  acres  of  upland,  "  to  the  North- 
ward of  the  Spring  hill,"  bounded  by  Henry  Lyon,  and  ]\Iar- 
garet  Baker  ;  also,  35  acres  of  upland,  "  on  the  North  side  of 
the  Country  road  to  Woodbridge,"  bounded  by  John  Toe, 
James  Hinds,  Robert  "White,  and  Roger  Lambert :  also,  6 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  101 

acres  of  fresh  meadow,  adjoining  John  Woodruff;  also  20 
acres  of  meadow,  a  part  "  on  Sloping  Creek,"  and  another 
part  on  -'  Oyster  Creek  :  "  in  all  200  acres.  lie  died,  July  1, 
1724.* 

John  Winans  [Wynes,  Waynes,  Winons,  Wixnons,  Wy- 
NONS,  Wynens,  Wynans,  Wynnings]  was,  doubtless,  of  the 
company  that  came  from  the  East  End  of  Long  Island.  It  is 
quite  likely,  that  he  was  of  the  same  familj^  with  Barnabas 
Wines,  their  names  being  frequently  spelt  alike.  He  was 
bred  a  weaver — a  handicraft,  in  great  request  at  that  early 
day.  He  had  a  house-lot,  containing  5  acres,  10  by  5  chains, 
bounded,  N.,  by  Jacob  Melyen  ;  W.,  by  Humphrey  Spinage ; 
and,  S.,  and  E.,  by  highways.  He  had,  also,  16  acres  of  up- 
land, "on  the  JMeck,"  between  Matthias  Hatfield  and  Samuel 
Marsh,  Sen'  ;  also,  120  acres  of  upland,  "  on  Peach  Garden 
brook,"  bounded  by  Robert  Morse,  Matthias  Hatfield,  Robert 
White,  and  unsurveyed  land  ;  also,  40  acres  of  land,  on  "  the 
S.  branch  of  Elizabeth  Creek  or  River,"  bounded  by  Hum- 
phrey Spinage,  Matthias  Hatfield,  and  the  plain ;  also,  4 
acres  of  meadow,  "  at  Rawack,"  and  6  acres  on  Elizabeth 
Creek :  in  all  200  acres.  When  his  next  neighbor,  Jacob 
Melyen,  had  removed  to  New  York,  Winans  bought,  Feb.  S, 
167^,  his  house-lot,  house,  barn,  orchard,  &c.  He  died  at 
the  close  of  1694.     Ilis  estate  was  valued  at  £271.  15.  8.  f 

Baknabas  Wines  [Wynes,  Winds]  was  from  Southold,  L.  I. 
He  was  the  son  of  Goodman  Barnabas,  who  was  made,  May  6, 
1635,  a  freeman  of  AYatertown,  Mass.,  sold  out  in  1642,  and 
removed  to  Southold,  where  Barnabas,  Jr.,  was  made  a  free- 
man in  1664.  His  brother,  Samuel,  remained  with  his  father, 
but  ho  himself  joined  the  Achter  Kol  band  of  emigrants  and 
came  here  in  1665.  His  house-lot  contained  six  acres, 
bounded,  IST.,  by  Aaron  Thompson  ;  S.,  by  William  Cramer; 
E.,  by  the  Mill  River ;  and,  AY.,  by  a  highway ;  also,  two 
acres  of  upland,  adjoining  xVaron  Thompson  ;  also,  four  acres 
of  upland,  "  at  Luke  Watson's  point ;  "  also,  30  acres  of  up- 

*  N.  n.  Col.  Records,  I.  94,  122,  125,  139,  484,  440,  459.  Sftv.igo,  IV.  51fi.  E.  J.  Records, 
II.  IS,  94;  o.  c.  24;  €.13,100,150,171,  233;  E.  40,117;  L.  7G;  O.  104,  8,  117.  E.  T.  Uil!,  pp. 
83,  4,  103. 

♦  E.  J.  liecords,  I.  IflS,  101  ;  II.  22,  87  ;  D.  107.    E.  T.  IJill,  p.  105. 


102  THE    HISTORY    OF 

land  "  in  a  Swamp  between  Tlichard  Beacli  and  William 
Cramer ; "  also,  86  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  Nicliolas 
Carter,  George  Pack,  Francis  Barber,  and  unsurveyed  land ; 
also,  12  acres  of  upland,  "  Joyning  to  the  Calf  pasture,"  and 
George  Ross ;  also,  six  acres  of  meadow  at  Thompson's 
Creek  ;  also  six  acres  of  meadow  at  the  S.  side  of  E.  T.  Creek, 
and  12  acres  by  "  the  hoggish  meadow  ;  "  in  all,  164  acres.''^' 

Peter  Wolverson  [Wolferzen,  Wolpiiertsen]  Van  Cou- 
"WENHOVEN  was  a  genuine  Hollander,  from  New  Amsterdam. 
He  was  born  at  Amersfoort  in  Utrecht,  Holland ;  and  was 
a  step-son  of  Wolfert  Gerritsen,  -who  emigrated  to  Kew 
ISTetherland,  in  1630,  as  overseer  of  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer's 
colon}^  at  Rensselaerwyck,  near  Fort  Orange.  Gerritsen, 
in  1633,  entered  the  Company's  service,  and  removed  to 
New  Amsterdam.  Three  years  afterwards  he  took  up  his 
abode  at  New  Amersfoort,  or  Flatlands,  L.  I.,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  founders.  Young  "Wolferzen,  in  1639,  or  earlier, 
came  to  New  Amsterdam,  where,  at  that  time,  he  contracted 
to  build  a  house  for  Thomas  Hall.  The  next  year,  Dec.  2, 
16-40,  he  married  Hester  Symons,  a  native  of  Amsterdam, 
but  then  of  New  York.  His  brotlier,  Jacob,  also  a  resident 
of  New  Amsterdam,  erected,  in  1645,  a  brewery  in  Stone  st. 
Peter,  too,  became  a  brewer,  and  a  general  trader,  firsjt  in 
company  with  his  brother,  and  then  by  himself,  at  the  N.  W. 
corner  of  Whitehall  and  Pearl  sts.  He  served  one  term  of 
two  years,  and  four  terms  of  a  year  each,  as  one  of  the  "Wor- 
shipful Schepens  "  of  the  city.  In  March,  1655,  he  was  ap- 
pointed City  Surveyor;  also,  June  30,  1663,  a  lieutenant  of 
the  military  company,  of  which  Martin  Krcgicr  was  Captain. 
As  such  he  did  good  service  in  the  Esopus  War,  in  tiie  latter 
part  of  1663,  of  which  Kregier  published  a  detailed  narra- 
tive. 

After  the  English  conquest,  Wolfei'zen  had  some  difficulty 
with  the  Court  of  Assizes,  and  concluded  to  unite  with  his 
friends,  John  Ogden  and  Cnpt.  Baker,  in  founding  their  new 
colony.     In  Nov.   1665,  his  wife  having  died,  he  married 

•  N.  U.  Col.  Records,  I.  97,  232,  400.  Savage,  IV.  593.  Ilinraan's  P.  S.  Ct.,  I.  19S.  E.  J. 
Records,  II.  22.  90;  o.  c.  11. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  103 

Alice  Sj'bi'ants,  of  French  extraction,  witli  whom  lie  removed 
at  once  to  his  new  home.  She  died,  the  followin-g  year,  in 
giving  birth  to  her  son,  Peter,  and  was  buried  at  New  York. 
Her  cliild  was  baptized,  in  the  Dutch  Church,  Feb.  27, 1669. 
In  the  list  of  Associates,  he  is  called,  "  Peter  Couenhoven." 
Having  built  a  brewery,  he  obtained,  from  Gov.  Carteret,  a 
license  "  for  the  keeping  of  an  Ordinarj^  in  Elizabeth  Towne 
and  for  the  selling  and  retailing  of  all  sorts  of  drink  and 
strong  Liquors,"  for  one  year  from  Sep.  29,  1666.  To  meet 
his  expenditures,  he  borrowed,  July  12,  1667,  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, "  2727  gilders  17  stivers  ;  "  mortgaging,  as  he  says — 
"  all  my  Land  dwelling  hows  and  out-houses,  Brewhows, 
Copper  and  all  other  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  to- 
gether With  all  my  goods  and  cattle  moveable  and  unmovea- 
ble  that  I  now  have  or  may  hereafter  have  in  Elizabeth 
Tawne."  "When  the  Dutch  reconquered  New  York,  Wolfer- 
zen  returned  to  the  City,  and  Carteret  came,  by  foreclosure, 
into  possession  of  the  property.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
"  well-versed  in  the  Indian  language." 

He  was  entitled  to  480  acres,  for  which  the  Governor  is- 
sued a  warrant,  Mar.  14,  1675,  to  himself.  Of  this  amount, 
200  acres  were  surveyed,  April  14,  1677,  as  follows :  The 
house-lot,  "  formerly  belonging  to  Peter  Woolverson,"  con- 
tained eight  acres,  "  being  a  Triangle  peice,"  near  John 
Woodrufl:''s  landing,  by  a  small  creek  ;  also,  40  acres  of  up- 
land, on  the  Neck,  bounded,  S.  W.,  "  by  the  highway  that 
goes  to  the  point,  and  all  round  by  Governo'  Philip  Carteret  s 
Land  ; "  also,  152  acres  of  upland  "  towards  the  plaine  " 
bounded  by  Daniel  DelTart,  Elizabeth  Creek,  Leonard  Head- 
ley,  and  unsurveyed  land  ;  also,  3  acres  of  meadow,  adjoining 
thehouse-lot,  on  Elizabeth  Creek ;  also,  6  acres  of  meadow 
on  "  the  bay  of  Kill  van  KuU,"  and  15  acres  of  meadow  on 
Oyster  Creek  and  the  great  pond :  in  all,  224  acres.* 

Jonas  Wood,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  were  neighbors  of 
John  Ogden,  in  1652,  at  North  Sea,  or  Northampton,  in  the 

•  Valentino's  N.  Y.,  pp.  89,  00.  O'Callaghan's  N.  Nelh.,  11.  4T6,  9,  500.  Brodhrads  N.  Y., 
I.  G5.3,  54S,  571,  T12-1.  Doc.  His.  of  N.  Y.,  IV.  47-S9.  Valontine's  Man.  for  1852,  pp.  393-5. 
Alb.  Kecords,  1. 15C,  233 ;  II.  4;  IV.  193;  X.  170,  393  ;  XXIII.  277.  E.J.  Uncords,  I.  1G7;  II. 
19,  50,  5 ;  III.  10,  11.     E.  T.  Uill,  p.  109.     Kiker's  Newtown,  pp.  55,  360, 1. 


lOi  THE    HISTORY    OF 

town  of  Soutliampton,  L.  I.  Jonas  and  Edward  "Wood  were 
members  of  the  churcli  at  Watcrtown,  Mass.,  in  1635;  and, 
with  John  Strickland  and  others,  were  dismissed,  May  29, 
1G35,  to  plant  a  colony  on  t^e  Connecticut  river,  to  which 
they  gave  the  name  of  "  Wethersfield."  In  1G40,  Jonas,  Ed- 
ward, Jeremiah,  and  Jonas,  Jr.  removed  from  Wethers- 
field, and,  with  otliers,  settled  Ilippowams  [Stamford],  Ct. 
Jonas  and  Edward  are  thought  to  have  been  brothers,  and 
the  other  two  their  sons.  In  the  spring  of  1644,  they  joined 
the  colony  that  crossed  over  to  Long  Island,  and  settled 
Hempstead,  Jonas  being  one  of  the  patentees.  Jonas,  and 
Jonas,  Jr.,  subsequently  settled  at  Huntington,  L.  I.,  and 
were  both  living  there  in  1675.  The  Jonas,  therefore,  who 
accompanied  John  Ogden  to  Northampton,  and,  in  1665,  to 
this  town,  must  have  been  a  son  of  Edward,  and  a  cousin  of 
Jonas,  Jr.,  supposing  the  latter,  as  is  most  natural,  to  hare 
been  the  son  of  Jonas,  Sen' — there  being  three  persons,  con- 
temporaneous, bearing  the  same  name,  and  thus  occasioning 
confusion  in  tracing  their  genealogy.  He  appears  to  have 
been  much  respected  by  his  townsmen  here.  He  received 
license,  July  10,  1679,  to  keep  an  ordinary,  and  was  chosen, 
Nov.  3,  1693,  and  again  in  1694,  a  Deputy  to  represent  tlie 
town  in  the  Legislature. 

He  had  a  house-lot,  containing  six  acres,  bounded,  N.  "W., 
by  Eichard  Mitchell;  S.  W.,  by  William  Letts;  S.  E.,  by 
the  highway ;  and,  N.  E.,  by  Samuel  Marsh,  Sen  .  He  had, 
also,  9  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  William  Oliver,  Charles 
Tucker,  Richard  Clarke,  and  George  Eoss ;  also,  3  acres  of 
upland,  adjoining  Dennis  White  and  the  Common  ;  also,  150 
acres  of  upland  "  at  llahawack,"  adjoining  Jeffry  Jones  and 
Capt.  John  Baker ;  also,  50  acres  of  upland,  "  a  Eidge  of 
Land  between  two  Swamps,"  adjoining  Eobert  AVliitc  and 
the  Common  ;  also  six  acres  of  meadow,  on  Elizabeth  Creek, 
bounded  by  William  Johnson,  William  Cramer,  and  Eichard 
Clark ;  also,  14  acres  of  meadow  adjoining  his  upland  at 
"llahawack;"  and  10  acres  of  meadow  on  "Euliawack 
Eiver  : "  in  all,  228  acres.  Several  of  tliese  jxarcels  he  ex- 
changed. May  29, 1678,  with  Simon  Eousc.     In  company  with 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  105 

his  son,  Samuel,  he  purchased,  June  24, 1G86,  several  parcels 
of  Robert  Morse ;  and  sold,  Aug.  25, 1G86,  a  part  of  his  patent ; 
also,  June  29,  1687,  100  acres  to  "  And  rise  Price  Gaer  of 
E.  T. ;"  and,  Oct.  17, 1C8S,  the  half  of  his  house-lot  to  James 
Emott  Esq.,  a  new  comer  in  1683.""' 

John  Woodruff  [Woodrofe]  was  of  the  Southan)pton 
colony.  lie  was  the  son  of  John  "Woodruff,  who  was  living, 
1657,  on  the  E.  side  of  the  street,  between  Thomas  Burnett 
and  John  Foster.  The  father  died,  at  Southampton,  in  May, 
1670.  In  his  Will,  May  4,  1670,  is  this  bequest:  "I  give 
unto  my  Eldest  son  John  Woodruff  of  Elizabeth  Town  one 
halfe  Crbwne  piece  of  Money  in  full  of  all  portions  &  Pat- 
rimony whatsoever,  to  be  expected  from  mee,  or  out  of  any 
part  of  my  Estate^"  At  the  close  of  the  Will,  he  says — "  I 
by  this  make  my  Wi^e  Anne  Woodruff  and  my  youngest  son 
John  Woodruff  joynt  Executors  of  this  my  Last  Will  and 
Testament."  Here  are  two  sons  of  the  same  father  named 
"  t/oAw."  Were  they  children  of  the  same  mother,  also?  Or 
was  one  of  them  an  adopted  son  ?  f  His  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
was  married  to  a  son  of  Ralph  Dayton  (probably,  Robert)  of 
East  Hampton.  His  daughter,  Anne,  was  married  to  a  son 
of  Robert  Wooley.  The  emigrant  son  brought  with  him,  to 
this  town,  his  wife,  Mar}Y"^vith  "  two  '  men  and  a  maidser- 
vant." His  children  were  born  after  his  arrival.  He  was 
appointed  Constable  of  the  town,  Dec.  11,  1674,  Ensign, 
July  15,  1675,  and  Sheriff  of  the  County,  Nov.  28,  1684.^ 

His  house-lot  contained  but  1^-  acres,  bounded,  W.,  by 
John  Ogden,  and,  on  the  other  sides,  by  highways.  He  had, 
also.  "  a  Farme  cont^  Two  Hundred  Ninety  two  Acres," 
since  known  as  "  Woodruff's  Farms,"  bounded,  N.,  and  W., 
by  a  great  Swamp  ;  E.,  by  the  Common  Meadow  ;  and,  S., 
by  a  small  brook  and  John  Parker ;  also,  14  acres  on  the 
North  Neck  ;  also,  5  acres  bounded  by  the  Common  Pasture, 

*  Ct.  Col.  llccords,  I.  2,  17-2,  4,  190,  2,  -276,  2S1,  3,  870,  8S0,  401.  Cliapin's  Glastonbury, 
pp.  27,  47.  Hinman's  P.  S.  of  Ct.,  I.  18,  2-32,  405.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  S3(i,  -107 ;  II.  .'),  0.  105. 
Howell,  p.  305.  E.  J.  Kecords,  I.  76,  109,  164;  II.  21,  30;  III.  15:;  B.  40,  121,  132;  D.  43. 
E.  T.  Bill,  p.  105. 

t  A  similar  ca.se  is  related  in  the  Shattuck  family  of  Saybrook,  Ct,  at  this  same  period. 
Sbattuck  Memorial,  p.  72. 


106  THE    HISTORY    OF 

his  own  land,  a  small  brook,  and  Leonard  Headley  ;  also,  8 
acres  of  upland,  bounded  by  the  Governor,  and  Jonathan 
and  Joseph  Ogden's  house-lots ;  also,  6  acres  of  upland  join- 
ing John  Parker's  house-lot  "  at  the  Farraes,"  bounded  by 
John  Parker,  the  Common  Swamp,  John  Wilson,  and  his 
own  land,  "through  which  a  Avay  must  be  Left  for  John 
Parker  to  pass  through  to  his  Plantation  ;  "  also,  30  acres  of 
meadow,  joining  the  great  Island  and  his  own  land  ;  also, 
4  aci'es  of  meadow  adjoining  the  above  ;  and  5}  acres  of 
meadow  on  E.  Town  Creek :  in  all,  320  acres.  Still  later 
he  obtained  120  acres  more:  an  island  or  hammock  in  the 
great  Meadow,  containing  36  acres ;  also,  22  acres  by  the 
brook  in  the  swamp  ;  also,  30  acres  of  hassocks  adjoining 
George  Morris  ;  also,  14  acres  of  hassocks  adjoining  John 
Parker ;  also,  9  acres  of  meadow  on  Oyster  Creek  ;  also, 
five  acres  of  meadow-  on  the  Bay  ;  and  four  acres  on  Forked 
Creek.* 

Capi"'  Thomas  Young  and  Christopuer  Young  were  from 
Southold,  L.  L  They  were  sons  of  the  Rev.  John  Youngs, 
the  first  pastq^*  of  the  Southold  Church.  The  father  was  born 
in  1C02,  and  Joan,  his  wife,  in  1603.  They  married  earl}-, 
and  had  six  children  in  1637 : — John,  Thomas,  Anne,  Rachell, 
Mar}-,  and  Joseph.  Christopher  was  born  at  a  later  date. 
John  Young,  in  1637,  was  the  minister  of  "  St.  Margretts, 
Sufi:"  in  England.  They  sought.  May  11,  "to  passe  fo 
Salam  in  New  England  to  inhabitt;  "  but  leave  was  refused. 
Three  yeare  later  they  succeeded,  and,  with  some  of  their 
church,  came  to  New  Haven,  whence  they  crossed  to  Long 
Island,  and  founded  Southold.  John  and  Thomas  were  both 
mariners,  in  command  of  coasters.  Thomas  was  born,  1627, 
in  England,  and  married,  at  Southold,  Rebecca,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  Mapes.  In  1654,  he  removed  to  Oyster  Bay. 
His  wife  died,  and  he  married,  1658,  Sarah,  a  daughter  of 
John  Frost. 

It  is  quite  probable,  that  it  was  in  Ca])t.  Thomas  Young's 
vessel,  that  the  first  colonists  from  the  towns  on   the  East 

*  N.  Y.  Rook  of  Wills,  1. 131.  Howell,  p.  803.  E.  J.  Records,  1. 150  ;'  II.  U,  2J  ;  IIL  20. 
23, 105-  A.  406  ;  C.  87  ;  L.  103,  4.     K.  T.  Bill,  p.  102. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  107 

End  of  Long  Island  removed  to  tliis  place  ;  and,  in  the 
same  way,  others  afterwards  came,  encouraged  by  the  good 
reports  brought  them,  by  Capt.  Young,  of  the  new  home  so 
happily  found  by  their  old  neighbors. 

His  name  heads  the  list  of  those  who  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  Feb.,  166f .  On  the  12th  of  the  same  month,  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  Governor's  Council.  Two  days 
afterwards,  John  Day,  Cooper  of  E.  Town,  binds  himself  as 
a  servant  to  Capt.  Philip  Carteret,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Young, 
of  E.  Towai,  for  two  years,  in  the  craft  or  trade  of  a  Cooper, 
to  receive  "  competent  meat  Drink  and  house-room,"  and 
"  the  halfe  p^^  of  AVhat  Coopers  "Work  he  shall  doe  and 
earnc."  By  Indenture,  Mar.  25,  1672,  Sewanam,  a  Long 
Island  Indian,  binds  himself  to  "Thomas  Young  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  mariner,"  as  his  servant,  for  four  years,  "  about  the 
House  or  Family  or  abroad  whether  by  Land  or  Water," 
on  condition  of  being  supplied  "  with  sufficient  Meat  Drink 
and  Clothes  "Washins:  and  Lodirino-  accordins^  to  his  Rank 
and  Quality,"  to  receive  for  his  services  a  Mare,  and,  "  after 
thciirst  voyage  to  Europe  or  Barbados,  one  suit  of  apparel." 
It  thus  appears  that  Capt.  Young  was  in  the  European  and 
West  India  trade,  and  quite  a  venturesome  navigator  for 
the  times. 

He  had  a  warrant  for  240  acres  of  land,  of  which  only 
112  acres  arc  described  :  100  acres,  at  Young's  point,  bound- 
ed on  three  sides  by  Sir  George  and  Philip  Carteret,  a 
great  pond,  and  unsurveyed  land  ;  and  on  the  other  side  by 
meadow ;  one  line  running  "  along  the  meadow  till  it  comes 
to  a  point  of  land  Near  the  Indian  wigwam  ; "  also,  12  acres 
of  meadow  contiguous  to  the  above,  the  great  pond,  and 
the  swampy  meadows.  The  locality  was  chosen,  doubtless, 
because  of  his  sea-faring  pursuits.  It  was  at  the  junction  of 
Achter  Kol  Sound,  and  Newark  Bay,  a  point  of  land  then  call- 
ed "  Thomas  Young's  Point,"  but,  in  later  years  "De  Hart's 
Point,"  about  a  mile  N.  from  the  Governor's  or  "  Old  Point," 
where  the  Carterets  had  most  of  the  land.  A  lot  of  land 
was  laid  out  for  him,  in  1676,  on  the  S.  side  of  Staten  Island, 
N.  E.  of  "Secdar  Poynte."     His  brother,  Ciiuistopiiicr,  sold 


108  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Nov.  20,  ICGT,  all  his  accommodations,  at  E.  Town,  being  a 
first  lot-right,  and  a  house-lot  of  four  acres  (bounded,  S.,  by 
George  Pack  ;  N,,  by  the  Common  ;  W.,  "  by  the  highway 
that  goeth  to  "Woodbridge  ; "  and  E.  by  another  highway), 
to  Dennis  White,  for  £10.  On  the  8th  of  June  following, 
White  assigned  it  to  Young  again,  by  whom,  not  long  after- 
wards, it  w\as  sold  to  John  Little.  Neither  of  the  brothers 
became  permanent  residents  here.  Capt.  Thomas  returned 
to  Oyster  Bay,  where  lie  rested  from  his  earthly  pilgrimage, 
in  1G89.  Christopher  returned  to  the  Island,  and  settled  at 
Southold,  his  former  home,  where  he  was  living  in  1675,  and 
1683.- 

Benjamin-  Concklin  came  with  his  East-nam])ton  neigh- 
bors, but,  for  some  unexplained  cause,  soon  after  returned 
to  his  former  home.  Joseph  and  Joshua  Conklin,  of  the 
same  lineage,  came  here  some  forty  years  later,  and  found- 
ed the  Conklin  family  of  this  town.  They  were  probably 
children  or  grandchildren  of  the  Benjamin  here  noticed."  f 

Roderick  Powell  was  a  servant,  and,  in  the  May  fol- 
lowing, having  run  away  from  his  master,  is  described  as 
"  a  pittiful  fellow."  A  Richard  Powell  of  another  lineage, 
doubtless,  was  here,  only  a  few  years  later,  to  whom  the 
Governor  sold,  Jan.  167^-,  his  Woodbridge  lands,  taking 
Powell's  E.  T.  house  and  lands  in  exchange,  and  selling  the 
latter,  soon  after,  to  Henry  Lyon.  ^ 

Jacob  Clais,  Zackery  Graves,  Moses  Pi:terson,  and 
Thomas  Skillman,  who  all  took  the  oath,  were  either  tran- 
sient persons,  or  were  mere  laborers,  and  not  freeholders. 

Three  other  names,  at  least,  are  to  be  added  to  the  list 
of  those  who  were  settlers  during  the  first  year — James 
Bollcn,  Robert  Sealey,  and  Philip  Carteret. 

James  Bollen  came  over,  it  is  thought,  with  the  English 
fleet  in   16G4.     As  he  Avas  styled   "  Capt.,"  he  may  have 

♦  4  Mass.  His.  Soc.  Coll.,  L  101;  II.  nsi.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  395;  II.  3S1-3.  E.J. 
Eccords,  I.  1,  25,  6;  II.  19, 105  ;  o.  e.  20;  IIL  7,  S.  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  01,  109,  110.  N.  York 
Doc.  History,  H.  451,  5,  530. 

t  llc(l?fs'  E.  Il^iiipton,  pp.  4,  03.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  295,  310.  Littell's  Pass-iic  Valley, 
pp.  83-90,  600-1.  :  E.  J.  Kecorils,  L  9S,  ICl ;  III.  8. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JEESEY.  109 

been  iu  command  of  one  of  the  vessels.  Col.  Nicolls  a])- 
pointcd  liim  "  Commissary  of  the  Ammunition,"  at  New 
York.  lie  was  one  of  those  who  were  deputed  by  Nicolls, 
to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  fort  at  New  Amsterdam, 
Sep.  8,  1604.  He  remained  at  New  York  until  Aug.  1665. 
In  the  Court  Records  for  that  year,  it  appears,  that  he  fre- 
quently served  as  Foreman  of  the  Jury,  his  name  beiug 
written—"  Bullaine,"  and  "  Ballinc."  When  Capt.  Carteret, 
on  his  first  voj^age  to  America,  arrived  at  "  Newportes  newes, 
Virginia,"  he  sent  his  dispatches,  June  13,  1665,  "  to  Capt. 
James  Bullaigne  in  New  York;"  indicating  previous  ac- 
quaintanceship, probably  in  the  Island  of  Jersey,  and,  quite 
likely,  a  French  extraction  for  Bollen.  He  attached  himself 
to  Gov.  Carteret  on  his  arrival  at  New  York,  and,  as  Secre- 
tary of  the  new  Province,  accompanied  him,  in  August,  to 
this  town.  He  adhered,  most  rigidly,  to  the  Governor 
through  his  troublesome  administration,  and  was  rewarded 
with  the  entire  confidence  of  his  superior.  He  was  appoint- 
ed Justice  of  the  Peace,  Jan.  20,  166f,  and,  as  such,  ofiiciated 
in  almost  every  instance  in  the  marriage-services  of  the 
period.  He  presided  at  the  town  meeting  when  the  oath 
of  allegiance  was  administered  in  February.  He  kept  the 
Records  of  the  Proprietary  Government,  and  several  of  the 
early  volumes  are  the  work  of  his  fingers.  Becoming  ex- 
ceedingly obnoxious  to  the  town,  by  his  readiness  to  do  all 
the  Governor's  bidding  in  opposition  to  the  people,  he  ex- 
changed properties,  Sep.  30,  1673,  with  John  Martin,  of 
Woodbridge,  and  thenceforward  ceased  to  reside  here.  His 
house-lot  adjoined  Abraham  Shotwell's  on  the  East.  Martin 
sold  the  property,  Nov.  6,  16T4,  to  Henry  Lyon,  who  resold 
it,  May  1,  1675,  "  together  with  the  Cow  Yard  Orchard  or 
Garden,"  to  Carteret,  for  £30.  He  died,  intestate,  in  March, 
168|,  having  survived  his  friend,  Carteret,  but  a  few  weeks.* 
Robert  Sealey  [Seeley]  came  over,  probably,  with  Win- 
tlirop.  He  was  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1630  ;  was  employ- 
ed as  Surveyor,  in  163-1 ;  came  to  "Wethersfield,  Ct,  in  1636  ; 

•  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  II.  4T0;  III.  '203-300,  T52.     Viilentinc's  Manual  for  1852,  pp.  4S3, 
4D2,  5.    3  Mass.  His.  Soc.  Coll.,  X.  52.    E.  J.  Kecoids,  I.  S9;  III.  G;  A.  1. 


110  THE    U I  STORY    OF 

was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Pequot  War  of  1637  ;  was  one  of 
tlie  first  settlers  of  New  Haven,  in  1639  ;  returned  to  Eng- 
land, about  1646 ;  came  back,  and  joined  the  Delaware 
Colony,  that  was  driven  off  by  the  Dutch,  in  1651  ;  had 
command  of  the  troops  raised  by  New  Haven  to  resist  the 
Dutch,  in  1654;  was  at  Saybrook,  in  1662;  was  at  Hunt- 
ington, L.  I.,  and  in  charge  of  the  militia,  in  1663  ;  and 
was  at  New  York,  in  1664.  The  next  year  he  united  with 
Ogden  aTid  others  in  settling  this  town.  His  house-lot  con- 
tained six  acres,  bounded,  N.,  by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck  ; 
"W.,  by  the  Mill  Creek  ;  E.,  by  the  highway  ;  and,  S,,  by 
"  the  Parson's  house  Lott."  John  and  Nathaniel  Seeley,  of 
Eairficld  (1657),  and  Obadiah,  of  Stamford,  Ct.,  it  is  thought, 
were  his  sons,  by  his  first  wife.  In  December,  16G6,  he 
married  Nancy  Walker,  at  New  York.  He  died,  intestate, 
in  Oct.,  1668,  and  his  widow  sold,  Nov.  2,  1668,  his  lands 
and  rights  here,  for  £45,  to  Gov.  Carteret.  The  latter  re- 
sold it,  Feb.  22, 1669-70,  to  one  of  his  Old  Jersey  friends. 
Claude  Vallot,  "  of  Champagne  in  the  kingdom  of  France," 
who  had  come  over  with  the  Governor,  and,  having  lived 
here  five  years  as  one  of  Carteret's  "menial  servants,"  had, 
12  days  before  been  naturalized.  In  the  list  of  Associates, 
"  Sealy  Champain "  is  mentioned  ;  it  should  be,  "  Pobert 
Scaly,  transferred  to  Claude  Vallot  of  Champagne."  Yallot 
exchanged  the  property,  Aug.  8,  1672,  with  Benjamin  Park- 
hurst  of  Woodbridge,  and  thenceforward  made  the  latter 
place  his  home.* 

Capt.  Philip  Carteret,  the  governor,  is  usually  styled 
"  the  brother  "  of  Sir  George  Carteret.  Philip,  the  brother 
of  Sir  George,  as  stated  on  a  previous  page,  died  in  1665. 
Consequently,  the  E,  Town  Philip  co;ild  not  be  the  Pro- 
prietor's brother.  Nor  could  he  be  a  brother-in-law.  Lady 
Elizabeth  Carteret,  the  wife  of  Sir  George,  had  also  a  brother, 
Philip,  but  he  died  in  1662.  The  mother  of  Sir  George 
was  Elizabeth  Dumarcsque ;  and  the  mother  of  the  Lady 

*  n  M:!?!".  His.  Soc.  Coll.,  III.  14n,  153.  Bncon's  New  Uaven,  p.  315.  Chapin's  Glastonbiirj-, 
p.  46.  N.  Y.  Marringos,  p.  345.  Savnge,  IV.  49.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  108.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  6,  7; 
II.  9G.     K.  Y.  Wills,  I.  64.  : 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  HI 

Elizabetli  was  Ann  Dowse  ;  but  Capt.  Pliilip,  the  governor, 
in  his  Will,  S2:)eaks  of  his  mother  as  "  Rachel."  Samuel 
Maverick,  one  of  the  Royal  Commissioners,  who  knew  Gov. 
Carteret  intimately,  says,  June  29,  1669,  "  As  Sir  George 
Carterett  writes  to  his  cosen,  the  present  Gouernor."  The 
confusion  may  have  been  owing,  in  part,  to  the  fact,  that 
each  of  them  was  the  son  of  a  Ilelier  Carteret.  But  the 
father  of  Sir  George  was  the  great-grandson  of  Edward, 
and  the  father  of  Philip  was  the  great-grandson 'of  Edward's 
brother,  Richard  ;  so  that  Sir  George  was  but  the  fourth 
cousin  of  the  governor. 

Philip  Carteret  was  the  son  of  Helier  De  Carteret,  At- 
torney  General  of  Jersey,   and  of  Rachel  .     lie  was 

the  first  born  of  his  mother,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
1639,  the  year  after  her  marriage.  As  such,  he  became 
Seigneur  of  the  Manor  of  La  Ilouque,  Parish  of  St.  Peter, 
Jersey.  He  was  the  grandson  of  Peter  De  Carteret,  Jurat 
of  the  Roj^^l  Court  of  Jersey,  whose  father,  Francis,  was 
the  second  son^  of  Richard,  Seigneur  of  the  Manor  of  Vin- 
clieles,  and  brother  of  Edward,  the  ancestor  of  Sir  George. 
Pliilip  was  forty  years  the  junior  of  Sir  George,  being  only 
in  his  26th  year,  full  of  the  vigor  and  elasticity  of  early  man- 
hood, when  he  embarked  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  New 
AVorld.  His  subsequent  history  is,  elsewhere  in  this  narra- 
tive, related  at  length. 

The  family,  and  their  friends  in  Jersey,  were  originally 
Erench ;  and  the  language,  manners  and  customs  of  France 
prevailed  on  the  island.  Most  of  those  who  came  with  Car- 
teret, in  the  ship  "  Philip,"  were,  probably,  from  the  Carteret 
estates  in  Jersey,  and  of  Frcncli  origin.  The  family,  as  has 
been  seen,  had  been  iirdently  devoted,  throughout  the  Civil 
War,  to  the  fortunes  of  the  house  of  Stuart,  and  were  high  in 
the  favor  of  the  King,  and  the  Duke  of  York.*  . 

It  appears,  from  this  review,  therefore,  that  the  number  of 
planters,  found  here  in  Februar}'  166|,  or,  if  not  on  the 
ground,  yet  identified  with  the  settlement,  was  about  seventy. 

*  Colllus'  Peerage,  (Ed.  of  1735),  IV.  821-S. 


112  THE    HISTORY    OF  ^ 

A  large  ]>roportion,  nearly  all,  had  brought  their  wives  with 
them.  Some  of  them  had  several  children,  also.  A  small 
number  were  considerably  in  years.  The  most  of  them, 
however,  were  young,  vigorous,  robust  men,  between  the 
ages  of  twenty-live  and  forty, — ^just  the  men  to  lay  the  foun- 
dations of  many  generations. 

It  further  appears,  that  the  town  was  actually  settled  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  Gov.  Carteret ;  and  that  he,  and  the  peo- 
ple whom  he  brought  with  him,  had  but  a  small  share  in 
founding  it.  The  current  histories  have  generally  left  the 
impression,  that  the  first  planters,  with  the  exception  of  four 
families,  came  over  in  the  ship  "Philip."  Gordon  says,  that 
Carteret  "  arrived  with  a  company  of  thirty  settlers,  from 
England,  and  established  themselves  at  Elizabethtown."  Dr. 
Murray  repeats  the  same  story.  Smith  says,  "  With  him 
came  about  thirty  people,  some  of  them  servants."  So  says 
AVhitchead;  both  of  them  drawing  their  information  from 
the  Bill  in  Chancery  ;  which  says,  that  he  came  "  with  above 
thirty  people,  whereof  some  were  servants  and  others  free." 
Mulford  says,  that,  "  in  company  with  a  number  of  persons 
who  were  disposed  to  adventure  as  planters,  he  started  from 
England."  Graham  says,  that  he  "  arrived  with  a  company 
of  thirty  emigrants  from  England."  Stearns  calls  them — 
"  thirty  men,  gentlemen  and  their  servants."  "" 

These  thirty  "  me?i "  were,  part  of  them,  2V07nen-5CYVEiT\ts. 
Tlie  only  gentlemen  were  Carteret  and  Vauquellin,  the  latter 
of  whom  brought  only  his  wife.  The  men-servants,  as  already 
related  were  eighteen  in  number,  belonging  to  Sir  George 
Carteret — "  menial  servants,"  as  the  Governor  calls  one  of 
them.  The  town  was  founded,  not  by  Carteret,  but  by  Ogden, 
Watson,  Baker,  and  their  personal  friends.  The  men,  who 
met  here  in  town-meeting  at  the  close  of  the  winter  of  I660-6, 
were  nearly  all  !Rew  England  people,  the  most  of  whom  had 
come  hither  by  the  way  of  Long  Island.  The  larger  part  had 
been,  for  a  while,  residents  of   the  three  Englisli  towns  on 

*  Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  23.  Murray's  Notes  on  E.  T.,  p.  IS.  Smith's  N.  J.,  p.  C".  White- 
head's E.  J.,  p.  36.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  28.  Mulford'sN.  J.,p.l8S.  Graham's  U.  States  (Am.  Ed.), 
I.  4C5.    Stfiarns'  Newarlc,  p.  9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  113 

,  the  ciist  end  of  the  Island,  Southold,  Sonthiinipton,  and  East 
Hampton.  Some  of  them  had  resided  a  short  time,  at  Hemp- 
stead, Huntington,  and  Jamaica.  Either  then,  or  at  a  prc- 
vions  da}',  they  had  come  from  the  other  side  of  Long  Ish^nd 
Sound,  from  Stamford,  Fairlield,  Milford,  New  Haven  and 
Guilford.  Quite  a  number  had  come  from  Massachusetts 
Bay  by  way  of  Wethersfield.  In  their  various  pilgrimages, 
they  had  been,  nearly  all  of  them,  associated  together  in  the 
settling  of  other  phmtations.  They  were  neighbors  and 
friends,  who  had  intermarried,  and  in  other  ways  become 
familiar  one  with  another.  When  they  met  here,  they  met 
as  old  acquaintances, — as  one  people.* 

As  truly,  therefore,  as  in  the  case  of  J^ewark,  Southold, 
Southampton,  East  Hampton,  Huntington,  and  Hempstead, 
this  town  was  of  ]S(ew  England  origin.  Its  founders  were  of 
the  old  Puritan  Stock,  and  brought  with  them,  to  these  fer- 
tile shores,  their  Puritan  religion,  habits,  manners,  and  cus- 
toms. They  were  of  one  mind  and  one  heart.  The  only  dis- 
turbing element  among  them  came  from  abroad.  With 
Carteret  and  his  company  they  had  no  congenialit}',  and  al- 
most no  sympathy.  Though  it  has  been  charitably  conjec- 
tured, "  that  the  settlers  brought  here  by  Carteret  were 
mainly  of  Puritan  faith,"  not  a  doubt  can  be  entertained  of 
the  erroneousness  of  the  conjecture.  Carteret's  men  were 
not  properly  immigrants.  They  were  colonial  agents,  gov- 
ernmental officials,  house-servants,  and  farm-laborers.  A 
large  part  of  them  were,  probably,  Homan  Catholics ;  and 
the  remainder,  of  the  Church  of  England — the  religion  of  the 
Court,  if  such  a  Court  could  be  said  to  have  any  religion. 
These  were  not  the  men  that  gave  character  to  the  town,  that 
laid  its  foundations,  and  gave  form  to  the  social,  moral  and 
religious  character  of  the  people. f 

The  planters  of  this  town  had,  the  most  of  them,  matured 
under  the  Commonwealth.  They  had  learned,  almost  from 
their  earliest  days,  to  abjure  the  divine  right  of  kings  ;  and 
to  regard  the  House  of  Stuart  with  holy  aversion,  as  invaders 

*  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  lOT,  9.    K.  J.  Records,  III.  80. 
t  Manual  of  1st  1'.  Chh.  K.  T.,  1S58,  p.  8. 


114  THE    HISTORY    OF  . 

of  the  vested  rii^hts  of  tlic  people,  and  as  essentially  imperi- 
ous despots.  They  had  been  trained  to  the  largest  liberty 
in  government.  The  towns,  which  they  and  their  fathers 
had  founded,  had  been  constituted,  and  their  government  ad- 
ministered, according  to  their  own  conceptions  of  truth  and 
right.  No  praetorian  governor,  from  a  far  country,  presided, 
either  in  person  or  by  proxy,  in  their  town-meetings,  or  med- 
dled with  their  affairs  in  the  least.  Their  governors,  and  all 
their  rulers,  were  of  themselves,  freely  and  periodically 
chosen  and  inducted.  The  Deputies  to  their  General  Court 
were  annually  chosen.  They  met  and  deliberated,  made  and 
administered  the  laws,  and  took  measures  for  the  welfare  of 
the  people,  with  none  to  molest,  or  "  make  them  afraid." 
The  Constitution  of  government,  under  which  most  of  them 
had  lived,  was  thoroughly  democratic,  making  "  no  mention 
whatever,  either  of  king  or  parliament  or  the  least  inti- 
mation, of  allegiance  to  the  mother  country ; "  in  which 
"  an  oath  of  allegiance  "  was  "  required  directly  to  the  State," 
and  the  "  General  Court  "  was  declared  to  be  "  the  Supreme 
Power  of  the  Commonwealth."  * 

Carteret  and  his  company,  on  the  other  hand,  were  mon- 
archists; diligently  and  saci'edly  taught  to  believe  in  the  di- 
vine right  of  kings  ;  to  be  jealous  for  the  royal  prerogative  ; 
to  hate  and  abjure  both  Cromwell  and  the  Commonwealth  ; 
(the  Isle  of  Jersey  having  been  tlie  very  last  to  liold  out 
against  the  Parliamentary  forces) ;  to  look  with  contempt 
upon  the  "  round-heads  ; "  to  make  sport  of  Puritan  strict- 
ness in  religion  and  morals,  and  to  live  in  the  unrestrained 
indulgence  that  so  commonly  and  shamefully  characterized 
the  Court  of  Charles.  These  were  not,  it  will  be  seen,  very 
congenial  elements  for  the  organization  of  social,  political 
and  religious  institutions.  In  the  very  nature  of  the  case, 
occasional  collisions  between  the  Court  party  and  the  people 
were  to  be  expected  ;  they  could  not  be  wholly  avoided. 

•  Pr.  Euslincirs  Spcccli  for  Ct.,  p.  12. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  115 


CHAPTER   VI. 

A.  D.   1CG6-1GC9. 

Government  of  the  Town  —  Forms  of  Marriage  Licenses  —  Indentures,  and  the 
Hue  and  Cry  for  Runaways  —  Sale  of  the  S.  half  of  the  Town — Settlement 
of  Woodbridge  and  Newark  —  Traffic  in  Pipe  Staves  —  Cold  "Winter  —  Rev. 
Abm.  Pierson  at  Newark  —  Brackett  appointed  Ass.  Surveyor  —  Newark 
Boundary  prayerfully  settled  —  Great  Mortality  —  "Duke's  Laws"  —  First 
Legislature  of  N.  Jersey  at  E.  T. — Laws  —  Second  Session  —  Collision  with 
the  Governor  —  Abrupt  Adjournment  — Whaling  Company —  Disputes  about 
Staten  Island — Berkeley  and  Carteret  in  Trouble — Mortality. 

GovERNOii  Carteret  a])pcars  to  have  entered  upon  Ills  ad- 
ministration with  a  desire  to  ingratiate  himself  witli  the  peo- 
ple of  the  town,  which  he  liad  chosen  as  the  seat  of  govern- 
ment. John  Ogden  was  commissioned,  Oct.  2G,  1665,  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  Nov.  1,  appointed  one  of  the  gov- 
ernor's Council.  Capt.  Thomas  Young  was,  also,  Feb.  12, 
166^,  appointed  of  the  Council.  A  military  compan_y  was 
organized,  somewhat  later,  for  the  defence  of  the  town  against 
the  Indians;  of  which  Luke  Watson  was  made  Lieutenant, 
and  John  Woodruff,  Ensign.  Watson  was,  also,  made  the 
constable  of  the  town.* 

The  work  of  planting  and  building  went  on  rapidly.  Car- 
teret had  brought  over,  not  only  a  large  company  of  laborers 
to  aid  in  subduing  the  wilderness,  but  also  "  several  goods  of 
great  value,  proper  for  the  first  planting  and  settling  of  New 
Jersey."  Doubtless,  it  was  regarded  by  the  Associates,  in 
their  simplicity,  as  a  special  providence,  that  a  man  of  such 
cultivation,  and  of  resources  so  ample,  with  ajiparently  such 
kind  intentions,  and  so  well-disposed  to  cast  in  his  lot  witli 

*  E.  J.  Rocordf,  III.  S,  4,  7,  20,  21. 


IIG  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tlicm,  slioultl  have  been  sent  over,  at  tliis  very  time,  to  tliis 
very  spot.  Not  apprehending  any  difficulty  from  tlie  conflict 
of  opinions  and  claims,  which  might  grow  out  of  their  pecu- 
liar relations  to  each  other,  the  town's  people  were  rather  flat- 
tered, it  may  well  be  thought,  at  the  idea  of  the  distinction  to 
be  given  to  their  humble  plantation,  by  having  the  Governor 
of  the  Province  as  one  of  their  number,  and  their  town  made 
the  seat  of  government.* 

It  is  affirmed,  and  not  denied,  so  far  as  appears,  that  the 
"  ship  Philip,"  that  brought  over  the  Governor, 

Ilaving  remained  about  six  months  in  New-Jersev,  returned  for  Eng- 
land ;  and  the  year  afterwards  made  another  voyage  to  New-Jersey ;  and 
sundry  other  ships  and  vessels  from  time  to  time,  were  sent  by  the  Lords 
Proprietors  to  New  Jersey  with  people  and  goods,  to  encournge  the  plant- 
ing and  peopling  thereof;  and,  that  upon  the  said  Governor  Carteret's 
arrival  aforesaid,  at  Elizabeth  Town,  he  paid  to  the  Indians,  with  whom 
the  said  Bailey,  "Watson  and.  Denton  had  bargained  for  the  said  lands  as 
aforesaid,  the  greatest  part  of  the  consideration  that  had  been  agreed  to 
be  paid  them. 

The  means  of  verifying,  or  of  disproving,  these  statements 
are  not  at  hand.  If  the  former  be  true,  it  accounts,  in  part 
for  the  rapidity  with  which  the  town  advanced  in  substantial 
prosperity.  If  the  latter,  also,  be  true,  it  furnishes  another 
confirmation  of  the  conjecture,  that,  at  his  first  coming,  the 
Governor  did  not  presume  to  call  in  question  the  validity  of 
the  Indian  purch'ase  and  of  tlie  grant  by  his  predecessor, 
Gov.  Nicolls.f 

Owing  to  the  loss  of  the  early  Pecords  of  the  town,  as  al- 
ready noticed,  very  few  of  the  incidents  of  theevery-day  life 
of  the  planters  have  been  preserved.  Here  and  there  the 
pages  of  the  Proprietary  Records  shed  some  light  on  what 
M'as  passing  among  them.  As  an  illustration  of  their  mode 
of  contracting  marriages,  the  following  may  serve  as  a  speci- 
men. It  is  the  first  entry  of  the  kind  on  the  Records,  and 
probably  the  first  that  occurred  in  the  town.  The  parties 
were  servants,  M'ho  had  come  over  with  the  Governor,  and 
afterwards  settled  on  Staten  Island  : — 

*  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  28.  t  E,  T.  Bill,  p.  28. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  117 

License  of  Marriage. 

Whcro.is  I  have  rcc'  InfonnatioQ  of  a  mutual  Interest  and  agreement 
betwene  lianlcl  Perrin  of  Elizabeth  Towne  in  the  province  of  New 
Jarsey  and  »llari€(  Tiiorel  of  the  same  Towne  Spinster  to  solemnize 
Mariago  togetlier  for  wliicli  they  have  Requested  my  Lyccnse  and  there 
appearing  no  Lawfull  Impediment  for  j"  Obstruction  thereof  These  are  to 
Require  You  or  Eyther  of  you  to  Joyne  the  said  Daniel  Perrin  and  Marie 
Thorel  in  Matrimony  and  tlicm  to  pronounce  man  and  AVife,  and  to  make 
record  thereof  according  to  the  Lawes  in  that  behalfe  provided,  for  the  do- 
ing Whereof  this  sliall  be  to  you  or  Eyther  of  you  a  sufficient  Warrant. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  scale  the  Twelft  day  of  february  An"  1G65  and 
in  the  18th  Yeare  of  his  Ma*''''  Raign  King  Charles  the  Second. 

To  any  of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace 

or  Ministers  Whin  the  Government  Ph  Carterett 

of  tlie  province  of  New  Jarsey 

These  Couple  Where  Joyned  together  in 
Matrimony  the  18  feb.  IG^^-  by  me    J  Bollen,* 

An  Indenture  is  on  record,  of  the  7tli  of  April,  1G66, 
wherein  Robert  Gray  binds  himself  as  a  servant  for  three 
years  to  Luke  Watson  ;  the  latter  to  give  him,  at  the  end  of 
the  term,  "  a  good  cowe."  This  is  followed,  on  the  7th  of  the 
next  month,  May,  with  "  a  Hue  and  Cry  "  for  a  servant  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Luke  Watson,  who  has  "  lately  absented  him- 
selfe  and  runn  away  from  his  Master's  service."  A  descrip- 
tion of  the  fugitive  is  given  in  these  words  : 

His  name  Robert  graij  an  Englishman  bornd,  about  20  yeares  of  age,  a 
lustij  bodied  portcly  fellow,  light  brownish  haire,  very  little  haire  on  his 
face,  a  little  demij  Castor,  a  gray  broad  clotli  sute,  the  breeches  tyed  att  the 
knees,  and  a  red  coate,  besides  a  liglit  graij  coulored  Serge  breeches,  and  a 
Snap  hansminskell  that  hee  hath  stollen  awaije  w"'  many  other  things. 
It  is  Supposed  that  hee  is  in  Company  w"'  one  lluderic  Powell,  a  pittiful 
fellovp*,  who  hath  also  absented  himselfe  and  runn  awaij.t 

The  tcrritor}'-  purchased  by  the  Associates  of  the  Indians, 
and  patented  l)y  Gov.  Nicolls,  was  evidently  ample  enough 
for  several  towns, — vastly  too  large  to  be  soon  occupied  by 
the  original  purchasers.  The  fame  of  the  newly-opened 
country  had  reached  the  most  distant  parts  of  Kcw  England, 
and  colonists  were  attracted  hither.  Some  of  the  people  of 
Newbury,  Mass.,  iinding  themselves  uncomfortably  straiten- 

♦  E.  J.  Records,  III,  C.  t  lb.,  p.  S. 


US  THE    HISTORY    OF 

cd  for  fanning  lands,  sent  a  deputation  to  visit  these  parts, 
and,  if  pleased  with  what  they  saw  and  lieard,  to  secure  an 
eligible  location  for  a  town.  Hospitably  entertained  on  their 
arrival,  and  made  acquainted,  by  personal  inspection,  with 
that  part  of  the  Elizabeth  Town  patent  that  lay  between  the 
Raritan  and  Rahway  rivers,  that  had  been  offered  them,  on 
fair  terms,  by  the  town,  they  concluded  to  purchase  it.  Ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  times,  they  applied  to  Gov.  Car- 
teret and  received,  May  21,  1666,  the  necessary  permit — John 
Pike,  Daniel  Pierce,  and  Abraham  Tapping,  [Tappan,  or 
Tappin],  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  Associates — to  set- 
tle two  townships  Mithin  the  bounds  specified :  for  which  a 
deed,  duly  executed,  was  given  them,  December  11,  1666,  by 
Carteret,  Ogden,  and  Watson,  representing  the  Associates  of 
the  Town.* 

It  has  been  affirmed,  that,  "  at  the  date  thereof,  no  other 
persons  were  intitled  to  what  right  the  said  Indian  purchase 
gave,  than  the  said  Philip  Carteret,  John  Ogden  and  Luke 
Watson."  It  seems  to  have  been  forgotten  that  both  the  In- 
dian deed,  or  "  bill  of  sale,"  of  Oct.  2S,  1664,  and  the  Nicolls' 
patent  of  Dec.  1,  1664,  expressly  conveyed  the  territory  to 
the  Grantees  and  Patentees  respectiveh',  "  and  their  Asso- 
'elates,''^  whoever  they  might  be,  who  thus,  severally,  became 
entitled  to  a  right  of  property  in  the  purchase,  as  truly  as  any 
one  of  the  men  described  by  name.  If  the  Town-Book,  in 
which  their  early  transactions  were  duly  recorded,  were  now 
accessible,  it  would,  doubtless,  show,  that  the  matter  had  been 
submitted  to  the  people  in  to.wn -meeting,  and  a  vote  taken, 
giving  to  Carteret,  Ogden  and  Watson,  authority  to  alienate 
'"  the  one  moiety  or  half  part"  of  their  purchased  possession. 
It  was  sold  as  such  ''half  part  of  the  said  tract  of  land  which 
was  purchased  of  the  Indians."  By  becoming  a  party  to  this 
transaction,  therefore,  Carteret  again  acknowledged  the  va- 
lidity of  the  original  purchase  and  patent.f 

The  consideration,  for  which  this  moiety  was  sold^  as  ex- 

*  E.  T.  IJill,  p.  29.  E.  J.  Records,  B.  1S2.  Whitehead's  E.  Jersey,  pp.  41,2, 153,4.  Wbitd- 
hcad's  Terlli  Amb  'j-,  pp.  355.    Albany  Records,  XXII.  85. 

+  E.  T.  m\\,  p.  30.    Leamins  and  Spicer's  Grants,  Concessions,  &c.,  pp.  CTO,  1. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  HQ 

pressed  in  the  deed,  was  £80  sterling  ;  a  sum  more  than  suf- 
ficient, it  has  been  said,  to  reimburse  the  people  for  the  origi- 
nal outlay  ;  so  much  of  it  as  had  been  advanced  by  Carteret 
being  returned  to  him,  and  the  remainder  being  paid  into  the 
common  treasury.""' 

The  town  was  originally  regarded  as  extending  on  the 
North,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Passaic  river  ;  but  arrangements 
were  in  progress,  at  this  very  time,  to  reduce  these  limits. 
Eobert  Treat,  of  Milford,  who,  in  :N'ov.  1661,  had,  with 
others,  endeavored  to  come  to  an  agreement  with  Gov.  Stuy- 
vesant,  for  the  settlement  of  a  plantation  in  these  parts,  and 
had  failed  to  secure  satisfactory  conditions  from  the  Dutch 
Government,  had,  some  time  in  the  winter  of  166f ,  or  in  the 
early  spring,  been  again  deputed,  with  others  of  his  towns- 
men, to  visit  this  section,  and  secure  land  sufficient  for  a  town. 
On  their  arrival,  they  found  themselves,  at  once,  among  old 
and  valued  friends  and  neighbors — men  and  women,  with 
whom,  at  Wethersfield,  Milford,  Kew  Haven,  and  Guilford, 
they  had  taken  sweet  counsel  together.  The  Branford  peo- 
ple, who  were  meditating  a  union  with  the  others  in  the  new 
plantation,  were  many  of  them  emigrants  from  Southampton, 
from  which  place  and  its  neighborhood,  a  large  portion  of 
the  people  of  this  town  had  come.  This  was,  evidently,  a 
principal  attraction  to  the  new  settlers  from  Connecticut.f 

It  was  not  difficult,  in  such  a  case,  to  agree  upon  terms. 
The  town's  people  welcomed  their  old  friends,  and  cheerfully 
consented  to  part  with  that  portion  of  their  purchase,  which 
lay  on  the  other  side  of  wliat  has,  from  that  da}^,  and  on  that 
account,  been  called  "  Bound  Brook  ;  "  and  Carteret  agreed 
to  extinguish  the  Indian  title  to  the  land  beyond  the  town 
line  to  the  northern  bend  of  the  Passaic  river.  Treat  and 
his  associates  returned,  and  made  so  favorable  a  re])ort,  that 
about  thirty  families  determined,  at  once,  to  remove  to  l^ew 
Jersey  ;  and,  on  the  very  day.  May  21, 160G,  that  Pierce  and 
his  company  had  arranged  for  the  settlement  of  Woodbridge 

♦E.T.Bill,  p.  29. 

t  E.  T.  Hill,  p.  lis.     Whitcbeail's  E.  Jersey,  pp.  42-6.     Ncw;irk  Town  Rfcords,  pp.  vi 
vii.,  1-3.     Steams' First  Clili.,  Newark,  pp.  10-14. 


120  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  Piscataway,  the  Milford  people  arrived  in  boats,  and 
held  their  first  town-meeting  on  the  Western  bank  of  the 
Passaic  river,  and  thus  laid  the  fonndations  of  another  town- 
ship— since  the  flourishing  City  of  Newark,  The  limits  of 
Elizabeth  Town,  North  and  South,  were,  in  this  manner,  con- 
siderably reduced,  the  town  thus  extending  only  to  Pahway 
river  on  the  South,  and  to  Bound  Brook  on  the  North. ^ 

The  following  document,  one  of  the  very  few  now  accessi- 
ble of  this  period,  serves  to  bring  before  us,  in  some  particu- 
lars, the  circumstances  of  the  people,  (the  early  distribution 
of  land,  and  the  traffic  in  white  oak  pipe  staves),  during  the 
second  year  of  the  plantation  : 

Whereas  I  am  informed  by  ■way  of  complaint,  from  divers  of  thg  In- 
habitants of  this  Town,  that  there  are  several  persons  that  do  presume  to 
fell  and  cut  down  the  best  of  timber-trees  in  and  about  this  Town,  with- 
out any  license  or  leave  from  those  that  are  or  may  come  to  be  the  true 
owners  thereof,  converting  them  to  their  own  private  advantage  and 
profit,  to  the  great  destruction  of  timber  for  building,  and  the  Lords  Pro- 
pfietors  wood?,  and  to  the  great  discouragement  of  all  those  that  are  al- 
ready and  that  are  to  come  to  inhabit  this  Town  :  For  the  preventing 
thereof,  and  to  avoid  so  great  an  inconveniency  and  destruction  of  this 
plantation,  as  may  ensue  by  permitting  such  disorderly  proceedings,  I 
have  thought  fit,  and  do  by  these  presents,  together  with  the  advice  of 
my  Council,  will  and  command,  that  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever, 
shall  presume  to  cut  down  or  fell  any  timber  trees  that  are  useful  either 
for  building,  fencing,  or  the  making  of  pipe  staves,  in  any  home  lots  not 
properly  belonging  to  themselves,  nor  within  the  compass  of  three  miles 
of  any  home  lot  belonging  to  this  Town,  without  license  first  obtained 
from  the  Governor,  or  leave  from  the  owners  of  the  land  ;  upon  the  pen- 
alty of  foifoiting  the  sum  of  Five  Pounds  eterl.  for  every  such  tree  so 
fallen  or  cut  down  ;  provitlrti^  that  it  may  and  shall  be  lawful  for  any  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  Town  to  clear  their  own  lots,  and  other  lands  to 
plant  upon,  according  to  the  Act  made  the  30tli  day  of  April  last  past, 
and  in  so  doing  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  any  of  them,  to  convert  the 
wood  and  timber  growing  upon  the  same  to  their  best  use  and  advantage, 
and  not  otherwise.  Given  under  my  hand  at  Elizabeth  Town,  the  13th 
-of  June,  IGCG.     Ph  Carterctt 

James  Bollen,  John  Ogdcn.t 

+  K.  J.  Records,  III.  9,  10.  E.  T.  Rill,  p.  34.  The  act  of  Ap.  30  is  not  to  bo  found.  It  wns 
probably  an  Act  passed  at  a  town-nieoling,  respecting  tho  first  and  second  divisions  of  liind' 
and  other  such  matters,  and  so  was  recorded  in  the  Town  Book,  A.,  unbappity  lost,  or  destroyed' 

*  Stearns'  Newark,  pp.  10, 11. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  121 

The  second  winter  of  the  settlement  appears  to  have  been 
attended  with  excessive  cold,  and  heavy  snows.  Col.  Nicolls 
writes,  from  New  York,  Jan.  11,  lG6f,  to  Van  Curler,  then 
at  Albany,  as  follows  : — 

Mons'' fountaiae  hath  kept  his  Christmas  ^'ith  Cap'  Carterett  in  New- 
Jersey  and  cannot  stir  thence  this  moneth  but  if  he  could  'tis  impossible 
for  him  to  march  from  hence  to  Canada  through  the  snow  a  foot. 

Writing  to  Capt.  Baker,  of  this  town,  also  then  at  Alban}', 
he  says, — "  Wee  have  no  late  newes  from  any  Parts  being 
shut  up  with  a  hard  winter." 

Mons.  Fountaine,  or  "  La  Fountaine,"  was  a  young  French- 
man of  Quebec  "  who  unfortunately  fell  into  the  barbarous 
hands  of  his  enemies,  and  b}^  the  meanes  of  Mons"'  Curler  ob- 
taind  his  liberty,"  and  in  the  following  summer  was  restored 
to  his  home.* 

This  incident  confirms  the  supposition,  that  Carteret  and 
his  employees  were  quite  as  much  French  as  English, 
probably  more  so,  as  was  the  case  with  his  kinsmen  and 
the  other  inhabitants  of  the  Isle  of  Jersey.  Young  Foun- 
taine could,  doubtless,  undei'stand  nothing  of  the  English 
language,  and  so,  he  is  sent  by  Gov.  Nicolls  to  sojourn  with 
Gov.  Carteret,  at  whose  house  he  could  converse  in  his 
native  tongue. 

The  affairs  of  the  town,  so  far  as  can  be  discovered,  moved 
on  very  quietly  and  harmoniously  during  the  first  two  years 
after  Carteret's  arrival.  Large  accessions  were  made  to  the 
sister  town  of  Newark,  from  Branford  and  Guilford,  Ct.,  in 
the  course  of  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1667,  and  the  vene- 
rable Abm.  Pierson,  the  old  pastor  of  some  of  the  people  of 
this  town,  had  now,  Oct.  1,  1667,  taken  up  his  residence, 
with  many  of  their  kinsmen,  also,  within  six. miles  of  their 
now  home  in  the  wilderness.  This,  doubtless,  served,  to 
reconcile  them  still  more  to  the  hardships  incident  to  the 
settlement  of  a  new  jjlantation,  in  the  midst  of  savage  tribes, 
on  whose  friendship  but  little  reliance  could  be  placed.  It 
made  their  position  vastl}'  more  secure,  as  well  as  pleasant. 

*N.  Y.  Col.  Doctnts.,  III.  1-47,  8,  15C. 


122  THE    HISTORY    OF 

It  is  not  unreasoiicablc  to  suppose,  tluit,  until  they  had  secured 
a  minister  for  their  own  town,  some  of  them  occasionally 
were  found,  wending  their  way  through  the  wilderness  to 
Newark,  on  the  morning  of  the  Lord's  Day,  to  enjoy  the 
privilege  of  hearing  the  gospel  preached  once  more  by  the 
pastor  of  their  earlier  days.  They  were  sturdy  men,  and  not 
imaccustomed  to  such  journeys."''^ 

The  work  of  surveying  the  house-lots  and  planting  lands, 
had  been  performed  very  imperfectly ;  possibly  by  Wol- 
phertsen,  who  had  been  the  City  Surveyor  of  New  Amster- 
dam, The  description  of  these  lots  is  so  imperfect,  as  re- 
corded in  the  books  of  the  province,  that  their  location  and 
the  bearing  of  their  boundary  lines  cannot  now  be  deter- 
mined. This  would  indicate  that  the  lots  had  been  laid  out 
before  the  arrival  of  the  Surveyor  General,  Vauquellin,  with 
the  Governor.  Circumstances  had  occurred  that  made  it 
necessary  that  Vauquellin  should  be  "  sent  on  business  to 
England  by  the  Governor  ;  "  and  no  one  else  was  authorized 
to  act  in  the  matter  of  laying  out  lands.  A  few  of  the  in- 
habitants, in  consequence,  were  put  to  some  inconvenience, 
and  drew  up  the  following  paper : — 

We,  whoso  names  are  under-written,  do  humbly  petition  unto  tlie  Gov- 
ernor and  his  Council,  that  we  may  have  our  lands  laid  out  unto  us,  ac- 
cording to  tlie  Agreements  made  by  tlie  inhabitants  and  consent  of  the 
Governor  Avith  them,  as  may  more  fully  appear  in  the  Town  Eecords ; 
whicli  if  it  cannot  be  granted,  we  do  not  see  how  we  can  possibly  subsist 
in  tbe  Town,  but  sliall  be  forced  to  look  out  somewhere  else  for  a  liveli- 
hood. Nathaniel  Bonnell,  Joseph  Bond,  Leonard  llcadley,  Ben- 
jamin lloman,  Joseph  Meeker,  Benjamin  Meeker,  Jonathan  Ogden,  Joseph 
Ogden,  Joseph  Osborn,  Stephen  Osborn,  Benjamin  Price,  Benjamin 
Price,  Jr.,  Joseph  Seers,  Thomas  Tomson,  Ilurr  Tomson,  Moses  Tomson, 
and  Isaac  ATliitebead.t 

The  signers  were  seventeen  in  number,  and  most  of  them, 
either  of  the  second  genei'ation,  or  new-comers.  The  others 
were,  probably,  in  difficulty  about  their  boundary  lines.  The 
])etition  is  without  date,  but  as  the  commission,  given  to  John 
Brackett,  noticed  on  a  previous  page,  is  thought  to  have  been 

•  Stenrns'  Newark,  p.  2P.    Newark  To\ni  t  E.  T.  Bill,  i>p.  83,  102-9. 

Records,  p.  10. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  123^' 

issued  in  response  totliis  petition,  it  must  have  been  presented 
in  the  early  part  of  December,  1667.  The  services  of  Brackett 
were  only  temporary,  and  confined,  most  likely,  to  the  few 
cases  of  difficulty  which  gave  rise  to  the  petition.  It  is  not 
to  be  concluded,  from  this  occurrence,  that  no  surveys  had 
thus  far  been  made,  nor  that  the  difficulty  was  at  all  general, 
or  extensive.  The  earliest  records  of  surveys  were  made  in 
the  lost  town  book,  as  was  frequently  attested  in  subsequent 
years,  and  as  was  provided  for  by  the  people  of  Newark  in 
their  own  case.'" 

The  boundary  line  between  this  town  and  Newark  needed 
adjustment;  and  John  Ogden,  sen.,  Luke  Watson,  Robert 
Bond,  and  Jeifry  Jones  were  deputed  to  arrange  the  matter 
with  the  commissioners  from  Newark.  They  met  together 
for  this  purpose,  May  20,  1668.  It  appears  from  an  affidavit 
of  Joseph  "Woodruff  of  this  town,  made,  July  26,  1743,  be- 
fore Judge  Joseph  Bonnel,  also  of  this  town,  that,  being  at 
Milford,  Ct.,  about  the  year  1699,  he  heard  Gov.  Treat  say, — 

That  the  inhabitants  of  Newark  did  first  settle  under  the  Elizabeth 
Town  Purchase ;  and  did  allow  the  Newark  river  to  be  the  bounds  of  the 
said  Purchase;  and  said,  that  the  Elizabeth  Town  people  was  so  kind  to 
the  Newark  people,  that  they  could  never  reward  them  enough.  And 
further  this  deponent  snith.  That  he,  at  that  time,  heard  the  said  Gov- 
ernor tell  after  what  manner  the  Line  was  settled  between  the  two  towns ; 
and  that  it  was  done  in  so  lovinj^and  solemn  a  manner  that  he  thought  it 
ought  never  to  be  removed;  for  he  (the  said  Governor)  himself  being 
among  them  at  that  time,  praj'cd  with  them  on  Dividend-IIill,  (so  called) 
that  there  might  be  a  good  agreement  between  them ;  and  that  it  was 
agreed  upon,  by  the  settlers  of  each  town,  that  the  Line  between  them 
should  stand  and  remain  from  Dividend-IIill,  to  run  a  north-west  course  ; 
and  the  Governor  said,  that,  after  the  agreement,  Mr.  John  Ogden  (being 
one  of  the  first  purchasers)  prayed  among  the  people,  and  returned  thanks 
for  their  loving  agreement. 

It  was  thus,  that  the  founders  of  those  two  towns  sought 
the  blessing  of  the  Almighty,  and  his  guidance,  in  all  their 
transactions.  They  were,  the  most  of  them,  men  of  faith  and 
prayer.f 

*  E.  J.  Rpcords.  III.  12. 

t  Ans.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  47.    Newark  Town  Records,  p.  10.    Stearns'  Newark,  pp.  .10,  1. 


124  THE    HISTORY    OF 

111  tliG  autninn  of  the  same  year,  tlierc  was  "great  sickness 
in  New  York  and  over  the  land  in  general.  Some  persons 
were  daily  swept  away,  and  many  more  lying  on  their  lan- 
guishing beds,  expecting  each  hour  their  dissolution."  In 
view  of  it,  Gov.  Lovelace,  of  New  York,  proclaimed  a  day 
of  humiliation,  and  called  attention  to  the  "swearing,  the  in- 
temperate Avay  of  drinking,  and  all  manner  of  impieties,  as 
being  prevalent  in  the  Province."  ^• 

The  Concessions  of  tlie  Lords  Proprietors  made  provision 
for  a  General  Assembly,  to  meet  annually ; — the  members  of 
the  popular  branch,  the  "  Body  of  Eepresentatives,"  to  be 
chosen  on  the  first  day  of  every  January,  by  writ  from  the 
Governor;  "to  appoint  their  own  time  of  meeting  and  to 
adjourn  their  sessions,  from  time  to  time,  to  such  times  and 
places  as  they  shall  think  convenient."  In  accordance 
with  tliis  provision,  Gov.  Carteret  concluding,  that,  "  by 
the  infinite  goodness,  providence,  and  blessing  of  Al- 
mighty God,  the  province  of  New  Jersey  was  in  a  probable 
way  of  being  populated,"  issued  a  Proclamation,  April  7, 
1G6S,  requiring  the  freeholders  in  each  of  the  several  towns 
of  the  province,  to  make  choice  of  two  of  their  number,  to 
meet  in  a  General  Assembly,  at  Elizabeth  Town,  May  25, 
1G68, 

For  the  making  and  constituting  such  wholosome  laws  as  s-liall  be  most 
needful  and  necessary  for  the  good  government  of  the  said  province,  and 
the  maintaining  of  a  religions  communion,  and  civil  society,  one  with  the 
other,  as  becomcth  Christians,  -without  which  it  is  impossible  for  any 
Body  Politic  to  prosper  or  subsist.t 

Three  years  had  ])assed  since  the  pioneers  of  the  settlement 
had  planted  themselves  on  this  soil,  during  which  the}'  had 
lived  under  an  orderly  administi-ation  of  law,  with  Justices 
of  the  Peace  to  adjudicate  in  all  litigated  cases.  It  is  not 
possible,  now,  to  determine  positively,  in  the  absence  of  all 
documentary  information,  under  what  code  of  laws  they  had 
hitherto  lived.     But  it  is  almost  certain,  that  the  Laws  of  his 

*  Vnlcntinc'.s  N.  Y.  Mnnual  for  ISriC,  p.  514. 

t  Learning;  and  Spicor's  Grants,  &c.,  p.  15.  E.  J.  Records,  II.  Lib.  3.  Whitolicad's  E. 
Jersey,  pp.  51,  2,  ISS,  9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  125 

Eojal  Highness,  tlio  Dnkc  of  York,  or  "  the  Duke's  Laws,"  as 
they  were  commonly  called,  were  in  force  hei'C,  as  well  as  in 
the  neighboring  province,  so  far  as  they  were  applicable. 
This  code  had  been  enacted  by  an  Assembly,  convened,  Feb. 
28,  166i,  at  Hempstead,  L,  I.,  by  warrant  from  Gov.  Nicolls, 
and  had  been  "  collected  out  of  the  several  laws  then  in  force 
in  his  Majesties  American  Colonyes  and  Plantations."  They 
were  mainly  such  as  w^ere  of  authority  in  Connecticut,  some 
of  them  being  in  the  very  words  of  the  Connecticut  Code  of 
1650.* 

The  first  General  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  convened,  in 
accordance  with  the  Governor's  warrant,  at  Elizabeth  Town, 
and  .was  constituted,  May  26th,  1668.  Three  of  the  six  mem- 
bers of  the  Council  were  residents  of  this  town  :  Robert  Bond, 
Robert  Vauquellin,  and  "William  Pardon ;  Bond  and  Pardon 
having  been  appointed,  Jan.  2,  166-|-;  and  James  BoUen, 
also,  of  this  town,  being  the  Secretary,  Tlie  town  had  chosen 
John  Ogden,  sen.,  and  John  Brackett,  to  represent  them  in 
the  House  of  Burgesses.  Tlie  Legislature  remained  in  ses- 
sion five  days,  and  passed  several  Acts,  or  Laws,  by  some 
denominated  "  the  Elizabeth  Town  Code  of  Laws  ;  "  of  which 
it  has  been  said,  that  "  Puritan  austerity  was  so  tempered  bv 
Dutch  indifi'erence,  that  mercy  itself  could  not  have  dictated 
a  milder  system."  The  laws  were  few  and  simple,  scarcely 
worthy  the  name  of  a  "  Code,"  and  were  taken,  in  almost 
every  instance,  and  nearly  verbatim,  from  the  Hempstead 
Code,  or  the  Connecticut  Code  of  1650.  The  Puritan  laws, 
as  well  as  the  Puritan  manners  and  customs,  prevailed  in  the 
new  settlement.  Every  possible  precaution  was  taken  to 
preserve  the  rights  of  property ;  to  secure  the  orderly  ad- 
ministration of  justice;  to  regulate  the  intercourse  of  the 
sexes ;  to  restrain  the  vicious  within  proper  bounds ;  to  make 
human  life  as  sacred  as  possible;  to  prevent  disrespect  to  pa- 
rents, drunkenness,  and  profanity  ;  and  to  enforce  obedience 
to  the  constituted  authorities.f 

♦  IN.  York  nis.  Soc.  Coll.,  I.  307-428.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  I.  ISl-O.  Hildretli's  U.  States, 
II.  44-Dl. 

t  Learning  and  Spiccr'3  Grants,  &c.,  pp.  77-Sl.    Bancroft's  U.  States,  II.  310. 


12G  THE    HISTORY    OF 

As  ail  illustration  of  the  strictness,  with  which,  at  that 
early  dav,  they  watched  over  the  morals  of  the  rising  genera- 
tion, the  following  enactment  is  cited  at  length  : 

For  tlie  better  preventing  disorders  and  misdemeanors  in  young  persons 
and  others,  Be  it  also  enacted  by  this  present  General  Assembly,  that  if 
ahy  person  or  persons  shall  bo  abroad  from  the  usual  place  of  their  abode, 
and  found  in  night-walking,  Drinking  in  any  tapp-house,  or  any  other 
liouso  or  place  at  unreasonable  times,  after  nine  of  the  clock  at  night,  and 
not  about  their  lawful  occasions,  or  cannot  give  a  good  account  of  their 
being  absent  from  their  own  place  of  abode  at  that  time  of  the  night,  if 
required  of  them,  shall  be  secured  by  the  Constable  or  some  other  officer, 
till  the  morning  to  be  brought  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  or  Magistrate, 
to  be  examined,  and  if  they  cannot  give  them  a  satisfactory  account  of 
their  being  out,  at  such  unreasonable  times,  he  or  they  shall  bo  bound 
over  to  the  next  Court,  and  I'eceive  such  punishment  as  the  Justices  upon 
the  Bench  shall  see  cause  to  inflict  upon  them.'" 

Provision  was  made  for  an  annual  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  November,  and  for  the 
election  of  Deputies  on  the  first  of  Janiiar3\  The  rates  for  the 
support  of  government  were  to  be  five  pounds  for  each  of  the 
towns,  to  be  paid,  into  the  hands  of  Jacob  Mollins  [Melyen] 
of  E.  Town,  in  country-produce  at  the  following  prices : 

"Winter  wheat  at  five  shillings  a  bushell,  summer  wheat  at  four  shil- 
lings and  six-pence  ;  pease  at  three  shillings  and  six-pence;  indian  corn  at 
three  shillings;  rye  at  four  shillings;  barley  at  four  shillings;  beef  at 
two  pence  half-penny ;  pork  at  three  pence  half-penny  a  pound. 

Capt.  Bollen  was  to  receive  twenty  pounds  for  his  services 
as  Secretary.  Little  time,  however,  could  be  given,  especialh' 
in  the  planting  season,  to  matters  of  legislation.  The  full 
consideration  of  these  enactments  was  referred  by  the  Gov- 
ernor to  the  Noretnber  sessions,  "  by  reason  of  the  week  so 
near  spent,  and  the  resolution  of  some  of  the  company  to  de- 
part." The  Assembly  met  here  again,  by  adjournment,  on 
Tuesday,  Nov.  3,  1GG8.  Jacob  Mollins  [Melyen]  ai)peared 
among  the  Burgesses,  in  place  of  John  Brackett,  who  had, 
probably,  returned  to  New  Haven.  Mr.  Ogden  was  ap- 
pointed "  to  take  cognizance  of  the  country's  charge   and 

*  Loainlng  and  Spiccr's  Grant's  &c.,  p.  80. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  1*27 

rates;"  and  Mr.  Watson,  of  this  town,  was  appointed,  with 
Mr.  Saniuel  Moore  of  Woodbridge,  to  go  to  Middletown  and 
Shrewsbury  to  collect  their  proportion  of  the  rates  levied  on 
the  towns.  Mr.  Melj^en  was  to  be  one  of  a  committee  to 
treat  with  the  Indians,  "  for  the  preventing  of  future  dama- 
ges and  wrongs  that  otherwise  may  accrue  to  the  towns  or  in- 
habitants, in  reference  to  horses  or  cattle  that  may  range  up 
into  the  country'-,  to  the  indangering  the  peace  in  respect  to 
the  Indians."  Two  men,  also,  were  appointed,  "  and  sent  to 
the  Sachem  of  the  Indians  that  killed  the  Indian  boy  at 
Elizabeth  Town,  to  demand  the  murtheier  to  be  surrendered 
to  the  Governor."  A  few  other  acts,  of  not  much  import- 
ance, were  passed,  and  the  Assembly  was  brought,  abruptly, 
to  an  end.* 

A  radical  difference  of  opinion,  which  must  have  been  fore- 
seen, between  the  Governor  and  the  people,  in  respect  to  the 
rights  of  the  people,  and  the  power  of  the  legislature,  was 
very  soon,  in  the  course  of  the  session,  developed.  The  Dep- 
uties were  disposed  to  exercise  the  right  of  originating  meas- 
ures for  the  good  of  the  people,  without  previous  consultation 
with  the  Governor.  The  latter  was  jealous  of  his  own  pre- 
rogative, and  sought  to  prescribe  the  course  to  be  pursued  by 
the  Deputies,  as  he  was  accustomed  to  do  with  the  Council, 
who  were  creatures  of  his  own  will.  On  the  fourth  day  of 
the  sessions,  the  Deputies,  therefore,  sent  a  n:icssage  "  to  the 
Governor  and  his  Council,"  to  this  effect : 

Ilonored  Gentlemen,  Wc  finding  so  many  and  great  inconveniences  by 
onr  not  setting  together,  and  your  apprehensions  so  different  to  oui's,  and 
your  expectations  that  things  must  go  according  to  your  opinions,  though 
we  see  no  reasoa  for,  much  less  warrant  from  the  Concessions,  wherefore 
we  think  it  vain  to  spend  mucli  time  of  returning  answers  by  writings  that 
are  so  exceeding  dilatory,  if  not  fruitless  and  endless,  and  therefore  wo 
think  our  way  rather  to  break  up  our  meeting,  seeing  the  order  of  the 
concessions  cannot  be  attended  unto.t 

Carteret  received  the  message  on  Friday  evening,  and,  on 
the  plea  that  it  was  "  too  late  to  night  to  entertain  so  long  a 
debate,"  asked  them  to  send  two  of  their  ntnnbcr,  to  discuss 

*  Learning  and  Splccr's  Grants,  Ac,  pp.  81,  S5-3.  t  Ihiil.  p.  9P. 


128  TUEHISTOKYOF 

their  differences  on  Saturday  morning;  "if  not,"  he  added, 
"  you  may  do  what  you  please,  only  -sve  advise  you  to  con- 
sider well  of  your  resolutions  before  you  break  up."  They 
did  consider  well,  and  so  broke  up,  on  Saturday,  the  fifth 
day  of  their  sessions.* 

These  matters  properly  belong  to  the  history  of  the  Prov- 
ince. But  they  arc  so  intimately  connected  with  the  particu- 
lar annals  of  the  town,  and  have  so  much  to  do  with  the 
subsequent  difficulties  into  which  the  town  was  brought  by 
the  exactions  of  the  Governor,  that  they  could  not  well  be 
omitted.  Carteret  disregarded  the  express  provisions  of  the 
Concessions,  and  refused  to  call  an  Assembly  for  the  next  two 
years,  preferring  to  rule  the  province,  at  his  own  pleasure,  by 
means  of  his  complaisant  Council. 

In  the  course  of  the  following  M-inter,  a  company  was 
organized  among  the  people  of  this  town,  for  whaling  pur- 
poses. They  obtained  a  charter  from  the  Governor,  Feb.  15, 
166|,  granting  to  "  John  Ogden,  sen\,  Caleb  Carwithy,  Jacob 
Moleing  [Melyen],  Wm.  Johnson,  and  Jeffry  Jones,  all  of 
Elizabeth  Town  and  their  companie  consisting  of  21  persons," 
the  exclusive  right,  for  three  years,  of  taking  whales,  &c., 
along  the  coast  from  Barnegat  to  the  Eastern  part  of  the 
province,  one  twentieth  part  of  the  oil  in  casks  to  be  given 
to  the  Lords  Proprietors.     The  charter  also  granted  them. 

In  case  Statten  Island  falls  within  this  Government,  some  convenient ' 
place  or  Tract  of  land  upon  the  said  Island,  near  unto  the  water  side  for 
the  Settlement  of  a  Town  or  Society  to  consist  of  24  Faniclies,  and  that 
they  shall  have  a  competent  proportion  of  Land  allotted  to  each  Family 
or  Lott  witli  Meadow  Ground  as  well  as  i)lantiug  Land  and  free  com- 
monage upon  the  Island.t 

Whales  were  then  abundant  on  all  the  coast.  Maverick 
writes,  July  5,  1GG9,  to  Col.  Nicolls,  from  New  York,  "  On 
y"  East  end  of  Long  Island  there  were  12  or  13  whales  taken 

*  Leaming  and  Spicer's  Grants,  Ac,  pp.  90-1. 

t  E.  J.  Kccords,  III.  22.  "VVJiitehcad"s  E.  Jersey,  p.  173.  Staten  Island  was  claimed  by 
Carteret,  a.s  included  iu  tbo  Duke's  grant  to  the  two  Lords.  Nino  days  after  the  date  of  this 
charter,  Maverick,  at  New  York,  wrote  to  Gov.  Wintbrop,  of  Connecticut,  that  Gov.  Love- 
lace bad  just  received  a  letter  from  Col.  Nicolls  at  London,  announcing  that  "  Staten  Island 
Is  adjudged  to  belong  to  N.  Yorke."  By  whom  or  how  ''  adjudged  "  ii  not  stated.  4  Mass. 
Uis.  Soc.  Coll.,  X.  815. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  129 

before  y'  end  of  Marcli,  and  what  since  wee  licare  not;  here 
are  daylj  some  seen  in  the  very  harbour,  sometimes  within 
Nutt  [Governor's]  Island.  It  is  not  possible  to  describe 
[1670]  how  this  bay  swarms  witli  fish,  both  largo  and  small, 
whales,  tunnies  and  porpoises,"  &c.  The  E.  Town  Whaling 
Co.,  it  is  likely,  having  most  of  them  followed  the  business 
on  Long  Island,  found  the  fishery  a  lucrative  business.* 

Much  uncertainty  attended  the  matter  of  jurisdiction  during 
the  year  1669.  Botli  Berkeley  and  Carteret  were  in  trouble 
at  home.  The  former  had  "  been  detected  in  the  basest  cor- 
ruption," and  had  been  deprived  of  office.  Carteret  had 
long  been  under  accusation,  by  Parliament,  of  being  a  de- 
feulter,  as  Treasurer  of  the  J^avy,  to  a  large  amount ;  and  his 
accounts  were  subjected  to  a  rigid  investigation  by  a  Parlia- 
mentary Committee,  of  which  the  result  was  his  expulsion,  in 
the  autumn  of  1669,  from  the  House  of  Commons.  Gov. 
Nicolls  had,  in  1665,  early  remonstrated  with  the  Duke  ot 
York  against  the  grant  of  New  Jersey  to  Berkeley  and  Car- 
teret, lie  had  now  returned  to  England,  and  renewed,  with 
still  greater  earnestness,  his  remonstrance.  Measures  were 
accordingly  taken,  by  the  Duke,  for  the  recovery  of  the  lost 
territory.  Late  in  the  year  1668,  Col.  Nicolls  wrote  from 
London  to  Gov.  Lovelace  at  New  York,  (as  we  learn  by  a  let- 
ter from  the  Royal  Commissioner,  Samuel  Maverick  to  Gov. 
Winthrop,  dated  Feb.  24,  166 1),  that 

The  Lord  Barkley  is  vnder  a  cloud,  and  out  of  all  liis  offices,  and  offers 
to  surrender  vp  the  Patent  for  N.  Jarsey.  Sir  G.  Oarterett,  his  partner,, 
is  in  Ireland,  but  it  is  thought  he  will  likewise  surrender,  and  then 
N.  Yorke  will  be  inlarged. 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  ]\[averick  writes,  June  29,  1669,  to 
Gov.  Winthrop,  that 

New  Jarsey  is  returned  to  his  Tloyall  Ilighnc?,  by  exchange  for  Dclawar, 
as  Sir  George  Carterett  writs  to  liis  cosen,  the  present  Goucrnor :  some 
tract  of  land,  on  this  side  of  the  river  &  on  the  otlier  side,  to  roach  to 
Maryland  bounds.t 

*  N.  y.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  1S3, 197.    Dr.nkers  and  Sluyter's  Journal  p.  100. 
t  Pepys'  Diary,  IV.  9T,  11-1,  115.  N.  Y.  Col.  Docints.,  II.  410.  III.  105, 118, 114,  174'.  "SVTiito 
hcid's  E.  Jersey,  pp.  30-1.    4  Mass.  His.  Soc.  Coll.,  VII.  315,  319. 


130  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Gov.  Carteret,  of  course,  having  received  sucli  an  announce- 
ment, from  so  high  a  source, — one  of  tlie  Lords  Proprietors 
himself, — must  have  regarded  his  tenure  of  office  as  soon  to 
be  terminated,  and  have  been,  in  consequence,  not  at  all  dis- 
posed to  prolong  his  controversy  with  tlie  people.  AVliile 
the  latter,  expecting  shortly  to  come  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  Gov.  Lovelace,  of  New  York,  must  have  been  quite  will- 
ing to  let  the  matter  pass  without  further  trouble.  So  the 
matter  rested  for  a  season. 

The  Newark  people  were  evidently  in  perplexity  on  the 
same  account. 

At  a  Town  Meeting,  28tli  July  1G69— the  Town  made  choice  of  Mr. 
Crane  and  Mr.  Treat,  to  take  the  first  opportunity  to  Goe  over  to  York,  t» 
advise  with  Col.  Lovelace  Concerning  our  Standing,  "Whether  we  are  de- 
signed to  he  Part  of  the  Duke's  Colony,  or  Not.* 

The  autumn  of  this  year  was  made  memorable,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  previous  year,  for  the  prevalence  of  fatal  dis- 
orders. Maverick,  writing  from  "  N.  Yorke,  IStli  Octo'  69, 
to  Col.  Nicolls,  in  London,"  says  : 

The  flux,  agues,  and  fevers,  have  much  rained,  hoth  in  cittie  and  coun- 
try, &  many  dead,  hut  not  yett  soe  many  as  last  yeare.  The  like  is  all 
N.  EngF  over,  cspetially  about  Boston.f 

♦  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  21.  t  N.  Y.  Col.  Doemts.,  III.  1S5. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  131 


CHAPTER    VII. 

A.  D.  1670-1673. 

Quit  Rent  Controversy  —  Gov.  Carteret's  Usurpations  —  Claude  Yallot  —  Arbi- 
trary Edicts  —  Watson  not  to  drill  the  Militia  —  First  Jury  Trial  in  the  Town 

—  Case  of  Capt.  Hacket — Court  illegally  held  —  Case  of  Richard  Michel  — 
'  His  House  destroyed.  —  Carteret  overawed  by  the  People  —  Capt.  James  Car- 
teret arrives  from  England  —  Legislature  convenes  at  E.  T.  —  A  lawful  Court 

—  Trial  of  Meeker  and  others  —  Newark  people  take  the  Alarm  —  Other  Ses- 
sions of  the  Legislature  —  Capt.  James  Carteret  chosen  President  —  Arrest 
and  Escape  of  Wm.  Pardon  —  Gov.  Carteret  removes  to  Bergen  —  Re-arrest 

,of  Pardon,  and  Seizure  of  his  Goods  —  Memorial  of  the  Council  to  the  Lords 
Proprietaries — Gov.  Carteret  and  Officials  return  to  England  —  Capt.  Berry, 
Dep.  Governor  —  Marriage  of  Capt.  Carteret  — The  Officials  return  —  Conflict 
renewed  —  Patents  to  be  taken  out  —  Appeal  to  the  Lords  Proprietors  —  Gov. 
Winthrop's  Endorsement  of  the  People. 

The  negotiations  for  tlic  ti-ansfer  of  Xew  Jersey  to  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  Duke  of  York,  though  so  nearly  completed, 
failed  of  the  expected  result.  Berkeley  was  made  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant of  Ireland,  of  which  Carteret  was  already  Deputy 
Treasurer.  Strengthened  by  the  favor  of  the  king,  and  cer- 
tain political  occurrences  of  the  day,  the  two  lords  retained 
possession  of  their  charter,  and  Elizabeth  Town  remained  the 
seat  of  government  for  the  province,  and  the  residence  of  the 
Governor  and  his  officials.* 

'"  The  Concession  and  Agreement  of  the  Lords  Proprietors" 
made  provision  for  the  Survey  and  Patenting  of  all  lands 
taken  up  in  the  Province  by  new  settlers,  and  required  of  all 
such  the  payment  of  one  half-penny  per  acre  yearly  rent,  be- 
ginning with  March  25, 1670.  As  the  people  of  this  town 
claimed  to  hold  their  lands,  not  by  gift  or  lease  from  the 

*  Collins'  Peerage,  (Ed.  of  1730),  III.  2S0, 1.  N.  Y.  Col.  DocmtE.,  III.  599.  rcpyt,'  Dinry 
III.  275,  7. 


132  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Lords  Proprietors,  but  by  purchase  from  the  native  proprie- 
tors of  the  soil,  and  the  warrant  and  patent  of  Gov.  Nicolls, 
previous  to  Carteret's  arrival,  they  had  paid  no  attention  to 
these  provisions.  No  patents  had  been  issued,  or  applied 
for,  within  the  bounds  of  the  town.  This  was  true  of  the  offi- 
cials as  well  as  the  people.  Carteret,  Bollen,  Vauqncllin, 
and  Pardon,  all  had  become  Associates,  and  as  such  had 
shared  in  the  assignment  of  house-lots,  and  in  the  first  and 
second  divisions  of  planting  land  and  meadow,  all  which 
were  dul}'-  entered,  at  the  time,  in  the  lost  Town-Book.  None 
of  them,  however,  had  taken  out  patents  from  the  Lords  Pro- 
prietors. The  original  purchasers  and  their  American  asso- 
ciates were  utterly  opposed  to  a  proceeding,  which  might  be 
construed  into  an  acknowledgment  of  the  invalidity  of  the 
titles,  by  which  they  had  acquired,  and  hitherto  held,  their 
"purchased  and  paid-for lands."  They  would  neither,  there- 
fore, take- out  patents  from  the  Governor,  nor  pay  the  yearly 
rent  to  be  exacted  in  all  other  cases.* 

As  the  time  for  the  payment  of  this  rent  approached,  let- 
ters were  scut  to  the  several  towns,  reminding  them  of  these 
conditions.  We  have  not  the  means  of  knowing  whether  the 
demand  was  formally  made  of  the  freeholders  of  this  town, 
or,  if  made,  what  was  their  response.  In  the  latter  case,  they 
must  have  made  a  response,  not  less  firm  and  decided  than 
that  of  the  Newark  people ;  who,  at  a  town-meeting,  held 
Feb.  3,  1G69-70,  after  "the  Governors  AVriting"  had  been 
read  and  debated,  voted  to  make  return  as  follows  : 

That  they  do  Hold  and  Possess  their  Lands  and  Eights  in  the  said 
Town,  Both  by  Civil  and  Divine  Kiglit,  as  by  their  Legall  purchase  and 
Articles  doth  find  May  Shew.  And  as  for  the  payment  of  the  Half  Penny 
per  Aero  for  all  our  Allotted  Lands,  According  to  our  Articles  and  Inter- 
pretations of  them,  You  assuring  them  to  us,  We  are  ready  when  the  Time 
Comes,  to  perform  our  Duty  to  the  Lords  or  their  Assigns. 

Whether  they  received  the  assurance,  or  not,  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  the}''  made  a  tender  of  the  rent,  in  wheat,  but 
not  "in  lawful  money  of  England,"  as  the  Concessions  re- 
quire d.f 

*  Learning  Js  Splccr,  pp.  23-5. 

t  Newark  Town  Kecords,  pp.  29,  30.    Stearns'  Newark,  pp.  4-3-0. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  133 

Nothing  of  the  khid,  probably,  was  attempted  or  done 
here.  It  is  not  intimated,  in  any  of  the  records  or  documents 
of  the  day,  on  either  side,  that  the  people  of  this  town  re- 
garded themselves  as  undw  any  obligation  whatever  to  pay 
rent  for  their  lands  to  the  English  Lords.  So  many  of  the 
people  as  were  of  the  Governor's  party,  doubtless,  complied 
with  the  demand.  The  others  disregarded  it.  The  breach 
between  the  two  parties,  occasioned  by  the  occurrences  of 
November,  1G68,  was  thus  considerably  widened.  The  rela- 
tions of  the  people  to  their  townsman,  the  Governor,  from 
this  time  forth,  were  any  thing  but  pleasant — scarcely  ami- 
cable.* 

One  occasion  of  this  unpleasantness  was  the  unwarranted 
interference  of  Carteret  in  the  local  affairs  of  the  town — 
claiming,  as  he  did,  the  prerogative  of  presiding,  in  person, 
or  by  proxy,  in  their  town-meetings ;  of  admitting  whom 
he  pleased  as  freeholders ;  and  of  allotting  the  town-lands  as 
rewards  to  his  servants.  The  people  could  not  but  regard 
all  such  proceedings  as  unwarranted  acts  of  usurpation. 

Claude  Yallot  was  one  of  the  18  servants  whom  Carteret 
had  brought  over  with  him  in  the  "  Philip."  Having 
found  him  faithful  and  true,  the  Governor,  without  obtain- 
ing, or  even  ffsking,  so  far  as  appears,  the  consent  of  the 
town,  determined  to  bestow  on  him  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  a  freeholder : 

Glaude  Valot  of  Charapagne  in  the  Kingdom  of  France  having 
Lived  in  this  C(5untry  for  the  Space  of  five  Years  time  as  one  of  my 
Menial  Servants,  and  now  being  desirous  to  settle  himself  an  Inhabitant 
within  the  said  Province,  (says  the  Record,  Feb.  10,  1GG9-70),  I  doe 
hery  Declare  tiie  said  Glaude  Valot  -to  be  a  true  Denizen  of  the  aforesaid 
Province  of  New  Jersey, 

Twelve  days  after  he  puts'  him  in  possession,  by  deed  of 
sale,  of  the  property  that,  in  Nov.  1668,  he  himself  had 
acquired  by  purchase,  for  £45,  from  the  widow  of  Capt. 
Robert  Seeley — viz.,  a  "  house  and  home-lot,  with  all  such 
lots  and  allotments  of  upland  and  meadow,  as  is  and  shall 
be  thereunto  belon<:;inii:,  accordins:  to  the   rate  of  a  third 

*  Whitehead's  E.  J.,  p.  54.    Mulford's  N.  J.,  p.  151. 


134  THE    HISTORY    OF 

lot;''  tlms  giving  liim  a  place,  as  an  Associate,  among  the 
tliird-lot  right  men.* 

A  military  company,  in  accordance  with  an  Act  of  the 
General  Assembly,  had  been  organized  in  16G8  ;  of  which, 
Aug.  24,  1668,  Luke  Watson  had  been  commissioned  Lieu- 
tenant and  Commander,  and  John  "Woodruff,  Ensign.  Wat- 
son and  Woodruff  M'ere  among  the  leading  men  of  the  town, 
and  devoted  to  its  interests.  In  some  way  not  specified, 
but,  probably,  because  of  their  zeal  in  opposing  the  arbitrary 
course  of  the  Governor,  these  worthies  had  provoked  his 
displeasure.  On  the  last  day  of  October,  1670,  (possibly, 
one  of  the  autumnal  training  days),  he  revoked  the  com- 
mission of  Watson,  and  declared  Woodruft*'s  null  and  void. 
Such  a  proceeding  did  not  tend  in  the  least  to  conciliate 
the  people,  whose  patience  had  already  so  repeatedly  been 
tried.  They  understood  the  movement  as  designed  to  break 
np  the  military  company,  and  so  to  deprive  them  of  the 
power  of  self-defence.  Against  these  imputations,  he  put 
forth,  July  1,  1672,  the  fallowing  plea :  It  is  reported,  he 
says, 

That  I  have,  to  the  great  discouragement  of  the  Inhabitants,  for- 
bidden, nay  required  them  upon  piine  of  death,  not  to  trayne.  In 
answer  whereunto  the  officers  of  each  Respective  Towh  in  this  Province, 
being  commissionated  for  that  end  and  required  tliereunto,  will  suffi- 
ciently Cleer  me ;  only  for  reasons  which  I  am  willing  to  give  To  my 
Masters,  I  did  issue  out  my  Summons  to  Luke  "Watson  in  Elizabeth 
Town,  being  before  by  me  Commissioned  Lieutenant  under  my  Self, 
Calling  in  my  Commission,  requiring  him  upon  pain  of  death  at  that 
time  not  to  Call  the  Company  into  Field  Nor  Exercise  them,  the  which 
notwithstanding  he  did  Continue  and  Exercise  thom  twice  after.  + 

Language  like  this  could  not  but  exasperate.  Tlie  people 
had  never  known,  in  this  country,  what  it  was  to  have  a 
master.  They  had  never  been  "  in  bondage  to  any  man." 
This  young  stranger  from  a  far  land,  whose  unexpected  com- 
ing among  them,  with  such  pretensions  to  dominion  over 
them,  they  liad  barely  tolerated,  who  had  already  set  him- 
self above  the  Representatives  of  the  people,  and  had  exacted 

*  E.  J.  Kocords,  I.  6,  7, 15.  t  E.  J.  Records,  III.  55. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  135 

of  lliem  a  galling  tribute,  as  the  price  of  lands  fully  and  lawful- 
ly purchased  before  he  came,  now  threatens  one  of  their  num- 
ber with  the  "  pain  of  death,"  for  simpl}'^  gi'^'ing  a  few  lessons 
in  the  art  and  science  of  war.  Who  gave  him  this  kingly 
power  ?  How  did  he  propose  to  carry  it  into  effect  ?  By 
whom  was  the  penalty  to  be  inflicted  ?  The  refusal,  too,  to 
give  the  reasons  for  his  course,  save  to  his  "  masters,"  was  not 
fitted  to  inspire  his  townsmen  with  confidence  or  esteem,  but 
just  the  reverse.  It  was  not  the  way  to  secure  the  hearts  of 
the  people  and  perpetuate  his  power. 

The  more  thoroughly  the  matter  is  investigated,  the  more 
fully  it  appears,  that  the  difficulties,  with  which  the  founders 
of  the  town  had  to  contend,  in  respect  to  the  Proprietary 
government,  w'ere  of  vastly  greater  moment  than  the  pay- 
ment of  the  paltry  sums  that  were  demanded  as  "  Quit- 
Rents."  The  grievances  were  of  the  most  serious  character. 
They  had  respect  to  the  very  foundations  of  government. 
The  great  question  of  popular  rights  w^as  involved — the  same 
question,  that  was  continually  coming  up  between  the  Amer- 
can  people  and  their  foreign  rulers,  and  that  issued  in  the 
conflict  of  1776.  This  town  and  this  province  were  not  sin- 
gular in  their  disafi^ection.  It  pervaded  the  neighboring 
provinces.  The  people  of  Long  Island,  at  this  very  time, 
were  deeply  agitated  with  similar  grievances.  All  New 
England  was  filled  with  excitement  and  alarm,  by  reason  of 
the  efforts  made  by  the  Koyal  Commissioners  to  bring  them 
under  subjection.  The  Stuart  dynasty  had  no  sympathy  with 
the  democracy  of  the  American  people.  The  Colonies  stood 
in  dread  of  the  imperialism  of  the  two  sons  of  Charles!.,  whose 
"  taking  off,"  by  the  people,  these  sons  could  never  forgive.'^' 

"All  Causes  are  tried  by  Juries,"  said  Gov.  Lovelace, 
1670,  in  respect  to  the  Province  of  New  York.  The  same 
rule,  doubtless,  prevailed  in  New  Jersey.  The  first  Jury 
trial  in  the  town,  of  which  any  record  has  been  preserved, 
took  place  in  May,  1671.  A  special  Court,  consisting  of 
Capt.  Wm.  Sandford,  President,  Robert  Vauquellin,  Robert 

*  Thompson*!)  L.  I.,  I.  145-150  ;  II.  32G-S.     Talfroy's  N.  Eng.,  II.  57S-C34. 


136  THE    HISTORY   OF 

Trent,  and  "Wm.  Pardon,  was  convened  liere,  on  the  IGth,  by 
order  of  the  Governor,  for  the  tj-ial  of  Wm.  Ilacket,  Capt. 
of  the  sloop  "  Indeavor  of  Salsbury  in  the  County  of  Nor- 
folk in  New  England,"  for  illegal  trading  in  the  province, 
mostly  at  "Woodbridge.  Gov.  Lovelace  claimed,  that  all  ves- 
sels coming  in  and  going  out  of  Sandy  Hook  entrance  should 
enter  and  clear  at  New  York.  Gov.  Carteret  opposed  the 
claim  so  fav  as  concerned  the  waters  of  New  Jersey ;  de- 
manding, that,  in  order  to  trade  in  these  parts,  entrances  and 
clearances  should  be  made  at  the  custom-house  in  Elizabeth 
Town.  Capt.  Ilacket  had  entered  his  vessel,  and  paid  duties, 
at  New  York,  but  not  here.  A  juz'y  was  empanelled,  con- 
sisting of  Benjamin  Price,  foreman  ;  Nicholas  Carter,  "Wm. 
Pyles,  George  Ross,  Barnabas  Wines,  Nathaniel  Bonnel, 
Matthias  Hatfield,  John  Wynings,  William  Oliver,  Stephen 
Osburn,  Wm.  Meeker,  John  Woodruif;  all  freeholders  of 
this  town,  and  the  most  of  them  leading  men.  Gov.  Car- 
teret testified  for  the  prosecution.  Capt.  Hacket  argued  his 
own  cause,  with  much  ability,  presenting  not  less  than  four- 
teen points  as  grounds  of  defence.  The  case  went  to  the 
jury,  who 

Went  forth  and,  upon  a  second  and  tbird  going  forth,  declared  to  the 
Court  that  the  matter  Committed  to  them  is  of  too  great  waiglit  for  them 
and  desires  the  Court  to  make  Choice  of  other  Jurymen. 

On  the  ISth,  the  case  came  before  another  jury,  two  only 
of  whom,  Samuel  Hopkins,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Young,  were 
of  this  town,  none  of  them  from  Newark,  and  the  remainder 
from  Bergen  and  Woodbridge.  The  prosecution  succeeded, 
and  the  vessel  was  forfeited.* 

It  is  quite  probable,  that  the  true  reason  for  the  fiulure  of 
the  first  jury  to  pronounce  a  verdict,  was  the  fact,  that  the 
Governor  had  acted  without  warrant,  in  constituting  the  Court ; 
according:  to  "the  Concessions" — the  fundamental  Bill  of 
Rights — it  being  the  prerogative  of  the  General  Assembly, 
and  not  the  Governor,  "  to  constitute  all  courts."  f  The 
Assembly  had  not  authorized  the  Governor  to  call  and  com- 

♦  E.  J.  Record?,  III.  75-T.  t  Learning  and  Splccr,  p.  16. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  137 

mission  this  tribunal.  Jealous,  as  the  town  had  become,  of 
the  Governor,  they  could  not  but  look  upon  this  proceeding, 
as  an  additional  act  of  usurpation  ;  and  so  the  Governor 
must  go  out  of  town  for  a  jury  sufficiently  compliant. 
Another  serious  grievance  was  thus  added  to  the  calendar. 

A  few  weeks  later,  the  two  parties  came  into  direct  collision. 
Among  the  "menial  servants"  brought  over  by  Capt.  Car- 
teret in  the  "  Philip,"  in  1665,  was  Richard  Michell.  lie  was 
"  the  son  of  Symon  Michell,  of  Munden  parva  in  the  County 
of  Hereford,"  Eng.  Richard  had  married,  Ap.  23, 1668,  Ellen 
Prou,  "  the  daughter  of  Charles  Prou  of  Paris  in  the  parish 
of  St.  Eutache,  In  France."  She,  too,  had  come  over,  doubt- 
less, in  the  "  Philip,"  and  was,  also,  a  "  menial  servant," 
possibly  a  housekeeper,  in  the  Government  house.  Michell, 
as  well  as  Vallot,  aspires  to  be  a  planter.  Carteret,  well- 
pleased  with  Richard's  course,  and  willing  to  reward  his 
faithful  services,  takes  it  upon  himself,  without  consulting 
the  town,  or  any  other  than  his  own  pleasure,  to  make  him 
a  grant  of  land  for  a  house-lot,  bordering  on  "  the  swamp 
in  common,"  and  Ij'ing  at  the  rear  of  the  house-lots  of  Francis 
Barber  and  George  Pack,  S.  of  Charles  Tucker,  S.  E.  of  Jonas 
Wood,  and  N.  E.  of  Wm.  Letts.  This  was  in  the  spring  of 
1671.  Michell  fences  it  in,  and  leases  a  part  of  the  ground 
to  George  Pack  for  a  tobacco-crop.  On  the  other  part,  he 
builds  a  house  covered  with  clapboards,  and  lays  out  a  gar- 
den. Pack  sub-lets  one  half  of  his  field  to  "Wm.  Letts,  the 
weaver.* 

All  this  was  contrary  to  the  fundamental  agreements  of 
166 1,  made  in  town-meeting,  and  consented  to  by  the  Gov- 
ernor. None  but  the  people,  in  town-meeting,  could  deter- 
mine who  should  be  admitted  as  associates  and  freeholders. 
It  was  a  clear  case  of  usurpation  on  the  part  of  Carteret.  If 
tolerated  in  this  instance,  it  might  be  followed  by  many 
others,  and  presently  the  town  would  be  overrun  by  French- 
men, and  other  foreigner?,  claiming  an  equal  share  with 
themselves  in  the  plantation.  If  not  resisted,  they  might  as 
well  give  up  all  thought  of  self-government. 

*  E.  J.  Records,  III.  78-80. 


138  "TI^E    HISTORY    OF 

The  town  was  deeply  moved  by  the  occurrence.  It  was 
the  common  talk.  The  neighbors  had  occasion  to  meet  at 
Goodman  Carter's  on  the  south  side  of  the  Creek.  The  mat- 
ter was  warmly  discussed.  They  agreed  to  give  Pack  warn- 
ing not  to  put  a  plow  into  the  ground.  lie  and  Letts  were 
greatly  grieved  at  their  prospective  loss,  but  deemed  it  best 
to  regard  the  timely  warning.  A  town  meeting  was  called, 
at  which  the  whole  subject  was  gravely  debated.  Here  is 
the  record  : 

June  19tb,  1671,  it  was  agreed  by  the  Major  Vote  that  Richard  Michel 
should  not  enjoy  his  lott  given  him  by  the  Governor.  Upon  information 
June  19tli  1671  It  was  agreed  that  there  should  some  goe  the  next  morn- 
ing and  pull  up  the  said  Michel's  fence. 

The  Governor  must  be  tanglit,  that  it  is  not  his  to  give  away 
town-lots ;  it  belongs  to  the  people.  Michel  had  "  never 
asked  the  town  for  it,"  and,  therefore,  could  not  have  the 
"  lott  given  him  by  the  Governor."  It  Avas  "  concluded  to 
take  the  piece  of  land  from  him  again,  because  it  was  not 
after  vote  of  the  town  that  he  had  it."  What  followed  is  thus 
related  by  George  Pack  : 

The  next  morning  after  the  said  town-meeting,  the  said  Eichard  Michel 
came  to  my  house,  and  I  went  with  him  up  to  the  said  lot,  ind  going  we 
came  to  the  said  Wm.  Letts  house,  and  lighted  our  pipes,  and,  when  wo 
had  lighted,  people  came  upon  the  said  ground.  Goodman  Meaker,  the 
young  John  Ogden,  Jeffry  Jones  and  Nicholas  Carter,  and  we  running 
down  to  them  at  the  corner  of  said  lot,  the  said  Richard  Michel  fore- 
warned them  of  pulling  down  the  said  fence,  and  spake  to  them  of  a  riot, 
upon  that  gooJman  Meaker  put  to  it  and  began  to  pluck  down  the  fence 
and  tlien  all  the  rest  did  the  like  and  left  not  off  till  they  had  plucked 
down  one  side  and  one  end. 

Among  those  who  aided  in  the  woi-k,  as  Letts,  Michell,  and 
Ponyon  testified,  were  Joseph  Meeker  (the  "eldest  son"  of 
Goodman  M.,)  Ilur  Tomson,  (son  of  Goodman  T.,)  "  old 
Mash,"  (Samuel  Marsh,  sen.),  and  Luke  Watson,  the  Lieu- 
tenant.    When  Michel  forewarneil  them, 

Goodman  Meeker  answered.  Do  you  forewarn  me  ?  and  with  that 
went  to  pull  it  down.  While  they  were  so  doing  Mr  Pardon  came  in, 
then  they  asked  him  whither  ho  was  come  to  help  pull  down  the  fence 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  139 

and  Mr  Pardon  answered  tliat  ho  did  not  come  to  help  pull  down  the  fence 
but  to  take  notice  what  you  do,  the  said  John  Ogden  said  wo  do  not  care 
if  a  hundred  such  fellows  as  you  are  do  take  notice  of  what  we  do,  and 
Mr  Pardon  answered  you  speak  very  sausily.  Luke  "Watson  did  not  put 
his  hand  to  pull  down  the  fence  but  said  if  I  am  in  [the]  place  it's  as  good 
but  after  Mr  Pardon  came  then  he  heaved  one  log  off  from  the  fence  and 
said  yon  shall  not  say  but  I  will  put  my  hands  to  it. 

Awhile  after,  (says  Letts,)  being  at  my  own  house  there  came  in  Robert 
Moss  and  Mr  Crayne  of  this  town  who  asked  for  drink  and  I  having  none 
they  went  away  presently,  and  presently  after  they  were  gone  I  heard 
a  noise  and  looked  out  and  saw  the  said  Robert  Moss  and  Mr  Crayne  beat- 
ing down  the  claboards  of  Richard  Michel's  house  and  plucked  up  the 
pallasades  of  the  garden  and  before  I  came  the  hoggs  within  an  hours 
time  had  rooted  up  and  spoiled  all  that  was  in  the  garden  which  was  full 
of  necessary  garden  herbs. 

Pardon  was  one  of  the  Governor's  Council,  and  had  been 
appointed,  June  5,  1G7^,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  lie  was 
known  to  be  the  Governor's  obsequious  parasite.  Morse  and 
Crane  were  next  door  neighbors,  residing  on  the  West  side 
of  the  Creek.  It  is  probable,  that  not  a  few  others,  drawn 
thither  by  curiosity,  especiall}^  of  the  boys  of  the  neighbor 
hood,  witnessed  the  transaction,  and  spoke  of  it  in  later 
years,  as  one  of  the  memorable  incidents  of  their  pioneer  life. 

Warm  work  it  was  for  a  midsummer's  day,  (June  20) ;  but 
needful  work,  unless  they  are  prepared  to  succumb  to  the 
whims  and  dictates  of  the  cavalier  lordling,  sent  over  the 
seas,  by  a  brace  of  corrupt  speculators,  to  exercise  arbitrary 
rule  over  these  honest  and  sturdy  planters.  It  was  a  day  to 
be  remembered  in  the  annals  of  Elizabeth ;  a  day  for  the 
inauguration  of  an  open  and  determined  resistance  to  all 
usurpation,  and  a  manly  defence  of  their  vested  rights. 
Tliey  acted  as  one  man,  and  were  not  to  be  trifled  with. 
Carteret  and  his  adherents  are  powerless  to  withstand  the 
tide;  and,  however  chagrined  and  vexed  at  the  result,  are 
compelled,  for  the  present,  to  let  the  matter  drop.  Wm. 
Meeker,  the  chief  actor  in  the  drama,  is  chosen  Constable  of 
the  town,  to  succeed  Wm.  Cramer,  and  receives,  Oct.  13, 
1G71,  a  commission  from  the  Governor,"' 

Another  actor  of  some  importance  now  appears  on  the 

♦  E.  J.  Records,  III.  47. 


14:0  THE    HISTORY    OF 

scene.  Sir  George  Carteret  lias  two  sons,  Sir  Philip,  and 
James.  George,  a  tliird  son,  had  died  in  1656.  James,  the 
Becond  son,  had  followed  the  seas  from  his  yonth,  having 
been  advanced  to  the  command  of  a  merchantman  in  the 
India  trade,  previous  to  the  llestoration,  and,  subsequently,  to 
the  Captaincy  of  a  British  man-of-war.  "  Capt.  Carteret "  had 
acquired  considerable  distinction  in  his  profession,  and  was 
thought  deserving  of  promotion.  "lie  was  administrator  o^" 
captain  general,  of  the  English  forces  which  went,  in  1666,  to 
retake  St.  Kitts,  which  the  French  had  entirely  conquered, 
and  were  repulsed.  lie  had  also  filled  some  high  oifice, 
during  the  war,  in  the  ship  of  the  Duke  of  York,  with  two 
hundred  infantry  under  his  command." 

His  father,  Sir  George,  was  one  of  the  eight  proprietaries  of 
Carolina.  Ashley  Cooper,  the  distinguished  Earl  of  Shaftes- 
bury, was  also  a  proprietor;  and  to  him  had  been  committed 
the  task  of  preparing  a  Constitution  of  government  for  the 
province.  Shaftesbury  entrusted  the  work  to  his  greatly- 
admired  friend,  John  Locke,  the  well-known  author,  twenty 
years  later,  of  the  "  Essay  concerning  Human  Understand- 
ing." A  most  impracticable,  but  greatly  lauded  Model  of 
Government,  called  the  "Fundamental  Constitutions  of  Caro- 
lina," was  the  result  of  his  political  lucubrations.  It  was 
therein  provided,  that  each  county  should  be  governed  by  a 
landgrave  and  two  caciques,  the  former  ranking  as  Earls,  and 
the  latter  as  Barons, — hereditary  nobles, — to  have  possessions 
corresponding  to  their  dignities,  for  ever  inalienable.  Locke, 
in  compliment  to  Shaftesbury,  and  as  a  recompense  for  his 
literary  services,  was  appointed  one  of  the  Landgraves  ;  Sir 
John  Yeamans,  afterwards  Governor,  was  honored  with  the 
same  title ;  and,  in  compliment  to  Sir  George  Carteret,  the 
Landgraviate  of  the  remaining  County,  was  assigned  to  his 
second  son,  Capt.  James  Carteret.  The  Constitution  was 
signed,  March  1, 1669-70,  and  the  appointments  made  in  April 
of  the  following  year.* 

•  Collins'  Peerase,  IV.  821-9.  (Ed.  of  1735.)  Danker*'  Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  N.  York,  in 
1679-80,  p.  137.  Graham's  U.  SUtes,  I.  843,  351-7.  Bancroft's  U.  States,  II.  129,  144-151. 
nil  Jrclh's  U.  States,  II.  30-4.    "  You  are  to  take  notice  }-t  wee  have  made  Mr  James  Carteret, 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  141 

Early  in  1671,  Capt.  Carteret  made  ready  to  embark  for 
America,  to  take  possession  of  his  newly-acquired  domain 
and  dignity.  He  was,  probably,  instructed  by  liis  father  to 
take  New  Jersey  in  his  way,  and  confer  with  Gov.  Philip 
Carteret  in  respect  to  the  affairs  of  this  province,  then  getting 
to  be  quite  complicated.  He  arrived  here  in  the  summer  of 
1671,  and  was  graciously  received  as  became  his  rank  and 
Relationship.  He  was  the  son  of  one  of  the  Lords  Proprie- 
tors, and  might  become  heir  to  his  father's  estate  and  dig- 
nities.   It  was  well  to  receive  him  with  marked  consideration. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival,  Gov.  Lovelace  convened  an  ex- 
traordinary council  at  New  York,  Sept.  1671,  in  reference  to 
the  Indians  on  the  Delaware.  Gov.  Carteret,  and  Capt. 
James  Carteret,  with  the  mayor  (Capt.  Thomas  Delavall)  and 
secretary  of  New  York,  and  Maj.  Steenwyck,  (a  previous 
mayor),  constituted  the  council.  As  one  of  the  results  of  the 
conference,  it  was  concluded, 

That  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  Capt.  James  Cartei-et,  (then 
present),  should  expeditiously  order  a  General  Assembly  to  be  called  in 
that  government,  (according  to  their  custom  upon  all  emergent  occa- 
sions) to  know  the  people's  strength  and  i*eadiness;  and  how  far  they 
were  willing  to  contribute  towards  the  prosecution  of  a  war  against  the 
Indians. 

These  gentlemen  must  have  regarded  Capt.  James  Carte- 
ret as  having,  at  least  for  the  time  being,  something  like  co- 
ordinate, if  not  supervisory,  authority  with  the  Governor, 
either  by  commission,  or  as  the  representative  of  his  father.* 

Sr  Jno  Teamans  and  Mr  Jno  Locke,  Landgraves.    White  Hall,  1st  May,  1C71.      Eivers'  Ilis  . 
Sketches  of  S.  C,  p.  86S.    His.  Coll.  of  S.  C,  I.  4^-7,  52  ;  IL  292-6. 

*  Smith's  N.  J.,  pp.  69,  TO.  Groat  injustice  has  been  done  to  the  memory  of  Capt.  James 
Carteret.  The  JSiUin  C/ianc*/-!/ (p.  85)  calls  him  "a  weak  and  dissolute  youth.''  He  could 
scarcely  have  been  less  than  40  years  old.  Gov.  Philip  was  but  82.  Wyiuie  calls  him  "a  dis- 
solute son  of  Sir  George,"  (I.  205.)  Chalmers  speaks  of  him  as  ''  a  natural  son  of  the  Propri- 
etor," (p.  616).  Orahamn  uses  the  same  language,  (L  460).  Gordon  describes  him  as  "a 
weak  and  dissolute  natural  son  of  Sir  George,"  (p.  29).  Whitehead  makes  him  '-an  illegiti- 
mate son  of  Sir  George,"  "  a  weak  and  dissipated  young  man,"  (p.  55).  Jfu(/brd  uses  the  same 
epithets,  (p.  152).  That  he  was  the  law/id  son  of  Sir  George  and  his  vvife  Elizabeth,  cannot 
be  questioned.  Cankers,  the  Labadist  Journalist,  who  knew  and  met  with  him,  at  N.  York  , 
in  16T9,  calls  him  "a  person  of  quality,"  and  gives  not  the  least  intimation  of  his  being  other 
than  the  lawful  son  of  Sir  G-eorge,  but  much  to  the  contrary.  Bankers' Journal,  p.  139.  See 
this  History,  postea.  Collins' Peerage  (1735),  IIL  329;  IV.  327-8.  Ilis  morals  at  the  time 
could  not  have  been  much  worse  than  those  which  generally  prevailed  at  court ;  they  may 
have  been  bettor 


142  THE    HISTORY    OF 

No  Assembly  had  been  held  since  Nov.  1CG8,  greatly  to 
the  dissatisftiction  of  the  people.  An  occasion  had  now  oc- 
curred that  called  for  such  a  convention.  In  accordance  with 
the  agreement  at  New  York,  the  Governor  issued  his  war- 
rant, and  an  Assembly  convened  here,  Oct.  8,  1G71.  Newark 
was  represented  by  Jasper  Crane  and  Robert  Treat ;  but 
who  were  the  representatives  of  the  other  towns,  and  what 
were  their  proceedings  is  not  known,  as  the  records  of  th9 
meeting  were  destroyed.  It  is  very  certain  that  Gov.  Car- 
teret found  but  little  encouragement  in  relation  to  the  con- 
templated enterprise  against  the  Indians.  It  is  known,  as 
stated  by  the  Governor,  in  a  document,  dated  Feb.  10,  167^, 
that  the  Assembly  were  in  session  in  this  town,  on  the  14tli 
of  December  preceding,  when  an  Act  was  passed  constituting 
a  Court  of  Oj^er  and  Terminer,  and  another  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Marshal  for  the  province.  This  must  have  been 
an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Assembly  that  met  in  October, 
1671. 

A  court  had  now  been  lawfully  constituted.  A  writ  was 
issued,  Feb.  10,  167|-,  authorizing  and  appointing  "  Capt. 
John  Berry,  President,  Robert  Yauquellin,  Samuel  Edsal, 
Robert  Bond,  Capt.  John  Pyke,  Capt.  Robert  Treat,  William 
Pardon,  or  any  three  of  them  to  be  a  Court  to  meet  together 
and  sit  upon  Tuesday  morning  27  Feb.  at  9  o'clock  at  the 
town  house  in  Elizabeth  Town,"  &c.  The  object  of  conven- 
ing this  court  was  the  punishment  of  the  so-called  rioters  of 
the  previous  June.  All  of  the  members,  with  the  exception 
of  Bond  and  Treat,  were  of  the  Governor's  Council.  Nei- 
ther Treat  nor  Vauquellin  were  present  at  the  trial.  Of  the 
Jury,  seven  were  from  Woodbridge,  and  five  from  Bergen  ; 
none  from  this  town,  or  from  Newark. 

An  indictment  was  found  against  "  Wm.  Mcakcr,  Jeffery 
Jones,  Luke  Watson,  Nicholas  Carter,  Samuel  Mash,  sen', 
John  Ogden,  J',  Joseph  Meaker,  and  Ilurr  Thompson,"  for 
pulling  down  Miciiell's  fence  on  the  20th  of  June  previous. 
They  all  appeared  in  court,  on  the  Stii  of  March, — when  the 
trial  came  on, — heard  the  indictment,  were  asked, — "  Guilty, 
or  not  guilty  ? " — and  made  no  response ;  but,  though  ordered 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  I43 

to  remain,  left  tlie  house  without  putting  in  any  plea  at  all. 
The  complexion  of  the  court  and  jury  was  such  as  to  satisfy 
them,  that  the  issue  was  a  foregone  conclusion  ;  that  Carteret 
was  determined  to  sustain  Michell,  and  to  secure  a  judgment 
against  the  town  in  the  persons  of  Meeker  and  his  associates. 
A  trial,  in  such  circumstances,  was  a  mere  mockery.  The 
persons  indicted  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  such  a  tri- 
bunal, and  the  people  sustained  them  in  their  contumacy. 
The  case  proceeded.  Evidence  was  given  for  the  prosecu- 
tion, by  George  Pack,  Wm.  Letts,  Vincent  Ronyon,  Wrn. 
Cramer,  Richard  Michell,  and  Wm.  Pardon.  No  evidence 
was  given  for  the  defence.  The  accused  were  severally 
found  guilty  of  a  riot ;  and,  the  next  day,  appearing  in  court, 
received  sentence  ;  Wm.  Meeker  to  pay  £5,  and  each  of  the 
others,  £3  ;  the  fines  to  be  collected  by  distraint.  Tlie  fines 
were  not  payed ;  yet  no  distraint  followed.  The  marshal, 
Samuel  Moore,  of  "Woodbridge,  was  powerless  in  the  presence 
of  an  outraged  and  indignant  people,  whose  oi:)position  to  the 
Governor  and  his  party  had  now  become  more  than  ever  de- 
termined.* 

The  Newark  settlers  appear  to  have  been  in  full  sym.pathy 
witli  tlieir  brethren  here.  They  were  evidently  quite  as  little 
pleased  with  the  Governor's  policy.     At  a 

To-wn  Meeting  22d  Jan'y,  1671,  Mr.  Treat  and  Lieut  Swain  are  de- 
puted, to  Take  the  first  opportunity  to  Advise  with  Mr.  Ogden,  or  any 
other  they  see  Cause,  what  may  be  the  Safest  and  Best  Course  to  he 
taken  for  the  Town,  about  our  Lands  and  Settlements  here. 

If  Carteret  may  give  away  land  in  E.  Town,  he  may  in 
Newark  ;  if  one  lot,  lie  may  dozens.  There  is  ground  for 
alarm,  f 

The  General  Assembly  met  again  in  this  town,  March 
26th,  following,  and  held  an  adjourned  meeting,  on  the  IJrth 
of  May.  As  in  the  case  of  the  meetings  of  the  previous  year, 
the  record  of  these  two  meetings,  also,  has  been  destroyed. 
The  proceedings  evidently  were  not  to  the  Governor's  mind, 
and  he  takes  the  responsibility,  through  Mr.  Pardon,  the 
Secretary,  utterly  to  suppress  them — a  fearful  responsibility 

•  E.  J.  Records,  III.  78-SO.  t  Newark  Town  Eecords,  p.  43. 


144  THE    HISTORY    OF 

in  a  free  government !  lie  might  just  as  well  suppress  the 
Legislature  itself.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  Stuarts,  transferred 
to  America,  where  it  is  less  likely  to  prevail  than  in  Great 
Britain.  The  people,  neither  there  nor  here,  will  be  trifled 
with.     They  will  not  submit  to  despotism.* 

The  character  of  the  deliberations  of  the  popular  branch 
of  the  Legislature  may  be  readily  conjectured  bj  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  the  Newark  Records  : 

Town  Meeting,  13th  May,  1672.  Mr.  Crane  and  Lieut  Swain  that 
were  Chosen  representatives  for  the  Town,  are  desir'd  by  the  Town  to 
consult  witla  the  rest  of  the  representatives  of  the  Country,  to  order  Mat- 
ters for  the  safety  of  the  Country. 

This  was  the  day  before  the  adjourned  meeting.  Of 
course  "the  safety  of  the  Country,"  as  put  in  jeopardy  by 
Gov.  Carteret,  was  the  all-engrossing  topic.f 

As  the  Governor  refused  both  to  preside  over  the  Assem- 
bly, either  in  person  or  by  deputy,  and  to  recognize  the  law- 
fulness of  the  convocation,  the  Eepresentatives,  as  authorized 
by  the  Concessions,  called  Capt.  James  Carteret,  who  still 
continued  to  reside  in  the  town,  to  preside  over  the  House  of 
Burgesses,  as  they  were  called.  By  virtue  of  this  appoint- 
ment, he  issued  a  warrant,  "  to  the  constable  of  E^^  Towne 
or  his  deputy,"  May  25,  1672,  as  follows : 

These  are  in  his  Ma""  Name  to  "Will  and  require  You  to  apprehend  the 
body  of  William  Pardon  and  him  to  keepe  in  Safe  Custody  untill  further 
order,  or  untill  he  deliver  up  the  Acts  of  Lanes  made  by  the  General  As- 
sembly at  their  Setting  the  26th*of  March  Last  the  Which  Laues  the  said 
Wm  Pardon  now  refuseth  to  deliver."  | 

Constable  Meeker  does  not  hesitate  to  acknowledge  the 
authority  of  Capt.  James,  and  proceeds  to  make  the  arrest  of 
the  Governor's  partisan  and  fellow-conspirator.  Finding  the  , 
atmosphere  of  the  town  somewhat  dangerous.  Gov.  Carteret 
flies  to  Bergen,  and,  on  the  28th  of  May,  convenes  his  coun- 
cil, Vauquellin,  Edsall,  Bishop,  Berry,  Andrus,  Pyke  and 
Pardon,  the  latter  having  escaped  the  custody  of  Meeker. 
Treat  has   returned  to   Connecticut,  and   Bond   favors   his 

♦  E.  J.  Records,  III.  64  t  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  44. 

t  E.  J.  Records,  III.  64.    LeamiDg  and  Spiccr,  p.  15. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  145 

townsmen.     A  Proclamation  is  issued,  in  wlucli  the  followina: 
language  is  used  : 

"Whereas,  we  are  certainly  informed  of  several  Eregular  and  Illegal 
proceedings  and  Actions  of  several  Persons  styling  themselves  The  Depu- 
ties or  Eepresentatives  for  the  Country,  in  Attempting  the  making  an  Alter- 
ation in  this  Government  by  Assembling  together  at  Elizabeth  Towne, 
the  fourteenth  day  of  May  Last  under  the  Denomination  aforesaid,  with- 
out writts  from  the  Governor,  or  without  the  knowledge,  approbation  or 
consent  of  the  Govei'nor  and  Councill  abovesaid,  and  by  Electing  a  Pres- 
ident for  the  Country  and  making  Proclamation  publickly  of  these  their 
Illegal  Actions,  All  which  tends  only  to  Mutiny  and  Rebellion,  &c. 

From  this  document  it  appears,  that  the  Assembly  was 
composed  of  "Deputies  for  Elizabeth  Town,  iJ^ewark, ^ 
Woodbridge,  New  Piscataway  and  one  from  Berg-en."  The 
Governor  expresses  his  determination,  unless  they  "  declare 
their  submission  within  ten  days,"  to  proceed  against  them 
"  as  Muteeneers  and  as  Enemies  to  the  Government ; "  adding, 
"  and  if  by  this  means  tliere  should  be  any  blood  shed  "We 
do  hereby  Clecr  our  Selves  before  God  and  Man  from  the 
Guilt  thereof,"  A  plain  declaration  of  war,  truly,  and  of 
evil  portent.  The  breach  is  irreparable.  The  people  have 
taken  their  stand  deliberately,  and  are  not  to  be  driven  from 
it.     They  know  their  rights,  and  how  to  maintain  them.* 

How  it  was,  that  Capt.  James  Carteret,  the  son  of  one  of 
the  Lords  Proprietors,  was  led  to  take  sides  with  the  town 
against  the  Governor,  is  not  clear.  He  may  have  come  into 
collision  with  his  kinsman  on  the  question  of  authority,  or  of 
deference  to  his  position  ;  or  he  may  have  been  playing  the 
game  of  Absalom,  hoping  soon  to  supersede  the  present  in- 
cumbent. Or,  with  the  liberal  impulses  of  a  sea-captain,  he 
may  have  heartily  espoused  the  cause  of  the  peojjle,  in  the 
interests  of  truth  and  right.  At  all  events,  he  was  quite 
willing  to  take  the  leadership  of  the  popular  party  in  the 
province. 

Armed  with  the  Proclamation  of  the  refugee  Governor, 
the  fugitive  Secretary  returns,  June  3,  to  overawe  his  old 
neighbors,  and  to  read  the  document  in  town-meeting,  as 

♦  E.  J.  Eccorils,  III.  53. 

10 


146  THE    HISTORY    OF 

was  required  of  each  of  the  towns.  But,  to  his  utter  confu- 
sion, he  is  once  more  arrested  by  Goodman  Meeker,  and 
brought  before  Capt.  Carteret,  at  10  o'clock  at  night,  by 
whom  he  is  consigned  to  the  custody  of  the  constable,  and 
kept  a  close  prisoner  for  three  weeks, 

"  Dcnyed  libertj,"  as  he  testified,  "  to  have  private  discourse  witli  any, 
or  to  write,  hurried  before  the  Capt.,  by  whom,  as  also  by  the  said  Meaker, 
I  was  frequently  taunted  at,  and  menaced,  and  also  treated  with  scurrilous 
and  vile  language."  On  Monday,  the  24:th,  "having  received  a  letter 
from  the  Governor  that  I  should  repair  to  him  to  confer  about  [the  mat- 
ter] and  hands  being  sent  for  me  att  night  I  slipped  out  of  that  town  and 
came  to  the  Governor,  at  Bergen,"* 

The  next  day,  25tli,  a  wairant  is  issued  by  Justice  Ogden, 
requiring  Meeker  "  forthwith  to  assemble  four  men  of  good 
report  and  with  them  to  repair  to  the  said  William  Pardon's 
house  and  to  attach  what  moveables  of  his  can  be  found." 
His  oflcnce  is  thus  recited  in  the  warrant : 

Whereas  "William  Pardon  of  Elizabeth  Town  in  the  Province  aforesaid 
was  arrested  upon  the  Province  account  for  unjustly  and  obstinately  de- 
taining the  Laues  of  the  Province  made  by  the  General  Assembly  at  their 
sitting  March  26,  1672,  which  Lawes  weare  committed  to  the  said  Wil- 
liam Pardon  to  take  a  Copy  of  them  by  order  of  the  said  Assembly,  which 
he  hath  neglected  and  refused  and  also  to  deliver  up  the  said  Lawes  unto 
the  Assembly  at  their  next  Sitting  by  whom  they  were  demanded,  &c. 

Calling  to  liis  aid  "  Goodman  Tomson  "  (one  of  the  Deputies) 
and  his  son  Ilurr,  Stephen  Osborn,  Robert  and  Peter  Morse, 
Nathaniel  Tuttle,  and  John  "Wilson,  the  wheelwright.  Meeker 
proceeded  to  Pardon's  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  Creek, 
between  Tuttle's  and  Robert  Morse's,  and  broke  open  a  boarded 
window  in  the  side  of  the  house,  at  which  Peter  Morse  en- 
tered, and  so  opened  the  door,  when  they  all  entered  and 
carried  away  the  moveables  to  Goodman  Tomson's  house,  ex- 
cept his  writing  desk  and  papers,  which  were  carried  to 
Capt.  Carteret.  Besides  these,  they  seized  his  "  crops  on 
the  ground,  5  acres  of  pease,"  liis  "  stock  of  hoggs,"  his  ^ 
"  mares  and  coults,"  &c.  "  James  the  Governor's  man, 
Nicholas  Mundy,  Cramer  and  his  wife,  and  many  others," 

•  nics,  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  OfT.  of  Soc.  of  State. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  147 

were  standing  by.  The  testimony  of  Cramer  and  his  wife, 
taken  shortly  after,  is  on  file,  as  also  the  copy  of  a  letter  from 
Elizabeth  Cramer,  dated,  July  1,  1672,  addressed  to  "  M' 
Pardon  w""  my  love  unto  yon,"  both  at  the  beginning  and  the 
ending.* 

These  were  serious  times  for  tJie  infant  settlement,  calling 
into  exercise  their  Christian  graces,  and  developing  the 
strength  of  their  political  principles.  They  had  experienced 
no  such  trials  in  their  former  homes,  and  had  anticipates!  no 
snch  collisions  here.  But  they  had  taken  their  stand  and 
were  not  to  be  driven  from  it.  The  excitement,  of  course, 
was  intense. 

Ten  days  before  this  transaction,  the  Council  met  and  ad- 
vised Governor  Carteret  to  "'  repair  to  England  to  Sir  George 
Carteret  to  acquaint  his  Honour  fully  of  the  state  of  the  affairs 
and  grievances  of  this  Province."  A  fortnight  later,  July  1, 
they  drevvn})  a  Memorial  to  "the  absolute  Lords  Proprietors," 
in  which  they  use  this  language.  They  complain  of  "several 
persons," 

"Who  have  a  Long  time  been  discontLnted  and  Oposit  unto  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Government  Avho  have  of  Late  by  their  phjttings  and  Combi- 
nations so  carried  matters  that  they  have  had  such  Influence  into  the 
Election  of  Deputies  for  the  Assemblys  as  that  there  are  such  persons 
chosen  as  Deputies  ■who  having  avoided  taking  the  Oath  of  Assemblymen 
according  to  the  Concessions,  and  have  taken  Liberty  to  difler  from  the 
Governor  and  Council!  in  Establishing  matters  for  the  Peace  and  Settle- 
ment of  the  People,  and  have  now  at  last  disorderly  Assembled  and  pro- 
cured Cap*  James  Carterett  as  their  President,  who  Joyned  with  them  in 
making  disturbance  in  this  Province,  he  taking  upon  him  to  head  tlie  said 
persons  endeavoring  not  only  to  disingage  the  people  in  subjection  unto, 
but  also  opposing  and  abusing  the  Governor  and  Council),  commanding 
their  Obedience  to  himself  by  virtue  of  his  Warrants  which  he  puts  forth 
in  the  King's  name  for  that  end,  as  also  Prohibiting  such  Officer  as  act  by 
the  Governor's  Commission,  and  commanding  them  wholy  to  cease  act- 
ing their  offices  untill  they  receive  orders  from  himself,  &c. 

They  affirm  that  "  all  these  proceedings  he  carried  on 
with  pretence  that  he  hath  Power  sufiicicnt,  he  being  Sir 
George  Carterett's  sonn,  and  that  he  himself  is  Proprietor  and 

•  E.  J.  Kccords,  III.  C-1,  82.    Tik'S  !n  Scc's  Cff.,  Trenton. 


148  THE    HISTORY    OF 

can  put  out  the  Governor  as  he  pleases,  and  that  liis  Fatlier 
hath  given  him  his  part  of  the  Province."  They  add, 
"  Although  hee  be  Sir  George  Carterett's  sonn,  and  for  his 
Father's  sake  we  Honnour  him  accordingly,  yet  our  oune 
reason  dotli  persuade  us  to  believe  that  his  IIon'''°  Father 
will  never  Countenance  his  son  in  such  dishonorable  unjust 
and  violent  proceedings."* 

These  simple-hearted  planters  had  dared  to  think  for  tliem- 
selves,  and  to  have  a  policy  of  their  own  in  relation  to  the 
making  and  the  administering  of  tlie  laws  by  which  they 
were  to  be  governed.  They  liad  even  "  taken  liberty  to  dif- 
fer from  the  Governor  and  Council],"  in  these  matters, — a 
liberty  not  to  be  tolerated  under  the  Stuart  dynasty.  Such 
■was  their  offence,  as  set  forth  by  the  opposing  party — noth- 
ing more.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  documents 
now  accessible  present  only  one  side  of  this  controversy. 
The  Representatives  of  this  town,  l^ewark  and  Piscataway, 
prepared  and  forwarded  a  Memorial  to  the  Lords  Proprie- 
tors, setting  forth  their  grievances  and  complaints,  M'hich 
drew  forth  a  brief  response  from  Berkeley  and  Carteret. 
But  neither  this  memorial,  nor  any  other  paper  or  records 
emanating  from  the  people  at  this  juncture,  from  which  the 
precise  nature  of  the  difficulties  can  be  learned,  is  known  to 
have  survived  the  conflict.  They  have  probably  all  per- 
ished. 

On  the  first  of  July,  Gov.  Carteret  issued  a  Declaration, 
denying  the  truth  of  certain  "Reports  raised  and  bruited 
abroad  that  tends  to  Render  the  Governor  unjust  in  his  Ac- 
tion and  unfaithful  to  the  Lords  Proprietors  and  country." 
Shortl}'-  after,  he  and  his  officials,  Bollen,  Vauquellin  and 
Pardon,  with  Samuel  Moore,  the  Marshal,  left  the  country 
and  returned  to  England,  Capt.  Berry,  of  the  Council,  hav- 
ing been  appointed  by  Carteret,  "  Deputy  to  officiate  in  his 
Absence."  On  the  9th  of  July,  Capt.  James  Carteret  issued 
a  writ  of  attachment  against  the  house  and  lands  and  all  the 
estate  of  Wm.  Pardon,  "  escaping  away  for  England."  And 
thus  the  matter  rested  for  a   season.     Berry  kept  himself 

♦  E.  J.  Record!,  III.,  65-6. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  149 

mostly  on  his  own  plantation  at  Bergen,  Capt.  James  Car- 
teret occupying  the  government  house  in  this  town,  and 
making  occasional  visits  to  the  house  of  Mayor  Delavall,  at 
New  York.  These  trips  to  the  neighboring  city  resulted  in 
his  marriage,  April  15,  1673,  to  Frances,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Delavall,  Merchant  and  Mayor  of  New  York.* 

Bollen,  Pardon  and  Moore  returned  from  England,  early 
in  May,  1673,  having  arranged  every  thing  to  their  satisfac- 
tion, and  obtained  the  requisite  papers  and  all  necessary  au- 
thority, from  the  Duke  and  the  two  Lords,  to  reduce  the 
people  to  subjection.  One  of  these  papers,  bearing  date, 
Nov.  25,  1672,  was  addressed,  by  the  Duke  of  York,  to  his 
Deputy  at  New  York,  Col.  Lovelace  ;  instructing  him  to 
take  notice,  that  the  grant  of  his  predecessor.  Col.  Nicolls, 
to  John  Baker  and  his  Associates,  of  Dec.  1,  1664,  was  void 
in  law,  and  directing  him  to  make  it  known  to  the  persons 
concerned:  void,  "as  I  am  informed,"  says  the  Duke ;  re- 
ferring to  "  an  extra-judicial  opinion  "  of  certain  counselors 
in  England,  to  whom  the  case  had  been  referred  for  advice  ; 
an  opinion  in  which  "  the  facts  are  untruly  stated  and  the 
law  mistaken  ; "  so  much  so,  that,  when  the  Duke's  letter 
was  read  to  Gov.  Lovelace's  Council  in  New  York,  May  25, 
1673,  a  previous  "  letter  from  the  Lords  Proprietors  to  Col. 
Nicolls,  confirming  his  Patents  before  Capt.  Philip  Carteret's 
arrival "  in  1665,  was  produced  ;  whereupon  it  was  ordered 
that  "  the  State  of  the  Case  be  returned  to  his  Royal  High- 
ness." At  a  later  date,  as,  in  the  course  of  events,  will  ap- 
pear, a  regular  judicial  opinion  was  obtained,  and  Nicolls' 
patents  declared  to  be  in  accordance  with  law  and  of  full 
force  and  obligation. f 

They  brought,  also,  a  letter,  dated,  Dec.  9,  1672,  from  the 
King,  to  Berry  and  his  Council,  confirming  their  authority, 
and  requiring  them  to  exact  from  the  settlers  all  due  obedi- 
ence ;  thus  making,  for  the  first  time,  the  Governor  and 
Council  officers   of  the   Crown.     "  Instructions  "  were,  also, 

*  E.  J.  Records,  III.  ^5.  New  York  Marriages,  pp.  CS,  105.  Valeutine'd  Manual  of  N.  Y. 
for  1855,  p.  493.    Ste.irns'  Newark,  pp.  52-7. 

t  Learning  and  Spicer,  pp.  31-32.    E.  Town  Bill,  pp.  40-1.    Ans.  to  do.,  pp.  25-6,  30-1. 


150  TDE    niSTORY    OF 

sent,  ffoiii  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  to  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil,— a  Paper  explanatory  of  the  Concessions ; — and  a 
Declaration  to  the  People  of  the  Province ;  botli  papers  de- 
signed and  adapted  to  sustain  Gov,  Philip  Carteret  in  his 
pretensions.  In  their  Response  to  the  Petition  of  the  llep- 
resentatives,  they  ^ive  them  no  encouragement  of  redress, 
but  promise  to  consider  their  case,  if  they  should  send  over 
any  person  to  make  good  their  Allegations.  Pardon  had  se- 
cured an  order  of  indemnity  "  for  the  several  Indignities, 
Losses,  and  Injuries  done  mito  him  by  Wm.  Meeker,  Con- 
stable of  Elizabeth  Town,  his  Assistants  and  all  others  con- 
cerned." * 

The  first  recorded  proceeding  of  Dep.  Gov.  Berry  and  his 
Council,  after  the  reception  of  these  papers,  was  the  issuing 
of  a  proclamation.  May  21,  1673,  forbidding  all  persons  to 
buy  the  estates  of  Meeker  and  his  associates,  if  offered  for 
sale,  of  which  the  constable  of  the  town  was  to  notify  the 
people.  An  order  was  published,  the  next  day,  requiring 
all  malcontents — "  those  persons  who  were  the  chief  actors  in 
attempting  the  making  an  alteration  in  the  government,"  to 
make  "  their  submission  at  the  town  of  Bergen,"  on  "  the 
10th  day  of  June  next  ensuing,"  "  when  such  as  are  con- 
scious of  their  offences  may  repair  to  crave  remission, 
and  after  that  time  to  expect  no  favour  but  what  the  Law 
affords."  t 

Not  content  with  this  exliibition  of  power,  they  issued  on 
the  same  day  a  Proclamation,  in  which  they  reminded  the 
people,  tliat,  according  to  the  Declaration  of  the  L,  Propri- 
etors, 

No  person  or  persons  whatever  shall  he  accounted  a  freeholder  of  the 
province,  nor  have  any  vote  in  electin<r,  nor  be  capable  of  being  elected 
for  any  office  of  trust,  either  civil  or  military,  until  he  doth  actually  hold 
his  or  tlieir  lands  by  patent  from  them. 

Therefore,  they  required  all  who  desired  to  be  regarded  as 
freeholders  to  repair  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Province,  to  ob- 
tain Avarrants  for  surveys  ;  or  if  already  furnished  with  such 

•  Learning  nnd  Spicor,  pp.  82^1.     E.  J.  t  E.  J.  Kccords,  III.  82. 

Records,  III.  64. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  151 

warrants,  then  to  obtain  patents  in  due  form,  within  a  limited 
time  ;  ten  weeks  bein^j  allowed  the  people  of  this  town  : 

And  wliosoever  shall  neglect  so  to  do  within  the  time  limited  as  afore- 
said shall  lose  the  henefit  of  the  L.  Proprietors'  favour  in  the  premises 
and  forfeit  such  lands  as  they  are  settled  upon  and  pretend  unto. 

With  so  high  a  hand,  did  Berry, 

"Armed  with  a  little  brief  authority," 

proceed  to  carry  out  his  instructions.  Such  measures,  so  far 
from  conciliating  the  disaffected,-  and  uniting  the  discordant 
elements  of  the  population,  tended  directly  to  kindle  anew, 
and  with  redoubled  fury,  the  flames  of  strife  and  bitterness. 
So  slow  were  the  Stuarts  and  their  creatures  in  learning  the 
very  first  rudiments  of  social  and  political  economy !  * 

Meeker  and  his  associates  were  brought  to  trial,  June  24, 
1673,  for  the  damage  done  to  Pardon  the  year  before ;  and, 
of  course,  they  were  cast ;  Meeker  being  condemned  to  for- 
feit his  estate  to  Pardon,  and  the  others  to  pay  each  £10. 
Meeker  was  afterwards  remunerated  by  the  people,  at  least  in 
])art,  for  his  losses  in  this  affair. 

To  counteract  and  nullify  the  designs  and  measures  of  their 
now  exultant  adversaries,  it  was  determined  to  send  a  mes- 
senger, with  a  suitable  petition,  to  the  authorities  in  England. 
At  the  "  Town  Meeting,  July  1st,  1673,"  of  the  Newark 
people. 

It  was  Voted  and  agreed  by  the  General  and  universal  Consent  and 
Vote  of  all  our  Pcoide,  that  there  sliould  bo  an  Address  by  way  of  Peti- 
tion, sent  to  the  Lords  Proprietors  of  this  Province,  fur  tlio  removing  of 
the  Greviances  incumbent,  and  obtaining  of  what  may  be  necessary  for 
the  Good  of  the  Province. t 

A  committee  of  five  men  were  chosen  "  to  consider  with 
the  messengers  from  the  other  Towns  about  sending  a  Petition 
to  England."  Also  "  to  agree  with  Mr.  Delevall  [of  New 
York],  the  father-in-law  of  Capt.  Carteret,  about  Money  to 
send  a  Messenger  to  England."  The  same  course,  doubtless, 
was  taken  by  this  town. 

♦  E.  J  Kocora?,  III.  t  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  50 


152  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Many  of  the  first  settlers,  here  and  at  Newark,  were  per- 
sonally known  to  Mr.  Jolin  Winthrop,  Governor  of  Connec- 
ticut, "  the  most  accomplished  scholar  and  gentleman  of  New 
England,"  an  humble  and  devout  Christian,  and  of  influence 
second  to  none  in  America.  lie  was  personall}''  known  to 
Berkeley  and  Carteret,  having  spent  a  considerable  time  at 
court  in  1662,  in  negotiating  the  Charter  of  Connecticut.  A 
full  representation  of  the  case  is  made  to  him ;  and  in  con- 
nection with  Mr.  Samuel  Willis,  one  of  the  Magistrates  at 
Hartford,  he  wrote,  July  2,  1G73,  to  Sir  George  Carteret,  at 
London,  as  follows : 

Eight  Ilonourable :  There  having  clivers  persons  of  good  repute  and 
approved  integrit}'  who  were  formerly  improved  in  pnhlieke  offises  in  this 
Colony,  viz  :  M' Jaspar  Crane,  M'' John  Odgden,  M' Robert  Bond,  M' 
Abraham  Peirson,  M'  Brewon  with  many  of  their  Loviuge  Neighbours  and 
friends  wel  disposed  men,  of  sober  and  peaceable  conversation  did  Trans- 
plant themselves  And  famalys  into  your  Honours  Province,  who  beinge 
persons  well  known  to  us,  But  strangers  to  your  Honour  desired  us  to 
give  you  our  Carracter  of  them  that  soe  they  might  not  bee  misrepresent- 
ed, whose  presence  in  this»Colony  was  both  acceptable,  and  usefull ;  and 
theire  return  To  us  would  bee  very  gratfull.  But  that  wee  would  promote 
in  your  Honour's  Colony  that  good  worke  of  subduing  the  Earth  and  re- 
plenishinge  of  it,  which  in  this  remote,  desert  part  of  the  world  never 
Formerly  inhabited  nor  Cultivated  is  A  very  difSculte  worke,  and  requires 
much  hard  Labour,  to  subdue  so  Paiff"  and  woody  A  wildernesse.  In  this 
Cold  Clyraet  where  clothinge  is  very  Deare,  beinge  so  far  distant  From 
the  Market.  Soe  that  the  people  will  need  the  n>ore  encouragement  which 
we  doubt  not  upon  all  occasions  will  be  afforded  them.  Upon  which  the 
progresse  and  prosperity  of  your  province  doth  depend.  In  order  to  which 
we  would  further  make  bould  to  suggest  unto  your  Honours  Wisdome 
and  prudence.  As  very  expedient,  that  your  Colony  be  Branched  out  into 
Convenient  Townsliipp?,  which  we  finde  Best  Conducinge  to  Safty  and  the 
advansinge  of  Civill  Societays.  Thus  wishinge  your  Honour  all  pros- 
perity in  the  well  settlement  of  this  your  American  Province — wee 
are,  «S:c. 

Of  this  letter,  so  complimentary  to  the  early  settlers  of  this 
neighborhood,  and  so  coin]iletc  a  vindication  of  those  worthy 
men  from  the  aspersions  then  and  now  cast  upon  them,  Capt. 
Berry  presently  received  knowledge,  and,  supposing  that  it 
was  designed  to  induce  the  New  England  people  to  return  to 
Connecticut,   he  wrote  in  remonstrance,  and  received,  by 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  153 

Capt.  JSTicolIs,  a  reply  from  Wintlirop,  dated  July  29,  1673, 
in  which,  after  correcting  Berry's  misapprehensions,  lie 
says : 

It  hath  beene  very  farr  from  my  acting  or  intentions  to  incourage  or 
invite  any  one  to  a  removall  thence.  I  liave  often  at  their  first  beginning 
there  and  since,  as  I  had  occasion,  incouraged  that  good  publicke  designe 
of  planting  that  place,  and  am  alwaies  desirous  to  promote  the  prosperous 
increase  of  those  plantations,  and  therein,  and  all  other  good  respects  to 
be  ever  Your  very  reall  servant.* 

It  is  not  known  whether  the  messenger,  witli  the  people's 
petition  and  Gov.  "Winthrop's  introductory  letter,  was  sent  or 
not.  Circumstances  occurred  soon  after,  that  suddenly  put 
an  end  to  these  negotiations,  and  brought  the  town  into  en- 
tirely new  and  unexpected  relations. 

♦  3  Mass,  His.  Soc,  Coll.,  X.  85,  6. 


154  THE    niSTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

A.  D.   1673-1674. 

Departure  of  James  Carteret  and  Hopkins  —  Vessel  captured  by  the  Dutch  — 
Hopldns  discloses  the  weakness  of  N.  Y.  —  Capture  of  the  City  by  the  Dutch 
—  Deputation  from  E.  Town  at  N.  Y.  —  N.  Jersey  yields  to  the  Dutch  —  Land 
Claims  confirmed  —  New  Officials  —  Recusancy  of  Vauquellin — Census  of 
E.  T.  Men  —  Notices  of  the  new  Comers  —  Militia  Officers  —  Edicts  —  Indian 
Depredations  —  Monthly  Day  of  Prayer  appointed  —  Legislative  Assembly — * 
Redress  of  Injuries  — Termination  of  Dutch  Rule. 

Capt.  Ja^[es  Cakteeet  had  scarcely  completed  his  honey- 
moon, before  he  received,  by  Capt.  Bollen,  dispatches  and 
instructions  from  his  aged  father,  requiring  him  to  retire  from 
the  scene  of  conflict  in  'New  Jerse}-,  and  look  after  his  patri- 
mony in  Carolina.  lie  was  now  the  only  surviving  sou  of 
his  father, — his  elder  brother.  Sir  Philip,  having  been  slain 
in  battle,  almost  a  year  before, — May  28,  1GT2.  Bidding 
farewell,  therefore,  to  the  kind  people  of  the  town,  he  took 
passage,  with  his  wife,  early  in  July,  1673,  (after  nearly  two 
years'  sojourn  in  the  town),  on  board  of  a  sloop,  Samuel  Da- 
vis, captain,  bound  for  a  southern  port.  Samuel  Hopkins, 
one  of  the  planters  of  the  town,  accompanied  them.  Eng- 
land had  now  been  at  war  with  the  United  Provinces  of  Hol- 
land since  March  of  the  previous  year.  The  fleets  of  the 
contending  parties  were  traversing  the  seas  in  search  of  mer- 
chantmen, rendering  navigation  peculiarly  hazardous. 

As  Davis's  sloop  was  entering  between  the  Capes  of  Vir- 
ginia, a  Dutch  fleet  was  seen  coming  out  of  James  River, 
where,  July  11th,  they  had  captured,  "  near  Point  Comfort," 
several  English  vessels.  The  sloo])  was  speedily  overhauled 
and  added  to  the  list  of  prizes.     Capt.  Carteret  and  his  wife 


ELIZABETK,    NEW    JERSEY.  155 

were  set  ashore  in  Virginia,  to  pursue  their  course  further 
south,  as  best  thej  could.  Hopkins,  because,  probabl}'-,  of  his 
interest  in  the  cargo,  was  retained ;  possibly,  by  choice. 
How  it  fared  with  Carteret,  afterwards,  in  Carolina,  and  at 
what  time  he  returned,  if  at  all,  to  the  Isle  of  Jersey,  history 
does  not  inform  us.* 

Anxious  to  get  possession  once  more  of  their  old  American 
colony,  New  Ketherland,  the  Dutch  commanders  eagerly 
sought,  of  Capt.  Davis,  information  of  the  defences  of  New 
York.     Davis  "  told  them," 

That  New  Yorko  was  in  a  very  good  condicon,  &  ia  all  respects  able 
to  defend  itselfe  hauing  receiued  a  good  supply  of  amies  &  ammunicon 
from  liis  Iloyall  Highness  the  Duke  of  Yorke  w">  adnice  of  their  designe 
on  tliat  place  w"^  made  them  resolue  to  steere  another  course,  &  not  goe 
to  New  Yorke,  when  one  Samuell  Hopkins  a  passenger  in  y^  said  sloope, 
&  Inhabitant  at  Arthur  Call  in  New  England,  &  a  professor  there  did  vol- 
untarily declare  to  y"  Dutch  that  what  the  said  Dauis  had  informed  was 

*  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts  ,  ITI.  200.  The  last  that  is  known  of  him  is  verj'  deplorable.  Jasper 
Dankers  and  Petor  Sluyter,  the  Labadist  travelers,  being  at  Harlem,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  C,  1679,  were 
under  the  necessity  of  spundin.;  the  night,  at  a  liouse  "  constantly  filled  with  people,  all  the 
time  drinking,  for  the  most  part,  execrable  rum."    Dankers  says, 

"  Among  the  crowd  we  found  a  person  of  quality,  an  Englishman,  named  Capt.  Carteret, 
whose  father  is  in  great  favor  with  the  king  [James  II.],  and  he  himself  had  assisted  in  sev- 
eral exploits  in  the  king's  service.  The  king  has  given  t»  his  father  Sir  (George)  Carteret, 
the  entire  government  of  the  lands  west  of  the  North  Iliver,  in  New  Netherland,  with  power 
to  appoint  as  governor  whom  he  pleases;  and  at  this  present  time  there  is  a  governor  over  it, 
by  his  appointment,  another  Carteret,  his  nephew,  I  believe,  who  resides  at  Elizabethtown, 
in  New  Jersey.  This  son  is  a  very  protligate  person.  He  married  a  merchant's  daughter 
here,  and  has  so  lived  with  his  wife  that  her  father  has  been  compelled  to  take  her  home  again, 
no  runs  about  among  the  farmers,  and  stays  where  he  can  find  most  to  drink,  and  sleeps  in 
barns  on  the  straw.  If  he  conducted  liimself  properly,  ho  could  be  not  only  governor  here, 
but  hold  higher  po.Mtions,  for  he  has  studied  the  moralities,  and  scorns  to  have  been  of  a  good 
\inderstanding;  but  that  is  all  now  drowned.  His  father,  who  will  not  acknowledge  him  as 
his  son,  as  before,  allows  him  yearly  as  much  only  as  is  necessary  for  him  to  live." 

From  tlie  fact  that  his  father  disowned  him  on  account  of  his  profligacy  in  his  later  years, 
grew,  most  probably,  the  report  of  his  having  been  an  illegitimate  son— utterly  inconsistent, 
as  it  is,  with  the  above  statement,  and  other  well-ascert.ained  fncts  previously  adduced  in 
these  pages.    James  Carteret,  it  is  prob.ablo,  did  not  long  survive  his  father,  who  died  Jan 

14,  1679-SO.    His  daughter,  Elizabeth,  was  married,  in  Jersey,  (1.)  to Carteret;  and,  (2.) 

Nov.  II,  1699,  to  Philip  I'ipon,  Esq.,  of  Jersey.  She  was  buried,  on  the  anniversary  of  her 
marriage-day,  in  1720.  Their  children  were,  1.  James,  baptized,  Oct.  1,  1700  ;  2.  Ellas,  bap., 
Nov.  22, 1702;  8.  D.lavall,  (a  daughter),  bap.,  May  U,  1704;  4.  Louise,  bap.  Mar.  26,  1707;  5 
Jcane,  b.ap..  Mar.  10,  1709;  6.  Philip,  bap,  July  22, 1711  ;  and,  7.  John,  bap.,  .\ug.  5,1716.  Ean 
dell's  I^'land,  adjacent  to  New  York,  purchased  by  her  father,  (with  Great  Barn  Island),  for  $200 
came,  on  the  division  of  the  estate,  to  Mrs.  Jnnies  Carteret;  and  after  the  death  of  herself  and 
husband,  to  this  daughter,  Elizabeth.  Her  son,  Elias,  relinquishing  the  estate  in  Jersey  to  his 
brother  James,  came  to  this  country  in  1732,  and  took  possession  of  the  Island,  calling  itBelle- 
Isle.  'In  1739,  it  was  sold  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  after  which,  ho  is  thought  to  have 
returned  to  England.  Historical  Magazine,  I.  297-9  X.  157-S.  Valentine's  Manual  for  1S55 
pp.  493^. 


156  TDE    HISTORY    OF 

alltogether  false,  that  New  Yorke  was  in  no  condicion  to  defend  itselfe 
ag'  tlie  Dutch.  &c. ;  all  w"=''  encouraLred  the  Dutcli  tovisitt  that  jdace;  all 
theyr  cry  was  for  New  Yorke,  to  which  place  they  came ;  w"""  was  pres- 
ently taken  by  them  [July  30] :  Where  the  said  Hopkins  encouraged  the 
Dutch  to  proceede  to  the  takeing  of  Arthur  Cull  haueing  discovered  to 
them  allso  the  weakenes  of  that  place  :  The  said  Hopkins  had  formerly 
made  his  aboade  w"*  Cap*  James  Carterett.* 

Such  was  the  testimony  given,  hy  eye-witnesses,  on  the  oc- 
casion of  investigating  the  circumstances  of'  the  surrender  of 
New  York  to  the  Dutch.  Hopkins  had  been  identified  with 
the  })opuhir  party  in  the  town,  and,  doubtless,  welcomed  the 
advent  of  the  Dutch  forces,  and  the  change  of  government, 
as  likely  to  put  an  end  to  the  vexatious  exactions,  to  which 
he  and  his  neighbors  had  so  long  been  subjected.  It  seemed, 
moreover,  like  a  special  providence  for  their  relief — an  answer 
to  their  fervent  prayers.  The  term  set  by  Berry  and  his 
Council  for  their  submission,  was  just  then  expiring,  and 
they  were  preparing  for  another  contest,  in  M'hich  the  domi- 
nant party  would  be  supported  by  Gov.  Lovelace  of  New 
York,  and  thus  enabled  to  enforce  the  Proprietary  exactions 
to  the  utmost.  Berry  and  Lovelace  are  now,  by  a  remarka- 
ble interposition,  summarily  deposed,  and  deprived  of  all 
power  to  harm  them. 

It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  the  sturdy  pioneers  of  the 
town,  wearied  out  with  the  vexations  of  the  previous  five 
years,  should  readily  give  in  their  adhesion  to  the  new  gov- 
ernment. Nine  days  after  the  surrender  of  New  York,  Nathan 
Gould  of  Stamford  writes  to  Gov.  Winthrop, — "  Its  informed 
that  Authur  Cull  M""  Cartwright's  party  hath  all  ready  com- 
plyed  &  the  other  party  is  sumoned  to  appeare  next  Tues- 
day," the  12th  of  September.  It  must  have  been  with  pe- 
culiar satisfaction,  "  that  when  Cap*  Berry  came  to  the  ffbrt 
uppon  the  Account  of  surrender  JSP  Hopkins  tould  him  that 
his  business  was  done  " — his  occupation  gone.f 

Three  days  after  the  surrender,  Saturday,  Sept.  y^,  the 
following  record  is  entered  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Council  of 
AVar,  at  "  New  Orange,''  as  New  York  was  now  called  : 

•  N.  Y.  Co'.  Doeints ,  III.  200, 1, 13,  1-1.  t  N.  T.  Col.  Docuits.,  III.  201. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  I57 

John  Baker,  Jacob  Melyn,  Jolm  Ogden,  cum  sociis,  Deputies  from 
the  village  of  Elizabethtown,  Nevv-worke,  Woodbridge  and  Piscatteuay, 
situate  in  the  Province  heretofore  called  New  Yarsey,  praying  by  peti- 
tion, that  they  may  be  allowed  to  send  some  Delegates  from  their  said 
villages  to  treat  with  the  Admirjils  and  associate  Council  of  war  respect- 
ing the  surrender  of  their  towns  under  the  obedience  of  tlieir  High 
Mightinesses,  the  Lords  States  of  the  United  Netherlands,  and  his  Serene 
Highness,  the  Prince  of  Orange,  and  that  no  audience  be  granted  to  their 
late  Governor,  Capt.  John  Berry,  before  and  until  the  same  be  granted 
to  the  said  Delegates,  &c. 

Ordered — The  Petitioners,  namely  the  inhabitants  of  the  villages  of 
Elizabets  Towne,  Nieworke,  Woodbridge  and  Piscattaway,  are  hereby 
allowed  to  send  their  Delegates  hither  on  next  Tuesday  morning,  to  treat 
with  us. 

The  three  remaining  villages  were  ordered  to  send  their  Deputies 
at  the  same  time,  or  be  subdued  "  by  force  of  arms."  =^ 

On  the  following  Friday,  y\th,  it  was  ordered,  "  that  all 
the  inhabitants  of  those  towns  shall  be  granted  the  same 
Privileges  and  Freedoms  as  will  be  accorded  to  native  born 
subjects  and  Dutch  towns;  also  the  Petitioners  and  their 
heirs  shall  unmolested  enjoy  and  possess  their  lawfully  pur- 
chased and  paid  for  lands,  which  shall  afterwards  be  con- 
firmed to  them  by  the  Governor  in  due  form ;  "  and  "  the 
Petitioners  are  granted  and  accorded  Freedom  of  conscience 
as  the  same  is  permitted  in  the  Netherlands."! 

Again,  it  is  recorded,  Saturday,  Aug.  -j^-g-th,  that 

The  Deputies  from  the  Towns  of  Elizabets  Towne,  Neu  uorkc  Wood- 
bridge,  Piscattaway,  Middeltowne  and  Schrousbury  appeariu"-  are  or- 
dered to  call  together  the  inhabitants  of  their  respective  Towns  and  to 
have  them  nominate  by  plurality  of  votea,  a  double  number  for  Schepens 
or  Magistrates  of  said  Towns  ;  also  from  each  Town  to  elect  two  Depu- 
ties, who  shall  meet  together  as  one  Board,  and  th'en  nominate,  by  the 
greater  number  of  votes,  three  persons  for  Sehout  and  three  for  Secretary, 
over  the  said  sis  Towns. 

Bergen  had  been  already  provided  for.;}: 

Four  days  afterwards  the  nominations  for  Schepens  were 
presented  to  the  Council,  and  on  the  following  day.  If, 
"  John  Ogden,  Senior,  Samuel  Hopkins,  and  Jacob   Melyn," 


•  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  II.  571,  t.  t  N.  T.  Col.  DocmU.,  II.  5TC.         J  lb.,  II.  579. 


158  THE    HISTORY    OF 

were  elected  "  Scliepens  of  Elizabets  Towne,"  and    ordered 
to  "come  hither  on  the  first  opportunity  to  be  sworn  in."* 

The  several  towns  chose  their  Deputies,  and  tliese  met  to- 
gether and  made  their  nominations  for  Schout  and  Secretary  ; 
from  which  nominations,  the  Generals  and  Council  of  War 
made  choice,  Sept.  1,  1673,  of  "Mr.  John  Ogden  to  be 
Schout  and  Mr.  Samuell  Hopkins  to  be  Secretary  "  of  the  six 
towns, 

Giveing  &  by  these  presents  granting  unto  tlie  s''  John  Ogden  &  Sam- 
uel II()i)kia3  &  each  of  thein,  full  pouwer  strenght  &  authority  in  their 
said  offices.  The  said  Schout  together  w""  y^  Schepens  or  magistrates  of 
J"  respective  Townes  to  Paile  &  governe  as  well  their  Inhabitants  as  Stran- 
gers and  y*  s"*  Samuel  Hojikins  to  administer  the  ofiBco  of  Secretarij  in  y" 
8"*  Townes.t 

The  Schout  and  Secretary  were,  also,  directed  "  to  take  an 
Inventory  of  the  Estate  of  the  late  Governor  Carteret." 
Captain  Knyf  and  Captain  Snell,  with  Abram  Varlet  as 
Clerk,  were  appointed,  Sept.  6,  to  repair  to  the  several  towns 
"at  Achter  Coll,  and  to  administer  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
all  the  inhabitants."  X 

Sept.  Tth,  1673, 

Schout  John  Ogden  and  Secretary  Samuel  Hopkins  appearing,  com- 
plain tliat  Robert  Lapriere  hath  removed  divers  goods  from  the  house  of 
Philip  Carteret  -which  he  refuses  to  restore  ;  also  that  one  John  Single- 
tary  refuses  to  obey  their  commands;  whereupon 'tis  ordered  to  arrest 
said  persons  and  bring  them  hither,  to  which  end  some  soldiers  are  fur- 
nished. They  are  furthermore  ordered  to  summon  James  Bollen,  late 
Secretary  of  the  Province  of  New  Yersey,  to  deliver  up,  agreeably  to 
former  order  the  Governor's  papers  Avithin  the  space  of  10  days  after 
this  date,  or  in  default  thereof,  his  property  shall  be  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Hon'''*  Council  of  War.  § 

This  order  sheds  light  upon  some  of  the  troubles  of  the 
town.  "  Lapriere,"  or  Laprairie,  was  the  familiar  name  by 
which  the  Surveyor  General,  Yauquellin,  was  known.  Both 
he  and  Singletary  (of  whom  no  other  record  is  known), 
were  arrested  by  Schout  Ogden,  sent  to  New  York,  and,  on 

*  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmt*.,  II.  6S2.  t  lb.,  II.  605.  I  lb.,  II.  595,  8. 

4  lb.,  II.  600.  Singletary  is  aftcrwarda  called  "Jonathan;"'  the  same,  probably,  with 
him  who  was  at  Haverhill,  Maes.,  in  1663.    6avago,  IV.  102. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY. 


159 


the  9th,  examined  by  the  Council,  the  charges  against  them 
being  denied.  Four  days  after,  Mr.  Ogden  being  present, 
the  charges  were  sustained ;  Singletary  was  fined  £5,  and 
put  on  his  good  behavior  :  Yauquellin,  was  found  guilt}^  not 
only  of  contumacy,  but  of  sedition,  and  was  condemned  "  to 
be  banished  as  an  example  to  others."  * 

The  same  day,  the  commission  returned  to  the  city,  and 
reported  that,  on  the  11th  of  September,  they  had  adminis- 
tered the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  several 
towns.  They  rated  "  Elizabethtown "  at  "80  men,  76  of 
whom  have  taken  the  oath ;  the  remainder  absent."  The 
names  are  recorded  as  follows  : 


Jolin  Ogdon  senior 
Samuell  Hopkins 
Jacob  Moleyn 
John  Baacker 
Matbyas  bettffield 
Jonathan  Ogdon 
John  Woodrooff 
Leonard  bendly 
Benjamia  Price  senior 
Benjamin  Price  junior 
Thomas  price 
Kathaniel  buniell 
Isacq  Whithead  sen'' 
Isacq  Whithead  jun'' 
James  Bullin 
John  Ogdon  jun'' 
Joseph  Ogdon 
David  Ogdon 
Benjamin  Ogdon 
Benjamin  Parkis 
Richard  skinner 
George  Moris 
Steven  Ozburn 
Benjamin  homes 
Joseph  Seers 
Joseph  bond 
Moses  Tomson 


Joseph  Ozburn 
Tho^  WUlson 

Truas  (Dutch) 
Tompson 
Henry  Moris 
Wilham  Meecker 
Joseph  Meecker 
Benjamin  Meecker 
Henry  homes 
Garret  Egberts  (Dutch) 
John  .  .  ttle 
Ucndr  Jans  (Dutch) 

Simonson  (Item) 

Simpkins 

Johnson 
Humphry  Spinidge 
William  oliver 
David  Oliver 
Charles  Tucker 
George  Ross 
Nickles  Carter 
John  Carter 
Samuell  Mash  senior 

uell  Mash  jun' 
Josejih  fFrascy 
George  Packer 


Thomas  Tomson 

henry  Thomson 

Nathaniell  Tutle 

John  Pope 

Robbert  Moss 

Pieter  Moss 

William  Hall 

Samuel  Trotter 

Stephen  Crane 

William  Cramer 

Francis  barber 

Henry  Lyon 

Thomas  Lyon 

Dirck  Teunisen  (Dutch) 

Jacob  Cornells  (Item) 

Tyss  Servaes  (Item) 

William  Pills 

Jonas  Wood 

Simon  Rows 

Thomas  Jongc 

Jeffrey  Jones         out  of 

the  government 
Roger  Lambath 
Stevens  Salsbcrry 
Luke  Wattson 
Ephraim  Price  t 


*  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  II.  603,  G,  T. 


f  Alb.  Records,  XXIII.  277. 


160  THEUISTORYOF 

The  mamiscript  being  torn  and  defaced,  some  of  the  names 
are  not  fully  recorded.  Others  are  manifestly  incorrect : 
«  Hendly  "  should  be  lleadley  ;  "  Buniell,"  Bunnell ;  "  Bul- 
lin,"  Bollen ;  "  Henry  Moris,"  Henry  Norris ;  "  Packer," 
Pack  ;  "  Jonge,"  Young ;  "  Lambath,"  Lambert ;  "  Stevens 
Salsberry,"  Evans  Salsbury  ;  "Tlioraas  Willson,"  John  Wil- 
son ;  "John  .  .  ttle,"  is  John  Little;  "Benjamin  Homes"  is 
probably  Benjamin  Homan;"Hall"  should  be  Hill,  and 
"Henry  Tomson,"  Hurr  Tomson. 

Of  those  who  took  the  oath  in  Feb.  ICG^-,  Andris,  Dicken- 
son, Thomas  Pope,  Trotter,  and  "  the  greater  John  Wilson," 
had  died :  three  were  represented,  each  of  them,  by  a  son. 
Shotwell  had  been  exiled  by  Carteret.  Robert  Bond  may 
Lave  been  enrolled  at  Newark ;  Wolverson  had  returned  to 
!New  Orange  [York]  ;  Brackett  had  sold  out  to  Samuel  Hop- 
kins, and  returned  to  ISTew  Haven;  Richard  Painter  had 
sold  out  to  Daniel  De  Hart,  and  left  the  toM'n  ;  Carwithy  had 
returned  to  Long  Island ;  Christopher  Young  and  Dennis 
AVhite  had  sold  out  and  removed  ;  John  Haines  ma}^  have 
been  absent ;  and  Jeremiah  Osborn  had  either  removed  or 
had  deceased ;  John  Winans,  Barnabas  Wyncs,  Thomas 
Moore,  John  Gray,  and  John  Parker  were  residents  but  not 
enumerated. 

Two  more  sons  of  John  Ogden,  Joseph  and  Benjamin,  had 
come  to  years;  three  sons,  also,  of  Benjamin  Price,  viz.,  Ben- 
jamin, Thomas,  and  Ephraim;  Isaac  Whitehead's  son,  Isaac, 
also ;  Goodman  Thompson's  two  sons,  Aaron  and  Hurr ;  Wil- 
liam Meeker's  two  boys,  Joseph  and  Benjamin ;  William 
Oliver's  son,  David;  JSicholas  Carter's  son,  John;  and 
Samuel  Marsh's  son,  Samuel ;  these  all  had  grown  to  men's 
estate,  since  1G65.  Stephen  Osborn,  too,  has  followed  his 
brother,  Joseph,  to  this  new  countr}'. 

Several  new  planters  had  come  in,  and  some,  who  had 
come  before,  had  become  land-owners.  They  are  worthy  of 
being  numbered  with  the  Founders  of  the  town,  as  they  came 
when  every  thing  M'as  new,  and  were  valuable  accessions  to 
the  Colony. 

William  Hill  [not  Haxl]  was  a  cordwainer,  and  had  come 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  161 

over  ^vitll  Cartei«et.  lie  obtained  an  allotment  of  60  acres, 
of  wliicli  the  survey  is  not  recorded.  lie  sold,  Jan.  1,  1G7|, 
his  house  and  lot  to  Benjamin  Wade.  He,  or  his  son,  of  the 
same  name,  was  numbered  among  Mr.  Harriman's  parishion- 
ers from  1G9J:  (perhaps  earlier)  to  1703.  He  was  admitted 
among  the  later  Associates,  and  drew  No.  70  of  the  100-acre 
lots,  next  to  Eobert  Woolley.* 

Samuel  Hopkins  was  at  Milford,  Ct.,  in  1658,  and  possibly- 
much  earlier.  Thence  he  removed  to  JSTew  Haven,  where, 
Dec.  5, 1667,  he  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Capt.  Nathan- 
iel Turner,  of  New  Haven,  Her  father  was  lost,  Jan.  1646, 
in  the  celebrated  merchantman  sent  out  by  tlie  people  of 
that  town.  The  daughter  was  baptized  at  New  Haven,  Nov. 
17,  1639,  and  occupies  the  first  place  in  the  baptismal  rec- 
ord. Her  son,  Samuel,  was  born  at  New  Haven,  Aug.  30, 
1668,  and  her  daughter,  Hannah,  May  2, 1670.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Hopkins,  with  his  wife  and  two 
babes,  removed  to  this  town,  induced  thereto,  most  probably, 
by  John  Brackett,  Sen'",  whose  third  lot-right  he  had  pur- 
chased. Mention  has  already  been  made  of  him  in  connec- 
tion with  Capt.  James  Carteret,  from  which  it  appears  that 
Hopkins  was  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  church, 
and  a  zealous  advocate  of  the  people's  rights.  Under  the 
Dutch  rule,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Schepens  of  the 
town,  and  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Province.  His  house- 
lot  contained  four  acres,  bounded,  N.,  by  a  highway ; 
W".,  by  Samuel  Sturrige;  S.,  by  Elizabeth  Creek;  and, 
E.,  by  John  Ogden,  Jr.,  a  way  passing  between  them  to 
the  landing-place.  He  had,  also,  12  acres  of  upland, 
"  within  the  Common  Fence  at  the  "W.  side  of  the  plaine," 
bounded  by  Joseph  Sayre,  Isaac  Whitehead,  Sen"",  and 
two  highways.  His  "great  accommodation,"  as  the  larger 
division  of  land  was  called,  is  not  on  record.  He  had  a 
warrant  for  120  acres.  He  was,  doubtless,  a  trader,  and 
accustomed  to  travel  into  distant  parts,  as  when  he  ac- 
companied Capt.  James  Carteret  to  Virginia  in  1673.     His 

*  K.  T.  Book,  B.  23.     E.  J.  Records,  B.  50. 

n 


1(32  THE  HISTORY  of 

death  occuri-ed  not  later  than  Oct.  1GT8,  IPis  wife  survived 
liim.'-^' 

Roger  Lambkrt  was  a  blacksmith,  from  "Wiltshire,  Eng., 
and  was  descended  from  an  ancient  ISTorman  family — Ro 
dolph  de  Lambert's,  and,  from  a  collateral  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily of  Oliver  Lambert,  Earl  of  Lavan,  1617.  Jesse  Lambert, 
of  Milford,  Ct.,  was  his  cousin.  Roger,  who  had  never  seen 
him  since  coming  over,  wrote  to  him  from  this  town,  Sep. 
25,  1684,  a  loving  epistle  of  fraternal  greeting: 

After  my  lone  to  you  with  my  wife's,  these  are  to  lett  you  understand 
that  I  hauo  been  informed  by  souerall  of  your  being  att  Milforde,  in  New 
Englande,  tlie  which  caused  me  to  write  seuerall  letters  to  you  before  this, 
but  neuer  could  haue  one  line  from  you.  I  hauo  written  very  often  home 
to  England — to  my  father,  but  neuer  could  heare  from  him,  and  soe  y 
last  letter  that  I  did  send  it  was  to  your  father  ; 

and  much  more  of  like  import,  written  in  a  Christian  spirit, 
signed — "  Roger  Lambard."  lie  was,  evidently,  a  man  of 
substance  and  consideration. 

lie  had  a  house-lot  containing  16  acres,  16  by  10  chains, 
bounded,  N.,  by  the  highway;  E.,  by  Robert  White  ;  S.,  by 
Daniel  Ogden  "  in  y*'  Swamp ;"  and,  W.,  by  his  own  land. 
He  had,  also,  six  acres  of  upland,  adjoining  Capt.  John 
Baker,  and  the  Common  Swamp  ;  also  8  acres  of  the  swamp ; 
also,  80  acres  of  upland,  on  the  N.  W.  side  of  the  Swamp, 
adjoining  Richard  Beach,  "William  Cramer,  and  Nicholas 
Carter ;  and  SI-  acres  of  meadow,  on  "  the  Great  River  Called 
the  Sound,  between  two  Small  Creeks."  He  had,  also,  60 
acres  "in  a  Swamp  at  the  Mile  brook,"  adjoining  Nicholas 
Carter,  John  Little,  and  George  Rack ;  and  six  acres  of 
ineadow  "  in  the  Rawack  Meadows :  "  in  all  131^-  acres.  His 
son  John,  also,  had  an  allotment,  consisting  of  100  acres  on 
"  the  Bay,"  adjoining  Gov.  Carteret,  and  William  Letts.f 
For  some  reason,  the  father  had  made  himself  obnoxious  to 
the  ruling  powers,  possibly  during  the  land  controversies  of 
the  day ;  and,  in  consequence,  execution  was  issued,  by  Jus- 

♦  Savnpe,  II.  4C2.  N.  T.  Col.  Doc,  II.,  582,  595,  COO,  2,  5,  6,  C33;  III.  COO-l  213-4.  E.  J. 
Eccords,  II.  97,  105 ;  o.  e.  25.     ]■..  T.  Bill,  p.  102. 

♦  Lambert's  New  Haven,  pp.  205-9.  K.  J.  Records,  I.  154;  II.  19,  29,  89;  o,  e,  7.  E.  T. 
Dlll.pp  107, 118. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  1G3 

tice  Sandford  of- Bergen,  to  Samuel  Moore,  Provost  Marshal, 
against  the  goods  and  chattels  of  Roger  Lambert,  of  Eliza- 
bethtown,  N.  J. 

John  Little  was  from  Kewbury,  Mass.  lie  was  near  of 
kin,  probably  a  brother,  to  George  Little,  who,  in  March, 
1G09-T0,  became  a  phinter  at  AVoodbridge,  but  afterwards 
returned  to  Newbury.  The  family  were  from  London.  John 
Little  was  a  carpenter.  lie  came  here,  not  later  than  1670. 
He  purchased,  Dec.  16,  1670,  for  £65,  of  Evan  Salisbury, 
William  Cramer's  landed  estate.  He  had  two  house-lots ; 
one,  containing  10  acres,  bounded,  S.,  by  George  Pack ;  ]^., 
by  "William  Cramer;  E.,  by  a  highway ;  and  W.,  by  ''the 
highway  that  goeth  to  Woodbridge;"  the  other,  containing 
9  acres,  bounded,  S.  W.,  by  Robert  White ;  K  E.,  by  Rich- 
ard Mitchell;  S.  E.,  by  William  Letts;  and  K  W.,  by  the 
Woodbridge  road.  He  had,  also,  30  acres  of  upland,  adjoin- 
ing Capt.  John  Baker  and  Roger  Lambert ;  also,  20  acres  of 
upland,  adjoining  Peter  Morse  and  Stephen  Crane  ;  also,  30 
acres  of  upland,  "in  the  plain,"  adjoining  George  Pack  and 
George  Ross ;  also,  6  acres  of  swamp,  N.  W.  of  the  Wood- 
bridge  Road,  adjoining  Robert  White  and  Richard  Mitchell ; 
also,  6  acres  more  of  the  same  swamp,  adjoining  William 
Cramer  and  George  Pack  ;  also,  7  acres  of  meadow,  a  triangle, 
"between  the  great  River  and  Tomson's  Creek;"  also,  16 
acres  of  meadow  "  in  Rahauack  meadows  being  between  two 
Creeks"— in  all,  134  acres.  He  married,  April  26,  1680, 
Mary,  a  daughter  of  his  neighbor,  Robert  White,  who,  at 
his  death  in  April,  1713,  survived  him.  He  left,  also,  four 
sons  —  John,  Jonathan,  Robert,  and  Anthony,  and  three 
daughters,  Martha,  Comfort,  Constance.  His  widow  died  in 
1715.* 

Henry  Lyon  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Milford,  Ct.,  in 
1639.  He  married,  in  1652,  Elizabeth,  the  only  daughter  of 
AVilliam  Batcman,  of  Fairfield,  Ct.,  whither,  he  removed  in 
166L  In  1667,  he  joined  the  Milford  people,  and  came  to 
Newark,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders.     He  was  ap- 

•  Coffin's  Newbury,  p.  303.  Littcirs  Passaic  V.iUey,  p.  213.  E.  J.  Records,  1. 15i  ;  o.  e. 
69 ;  II.  19,  42.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  107. 


164  THE    HISTORY    OF 

pointed.  Jan.  IGO5,  to  keep  tlic  ordinary  at  Newark.  For 
several  years,  lie  was  Treasurer  of  the  town.  lie  had  an  al- 
lotment of  1301  acres  within  the  bounds  of  Newark.  Shortly 
before  the  Dutcri  conquest,  he  became  one  of  the  Associates 
of  this  town,  where  he  ranked  among  the  leading  men  of  the 
place.  His  was  the  largest  annual  subscription  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  Rev.  John  Harriman,  of  whose  church  he  was  a 
member.  He  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Aug. 
V-1G81  ;  also,  Feb.  28,  one  of  the  Council ;  also,  Feb.  4,  one  of 
the  Judges  of  Small  Causes,  the  commission  being  renewed. 
May  1,  168G.  He  was  a  merchant,  and  of  quite  extensive 
business. 

He  purchased,  Nov.  1074,  of  John  Martin,  Sen--,  of  ^Yood- 
bridge,  Capt.  Bollen's  property,  and  sold  it,  the  following 
year,  to  Carteret.  He  purchased,  also,  March  13, 167^-,  Yau- 
quellin's  house  and  grounds,  for  £Q0.  He  received  a  war- 
rant for  36  acres,  "  due  to  him  by  Rights  and  purchase  from 
others."  His  house-lot  contained  7  acres,  bounded  E,,  by 
Henry  Norris  ;  S.,  by  Hurr  Thompson ;  W.,  by  a  highway  ; 
and  N.,  by  a  by-way.  He  had,  also,  16  acres  of  upland,  ad- 
joining the  jST.  side  of  the  above,  with  Henry  Xorris  on  the 
E.,  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst  on  the  N. ;  also,  24  acres  "  in 
the  plaines,"  adjoining  Joseph  Bond  ;  also,  20  acres  of  upland 
on  "  the  Long  Neck,"  a  triangle  between  Benjamin  Price, 
Sem,  and  Isaac  "Whitehead,  Sen-- ;  also,  90  acres  of  upland, 
adjoining  the  plain,  Benjamin  Meeker,  Joseph  Meeker, 
Robert  Bond,  Henry  Norris,  and  Isaac  Whitehead,  Scn-^ ;  also 
100  acres  of  upland,  "  Lying  by  the  Lyne  of  Elizabeth  Towne 
and  Newark,"  having  "  the  boggy  meadow  "  on  the  E.,  and 
unsurveyed  land  on  the  "VV.,  the  highway  to  Newark  to  go 
through  it,  [since  known  as  "Lyon's  Farms"] ;  also,  4  acres 
of  meadow  on  E.  T.  Creek,  7  acres  of  boggy  meadow  "  at  the 
Cove,"  18  acres  on  the  Bay,  and  20  acres  on  the  Creek, 
formerly  old  John  Ogden's :  in  all  306  acres.  He  died  in 
1703,  leaving  a  second  wife,  Mary.*     Tuomas  Lyon,  who, 

*  Lamborfs  N.  llnvon,  pp.  90,  1,  8.  Barber's  Uig.  Coll.  of  Ct.,  p.  231.  Newark  Town 
Records.  Index.  Newark  Bicentenary,  p.  125.  E.J.  Records,  I.  o.  e.  SO;  II.  17,  IS,  03.  120, 
141 ;  o.  c.  23;  C.  1-3,  75, 106;  E.  531.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  107. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  165 

also,  took  the  oath  in  1673,  was  his  son,  and,  at  that  time, 
was  about  20  years  old. 

George  Mokkis  was,  doubtless,  from  Kew  Haven,  Ct.,  a 
near  kinsman  of  Thomas  Morris,  one  of  the  founders  of 
Newark,  in  1667.  He  came  here,  probably,  a  single  man,  as 
his  allotment  was  only  90  acres.  lie  is  known  on  the  records 
as  a  "  Cordwainer."  He  had  a  house-lot,  containing  six 
acres,  bounded,  E.,  by  Robert  Vauquellin  ;  S.  by  a  highway  ; 
W.,  by  unsurveyed  land  ;  and,  K.,  by  Benjamin  Meeker,  and* 
Vauquellin.  He  had,  also,  6  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by 
Benjamin  Parklmrst,  Henry  Norris,  John  Wilson,  and  Henry 
Lyon;  also,  20  acres  of  upland  "on  the  Plaine,"  adjoining 
Leonard  Hcadley  ;  also,  20  acres  of  upland  on  "  the  highway 
that  goes  to  AVoodroffes  Farme,"  adjoining  Henry  l^orris, 
Kobert  Vauquellin  and  John  Wilson  ;  also,  40  acres  of  up- 
land on  the  E.  side  of  the  Plain,  adjoining  Henry  ISTorris, 
John  Woodruff,  and  Henry  Lyon  ;  also  8  acres  of  meadow  on 
"  the  bound  Creek,"  and  4  acres  on  the  W.  side  of  "  Wood- 
roffes  Creek  : "  in  all,  104  acres.     He  died,  Jan.  1689-90.* 

Henry  Norris  was,  probably,  from  Salem,  Mass.  The 
Hev.  Edward  ISTorris  [1589-1659]  came  from  England  to 
Salem,  in  1639,  and  became  the  colleague  of  the  celebrated 
Hugh  Peters  there.  He  left  one  son,  Edward,  born,  1614, 
who  may  have  been  the  father  of  Henry.  The  latter  came 
here  before  1670,  and  proved  to  be  a  valuable  settler.  In 
October,  1672,  he  came  into  possession  of  the  allotment  of 
"Little  John  Wilson,"  first  as  Executor,  and  then,  Dec.  11, 
1675,  as  purchaser.  Nov.  2,  1692,  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  Town  Deputies  to  the  Legislature.  He  had  two  house- 
lots,  containing  14  acres,  bounded,  S.  W.,  by  AVilliam 
Meeker ;  S.  E.,  by  Robert  Vauquellin  ;  N".  E.,  and  jST.  W., 
by  highways.  He  had,  also,  16  acres  of  upland,  "  on  the  E. 
side  of  the  Plaine,"  adjoining  Joseph  Bond,  Henry  Lyon, 
and  George  Morris  ;  also,  24  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by 
George  Morris,  Benjamin  Parkhurst,  llurr  Thompson,  Henry 
Lyon,  and  John  AYilson ;  also,  50  acres  of  upland,  adjoining 

•  Newark  Town   Rocnrds.  Index.    Newark  Bicentenary,  p.  120.    E.  J.   Records,  II.  19, 
104;  0.  e.  25.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  lOS. 


166  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Rev.  Jeremiali  Peck,  and  Josei)li  Bond;  also,  So  acres  of 
upland,  "  on  the  N.  of  the  Plaine,"  and  on  the  W.  side  of  the 
Newark  Iload,  bounded  liy  John  Of^den,  J',  Benjamin  Park- 
liui-st,  and  Joseph  Meeker ;  also,  20  acres  of  meadow  ''  at 
M'  Woodroffe's  Creek,"  having  "  Geese  Creek  "  on  the  E. ; 
also  4  acres  on  the  Bay,  2  acres  on  the  E.  T.  Creek,  and  an- 
other plot  of  4  acres  on  the  Creek :  in  all,  249  acres.  He 
died  in  May,  1706.^- 

Bknjamin  Parkis  [Parkuurst]  came  here  from  Wood- 
bridge,  of  which  he  Avas  one  of  the  first  settlers.  lie  proba- 
bly came  thither  with  the  Newbury  Colony-,  and  was  of  the 
family  of  George  Parkis,  who  settled  at  Watertown,  Mass., 
as  early  as  1643.  He  exchanged,  Aug.  8,  1G72,  as  already 
related,  his  properties  at  ^Voodbridge,  with  Claude  Yallot,  of 
this  town,  and  became  a  permanent  resident  of  this  place,  being 
regarded  with  much  consideration.  He  was  a  joiner,  and 
was  appointed.  Mar.  22,  1GT9-S0,  Lieutenant  of  the  Company 
of  Foot;  also,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Feb.  4,  16Sf ;  also,  Judge 
of  Small  Causes,  Mar.  28,  1683,  and  Captain,  Dec.  3,  1683. 
His  house-lot,  formerly  Seeley's,  has  been  described.  He 
had,  also,  30  acres  of  upland,  "on  the  E.  side  of  the 
Plaine,"  adjoining  Henry  Lyon,  John  Wilson,  George  Morris, 
and  Henry  Norris ;  also,  60  acres  of  upland,  adjoining  Jona- 
than Ogden  and  John  "Wilson  ;  also,  GG  acres  of  upland  in 
'the  Plain,  bounded  by  Leonard  Headley,  Jonathan  Ogden, 
Heni-y  Norris,  and  Margaret  Baker;  also,  12  acres  of  meadow 
on  Woodruff's  Creek,  next  the  Great  Island,  6  acres  on 
"Arthur  Cull  Bay,"  and  3  acres  on  E.  T.  Creek:  in  all,  183 
acres.  He  died,  Feb.  16S|,  and  his  estate  was  valued  at 
£118.  16.  O.t 

William  Pillks  [Pilks,  Pile,  Pylks]  was  from  Piscat- 
aAvay,  N.  H.  He  Avas  at  Salisbury,  on  the  N.  side  of  the 
Merrimac  river,  opposite  Newbury,  in  1659 ;  afterwards,  at 
Nantucket,  and  then  at  Dover,  on  the  Piscataquay.  As 
several  of  his  neighbors  had  migrated  liither,  and  settled  the 

•  Savase,  III.  289-9.    E.  J.  Records,  I.  53;  II.  18, 100;  o.  c.  23.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  103. 
t  Savage,  IIL  85a    E.  J.  Eccords,  1. 184  ;  II.  18,  96  ;  o.  c.  22 ;  III.  IC6  ;  C.  13,  20,  57.  E.  T. 
Bill,  p.  108. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  1G7 

town  of  Piscataway,  x^.  J.,  he  was  induced  to  follow  them, 
briiighig  with  hiin  two  servants.  He  purchased  of  Gov. 
Carteret,  Feb.  10,  166|,  "all  his  third  Lott  and  hows"  on 
the  S.  side  of  E.  T.  Creek.  The  same  year,  he  succeeded 
Luke  Watson  as  Town  Nonstable.  lie  purchased,  June  2, 
1669,  of  John  Ogden,  Sen"',  for  £40,  60  acres  of  upland  and 
€0  acres  of  meadow  on  Rahway  Neck ;  also,  Feb,  8,  167?-, 
Caleb  Carvvithy's  second  division  of  land,  30  acres,  for  £11. 
His  house-lot  adjoined  Nicholas  Carter,  on  the  E.,  and  Thomas 
Pope  on  the  W.  He  had  106  acres  of  upland,  "  called  Raha- 
wack  Neck,"  on  "Rahawack  River,"  adjoining  Humphrey 
Spinage  and  Luke  AVatson  ;  also,  230  acres  of  upland,  "  on 
the  W.  branch  of  Rawack  River,  beginning  at  a  wigwam 
called  Peters  Wigwam,"  &c.,  adjoining  a  great  swamp  ; 
also,  41  acres  of  meadow,  "  on  the  N.  side  of  Rawack  Neck," 
and  on  "  Pilles  Creek  ;  "  and  14  acres  of  meadow,  on  the  S. 
and  S.W,  side  of  the  Neck :  in  all  394  acres.-^ 

Geokge  Ross  was  a  carpenter  from  New  Haven,  Ct.,  where, 
in  1658,  he  married  Constance  Little,  and,  the  same  year,  was 
admitted  a  freeman.  He  came  here  about  1670.  Pie  was 
appointed,  Dec.  3,  1683,  Lieutenant;  and  May  1,  1686,  one 
of  the  Judges  of  Small  Causes.  He  was,  also,  one  of  the  two 
deacons  of  the  church  in  Mr.  Harriman's  time.  He  had  an 
allotment  of  120  acres  "  in  Right  of  himself  &  his  wife." 
His  house-lot  contained  six  acres,  bounded,  N.E.,  and  N.W.,» 
by. highways;  S.AV.,  by  Jonas  Wood ;  and  S.E.,  by  Caleb 
Carwithy.  He  had,  also,  18  acres  of  upland,  "  in  the  Neck," 
adjoining  Barnabas  Wines,  William  Johnson,  and  John 
Gray  ;  also,  40  acres  of  upland,  "on  the  plaines,"  adjoining 
John  Little  and  the  fresh  meadows  ;  also,  50  acres  of  upland, 
"  at  Rahawack,  upon  the  two  mile  brook,"  adjoining  Peter 
Morse ;  also,  in  a  triangle,  6  acres  of  meadow  "  at  the  Outer- 
most point  of  Elizabeth  Town  Creek,"  and  on  "  the  great 
River ;  "  and  12  acres  at  Rah  way :  in  all,  132  acres.  His 
death  occurred  in  1702. f 

Joseph  Sayke   [Saykes,  Sears,  Seers]  was   from  South- 

♦  Savagp,  III.  437.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  21,  24,  4G,  66,  156  :  II.  20,  8S  ;  III.  24.  E.  T.  Bill, 
p.  lOS.     t  Savage,  III.  677.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  160  ;  II.  19,  34 ;  C.  106.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  105. 


16S  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ampton,  L.  I.  Thomas  Sayrc,  of  Bedfordsliire,  Eng,,  witli  a 
family  of  several  children,  emii^ratod,  in  1635,  to  Lynn,  Mass., 
and  thence,  in  1G41,  to  Long  Island.  Ilis  son.  Job,  was  one 
of  the  six  adventurers  arrested  by  the  Dutch  authorities,  in 
]\[ay,  1040,  for  trespassing  on  their  territory.  Joseph,  the 
brother  of  Job,  came  here  in  1G67.  In  December  of  that 
year,  he  united  with  others  in  a  petition  to  the  Governor  to" 
have  his  lands  surveyed.  His  house-lot  contained  5  acres, 
bounded,  K,  by  Eobert  Bond  ;  W.,  by  the  Mill  Creek;  E., 
by  the  highway  ;  and,  S.,  by  Benjamin  Homan.  He  had, 
also,  9  acres  of  upland,  "  in  the  plaine,"  adjoining  Daniel 
DeHart ;  also,  12  acres  of  upland,  adjoining  Kev.  Jeremiah 
Peck,  and  Stephen  Osborne  ;  also,  22  acres  of  upland,  "  on 
the  small  Neck,"  adjoining  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck,  and  Joseph 
Meeker  ;  also,  9  acres  of  upland,  on  "  the  mill  brook,"  adjoin- 
ing Ilobert  Bond,  and  Robert  Yauquellin ;  also,  36  acres  of 
upland,  near  a  swamp,  and  adjoining  George  Pack  ;  also,  35 
acres  of  upland,  adjoining  Hurr  Thompson  ;  also,  10  acres  of 
meadow,  at  Woodruff's  Creek,  and  4  acres  on  E.  T.  Creek  : 
in  all,  142  acres.     He  died,  Dec,  1695.* 

Richard  Skinner  was  a  joiner,  and  came  over  with  Gov. 
Carteret  as  one  of  his  servants.  He  married,  May  1,  1GG6, 
Susannah  Poulain,  one  of  the  French  girls  that  came  at  the 
same  time,  from  the  Isle  of  Jersey.  He  became,  subse- 
wquently,  the  servant  of  Balthazar  DeHart,  of  N.  York,  and 
then  of  Richard  Painter,  of  this  town,  whose  house  he  occu- 
pied first,  after  its  purchase  by  DeHart,  and  then  bought, 
July  4,  1672,  of  Dellart's  executors.  He  was  not  admitted 
as  an  Associate.f 

According  to  the  Dutch  census,  80  men  were  residing 
here  in  1673,  of  whom  four  were  absent.  Their  list  includes 
78  names.  At  least  six  more,  of  those  who  took  the  oath  in 
Feb.  166f,  continued  to  reside  here.  To  these  are  to  be 
added  the  names  of  as  many  as  six  residents  not  included 
in  either  list :  Richard  Beach,  William  Letts,  AVilliam 
Pardon,  Jeremiah  Peck,  Richard  Powell,  Vincent  Ronyon, 

•  nowoll,  pp.  18,  27,  96,  276.  Brodhond's  N.  T.,  I.  293-800.  Savago,  IV.  32-3.  E.  J. 
Records,  II.  21,  99  ;  o.  e.  24.1  E.  T.  Uill,  p.  104.  t  E.  J.  Hccords,  I.  36.  III.  & 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  169 

and  Jolin  Wilson.  The  whole  number  exceeded  90  men. 
Three  others,  also,  Ccame  about  tliis  time :  Simon  Rouse, 
Benjamin  Wade,  and  AVilliam  Looker. 

Richard  Beach  was  from  New  Haven,  Ct.,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  founders,  his  name  being  attached  to  the 
original  compact,  June  4,  1639.  Zophar,  of  Newark,  1685, 
was  the  son  of  his  brother,  Thomas.  In  1640,  Richard 
married,  at  New  Haven,  the  widow  of  Andrew  Hull.  He 
took  the  oatli  of  fidclit}-,  July  1,  1614.  His  name  is  of  fre- 
quent occurrence  in  the  Colonial  Records.  His  house-lot 
contained  13  acres,  13  by  14  chains,  bounded,  E.,  and  W., 
by  highways;  K.,  by  Crane's  brook;  and,  S.,  by  Evan 
Salisbury.  He  had,  also,  30  acres  of  upland,  on  Crane's 
brook,  adjoining  Barnabas  Wines,  and  William  Cramer ; 
also,  50  acres  of  upland,  on  "Beaches  brook,"  adjoining 
John  Little,  William  Pardon,  Nathaniel  Tutliill,  and  Stephen 
Crane ;  also,  10  acres  of  meadow  on  the  S.  side  of  Thomp- 
son's Creek  ;  in  all,  102  acres.  His  house-lot  he  sold, 
Mar.  31,  1684,  to  Mary,  tlie  widow  of  James  Mitchell ;  and 
Mar.  31,  1688,  he  sold  all  his  lands  in  E.  Town,  to  the 
widow  Agatha  White,  who,  16  days  later,  resold  them  to 
William  Darbie  of  E.  Town.  He  removed,  it  is  thought,  to 
Morris  Co.,  where  many  families,  supposed  to  be  his  descend- 
ants, are  now  to  be  found. '^ 

William  Letts  was  a  weaver,  and  came  with  some  of- 
the  first  settlers,  most  probably  as  a  laborer.  He  nnirried, 
Sep.  2,  1667,  (Justice  Bollen  officiating,)  Elizabeth  Laud, 
who,  also,  w^as,  most  likely,  at  service,  no  family  of  that 
name  being  residents  here.  His  name  is  not  to  be  found 
among  the  Associates  in  the  Town's  Book,  although  he  ob- 
tained an  allotment  of  land.  The  printed  lists  of  Asso- 
ciates in  the  E.  T.  Bill  are  not  reliable.  His  house-lot  con- 
tained seven  acres,  13  by  5  chains,  bounded,  W.  S.  W.,  by 
Joseph  Frazee  ;  S.  S.  E.,  by  the  highway  ;  N.  N.  E.,  by 
Richard  Mitchell  and  the  swamp;  and  E.  S.  E.,  by  Simon 
Rouse.     He  had,  also,  40  acres  of  upland  on  "  Ripe  Stave 

*  Savaso,  1.  114.  N.  H.  Col.  Kccords,  I.  Index.  E.  J.  Hccord.'f,  I.  157:  XL  19,  ST.  15.  15S, 
888,  4.    C.  C.  C4.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  107. 


170  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ridge,"  adjoining  Capt.  John  Baker  ;  also,  20  acres  of  up- 
land, adjoining  the  above,  and  the  groat  swamp,  next  to 
David  Ogden  and  Samuel  Marsh  ;  also,  70  acres  of  upland 
at  "Rawack,"  adjoining  Eobert  Yauquellin,  and  William 
Cramer ;  also,  18  acres  of  meadow  on  the  S.  side  of  Thomp- 
son's Creek  :  in  all,  155  acres.  He  sold.  May  2,  1685,  12 
acres  on  the  S.  side  of  the  Creek  to  Matthias  Hatfield. 
Letts,  it  has  been  seen,  was  a  witness  for  the  prosecution 
in  the  Mitchell  case,  and  found  the  grudge  of  the  people 
not  the  pleasantest  thing  to  bear.  Soon  after  the  founding 
of  Perth  Ainboy  under  government  auspices,  therefore,  he 
removed  thither,  where  he  died  in  March,  170^.- 

AViLLiAM  LooKEK,  a  brcwcr,  came  hither  from  Jamaica, 
L.  I.  Ilis  property  there  he  sold,  Sep.  4,  1076,  to  James 
"Heynes,"  Cooper,  of  this  town.  How  much  earlier  than 
this  he  came  here  does  not  appear.  He  was,  probably,  of 
the  lineage  of  Henry  Lookei*,  M'ho  settled,  in  1640,  at  Sud- 
bury, Mass.  His  house-lot  ho  bought  of  Joseph  Frazec,  as 
already  noticed.  He  had,  also,  172  acres  of  upland  and 
boggy  meadow,  "  at  the  head  of  the  South  branch  of  the 
Mill  brook,  or  liiver  belonging  to  Elizabeth  Towne,"  ad- 
joining Jacob  Melyen,  Benjamin  Wade,  and  the  Governor  ; 
also,  100  acres  adjoining ;  and  10  acres  of  meadow  on  the 
E.  side  of  AVoodruff's  creek.  He  resided  awhile  at  Wood- 
bridge,  but  eventually  became  a  permanent  resident  here. 
His  Woodbridge  property  he  sold,  Nov.  8,  1686,  to  Myles 
Forstcr,  of  Perth  Amboy.  He  w-as  appointed,  Dec.  2,  1695, 
a  Deputy  to  the  Legislature.  In  Mr.  Ilarriman's  Ledger, 
he  is  credited  by  "  3  Jorneys  to  Amboy  on  Alice  Pouse 
her  business  £1.  7.  00."  f 

William  Pardon  has  figured  largely  in  the  previous 
history.  He  was  an  abject  sycophant  of  the  Governor,  and, 
doubtless,  came  here,  with  Carteret,  or  shortly  after  under 
his  auspices.  He  was  appointed,  Jan.  2,  166|,  one  of  the 
Governor's  Council,    and   soon    after   an    Assistant    to    the 

*  K.  J.  Kccords,  I.  147;  IL  IS,  23,  72;  o.  e.  4  ;  III.  11,  201.  .E.  T.  Bill,  p.  106. 
+  E.J.  Rccord.s  I.  87,  137;  II.  89;  o.  o.  0 ;  A.  40S;  B.  150;  L.  ^2, 101,  104,  111.     E.  T.  Bill 
p.  107.    Sayage,  IIL  111. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  lYl 

Justices  ;  also,  Jan.  5,  i67y,  a  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  ;  and. 
July  31,  1674,  Receiver  General.  He  was,  also,  employed, 
for  a  time,  as  the  Governor's  Secretary.  His  house-lot  con- 
tained six  acres,  bounded,  N.,  by  Kobert  Morse  ;  E.,  by 
Elizabeth  River ;  S.,  by  Nathaniel  Tuthill ;  and  AV.,  by  the 
common  highway.  He  had,  also,  20  acres  of  upland  on 
Crane's  brook,  adjoining  Peter  Morse  ;  also,  175  acres  of 
upland  on  Elizabeth  River,  S.  of  the  "  Ash  Swamp,"  ad- 
joining Nathaniel  Tuthill  and  Peter  Morse  ;  also  a  triangle 
of  IG  acres,  adjoining  the  above,  on  the  River;  also,  8  acres 
of  upland,  "  in  the  name  of  an  Island,"  in  the  meadow 
below  Luke  Watson's  point ;  also,  27  acres  of  meadow  on 
*'  the  great  River  or  the  Sound  : "  in  all,  252  acres.  In 
addition,  William  Meeker's  lands  were  awarded  him  for  the 
injuries  that  he  sustained,  as  related  on  a  previous  page. 
His  wife,  who  came  here  with  him,  having  died,  he  married, 
Sep.  1675,  Anna  Bostoe,  having,  on  the  16th,  settled,  on 
her  for  her  dowry  his  house  and  house-lot  in  E.  T.  He 
was  then,  "  of  the  City  of  New  York,"  having  fonnd  it  too 
uncomfortable  to,  reside  here,  hated  as  he  was  by  his  old 
neighbors.  In  1679,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  discharged 
from  the  Council,  and  his  connection  with  the  town  was 
finally  severed.* 

Jeremiah  Peck  is  fully  noticed  on  a  subsequent  page. 

Richard  Powi'XL  has  been  noticed  in  connection  with 
Roderick  Powell.  No  record  is  made  of  his  allotments.  He 
resided,  for  a  time,  in  Vauquellin's  house.  Gov.  Carteret 
sold  him,  Jan.  5,  167-J,  his  Woodbridge  lands,  in  the  deed 
for  which  he  is  styled  "Richard  Powell,  Planter,  of  Eliza-, 
beth  Town."  He  removed  to  Woodbridge,  where  his  wife, 
Katharine  Hughes,  whom  he  had  married  in  1676,  died.  May 
16,  1689.  On  the  4th  of  December  following,  he  married 
Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Thorpe,  of  Woodbridge.  He 
died  in  January,  170|.t 

Simon  Rouse  was  from  Duxbury,  Marshfield  District,  Mass. 
He  was  the  son  of  John  Rouse  and  Annie,  a  daughter  of 

•  K.J.  Records,  I.  50,146;  II.  14, 18,22,  C9;  o.  e.  1 ;  III.  18,  23,3-^,  C4,  "S-SO,  82, 114,  128, 158. 
E.  T.  Bill,  p.  103.  t  E.  J.  Itecords.  I.  08,  lOT,  131 ;  III.  12S.    Woodbriago  Town  Kecords. 


172  THE    HISTORY    OF 

John  Peabody.  He  -svas  bom  in  10:1:5.  An  elder  sister, 
Mary,  was  married  to  a  Mr.  Price,  possibly  one  of  the  E.  T. 
family,  and  thus  Simon  may  have  been  led  hither.  He  was 
here  in  1676,  and  probably  some  years  earlier.  No  record 
is  made  of  the  survey  (though  ordered)  of  his  house-lot.  He 
had  58  acres  of  upland  on  "  EahaNvack  River,"  adjoining 
William  Johnson  ;  also,  98  acres  of  upland,  adjoining  the 
above  on  the  N.  E.,  and  having  Robert  Vauquellin  on  theN. 
"W". ;  also,  100  acres  on  the  E.  side  of  the  same  river  opposite 
Pope's  brook ;  also,  21:  acres  of  meadow  on  the  same  river,  6 
acres  on  E.  T.  Creek,  and  10  acres  in  the  great  meadow:  in 
all,  with  the  house-lot,  300  acres.  He  resided  at  Rahway. 
His  lands  here  he  exchanged  with  Jonas  Wood,  May  20, 
1678,  and  bought,  Nov.  27, 1679,  Vauquellin's  land  adjoining 
liis  own.  He  died  in  1690,  and  his  wife,  Alice,  soon  after, 
Avithout  issue.  She  was  a  kinswoman  of  Sarah  Manning,  of 
Boston.  Frances,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Moore,  of  Wood- 
bridge,  inherited  the  estate,  being,  probably,  an  adopted 
daughter,  as  she  lived  with  them.* 

Vincent  Runyon  [Rognion,  Ronton]  was  a  carpenter,  and, 
tradition  says,  of  French  origin.  He,  probably,  came  over 
from  Jersey,  in  a  second  or  third  importation  of  laborers  by 
the  Governor.  He  bought.  Mar.  20,  167^,  of  Francis  Bar- 
ber, Thomas  Moore's  original  house-lot,  S.  of  George  Pack. 
He  was  a  witness  for  the  prosecution  in  the  Mitchell  case, 
and  so  lost  caste  in  the  town;  on  which  account  he  removed, 
not  later  than  1677,  to  Piscataway,  where  he  had  154|-  acres 
allotted  to  him.  Mar.  1G7-},  on  the  Raritan  River.  He  died 
in  November,  1713,  his  wife,  JMartha,  surviving  him.f 

Bknjamin  Wade  was  a  clothier.  He  was,  doubtless,  of  the 
family  (probably  a  son)  of  Robert  Wade,  who  was  at  Dor- 
chester, Mass.,  in  1635,  at  Hartford,  Ct.,  in  1610,  afterwards 
at  Saybrook  (where,  Aug.  1657,  he  was  divorced)  and  finally 
at  Norwich,  in  1659,  where  he  died,  in  1682;  his  first  wife 
remained  in  England,  and  Benjamin  may  have  been  her  son. 
Ho  cauic  here  not  later  than  1675,  probably  much  earlier. 

•  E.J.  Records,  I.  108,  9,139,159;  11.1,32;  B.  44,  872;  D.  59;  L.53,:9C.  S.'ivaso,III.5T9. 
+  E.  J,  Records.  I.  20  ;  II.  69,  74  ;  III.  7S-80.  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  90,  7. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  173 

At  liis  first  coming,  be  rented  Luke  "Watson's  house  and 
grounds,  which  he  purchased.  Mar.  16,  167|,  for  £24.  The 
same  day,  he  bought  of  Nichohis  Carter,  for  £30,  payable  in 
Pipe  staves,  his  house-lot  and  40  acres.  Twenty  days  before, 
he  had  bought,  for  £39,  Thomas  Pope's  house,  house-lot,  and 
GO  acres  of  upland.  Less  than  two  years  after,  he  bonerht, 
Jan.  1,  167f,  of  "William  Hill,  his  house  and  lot.  Previous 
to  all  this,  he  had  received  an  allotment  of  144  acres: — 48 
acres  "  in  Eahawack  Swamp,"  adjoining  Thomas  Moore, 
and  Samuel  Marsh,  Jr.;  also,  40  acres  of  upland  ^'in  the 
Plaines  of  Cramberries  Meadow,"  on  the  S.  side  of  the  branch 
of  E,  T.  Eiver ;  also,  40  acres  of  upland  on  the  north  side  of 
the  branch,  and  of  the  said  Meadow  ;  one  acre,  formerly  John 
Gray's,  on  the  S.  side  of  E.  T.  Creek;  12  acres  of  meadow  at 
Railway,  and  3  acres  out  of  Thomas  Moore's  meadow.  He 
died  about  1698.* 

John  "Wilson,  Carpenter,  and  John  Wilson,  Wheehoright, 
were  both  here  at  an  early  day,  and  were  distinguished  as 
"Great  John,"  and  "  Little  John."  The  former  died  un- 
married, at  ]^ew  York,  Oct.  12,  1672,  leaving  his  land  here 
to  Antony  Jansen  of  IS".  Y.  The  other  John  had  a  house- 
lot,  containing  6  acres,  bounded,  K.,  by  Ilurr  Thompson  ;  E., 
by  the  liighway ;  S.,  by  Joseph  Osborn ;  and  W.,  by  the 
Mill  brook.  He  had,  also,  60  acres  of  upland,  bounded  by 
Benjamin  and  John  Parker,  Henry  Norris,  John  Woodrnif 
and  Robert  Vauquellin ;  also,  23  acres  on  the  S.  side  of  the 
"Woodruif's  Farm  road,  adjoining  John  "Woodruff,  John 
Parker,  and  Benjamin  Parkhurst ;  and  12  acres  in  the  great 
meadow  :  in  all,  101  acres.  "Wilson  was  concerned,  as  al- 
ready related,  in  the  Pardon  disturbance,  for  which  ho  was 
lined,  the  next  year,  £10.  To  secure  the  payment  of  the  fine, 
he  mortgaged,  Ap.  19,  1675,  his  house  and  lot  at  E.  Town,  to 
the  Marshal,  Samuel  Moore,  of  AVoodbridge.  "Wilson  died 
a  few  months  afterwards,  and  Samuel  Moore  administered  on 
his  estate. t 

*  Savage,  IV.  8TS.  Miss  Calkins'  Norwich  (Eil.  of  ISCC),  p.  205.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  71,  2,  3, 
159  ;  II.  19,  32  ;  A   407;  L.  58,  102.     E.  T.  Bill,  p.  109. 

t  N.  Y.  Willi.  E.  J.  Recoi-Js,  I.  42;  IL  IS,  90,  100;  o.  c,  23;  III.  82,  121.  E.  T.  Bill, 
p.  104. 


17-i  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Of  the  seven  Dutchmen  mentioned  in  the  Census  of  1GT3, 
only  two  have  left  any  memorial  by  which  they  can  be  iden- 
tilied.  The  names  of  Jacob  Tryax  [Trnax]  and  Dirck  Tennis- 
sen,  are  found  among  the  settlers  of  Middletown,  j^.  J.  The 
others  were,  doubtless,  adventurers,  who  disappeared  with 
the  termination  of  the  Dutch  rule.* 

Capt.  Ivnyff  and  Lieut.  Snel,  having  administered  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  settlers,  swore  in,  also,  Jacob  "Molyn," 
as  Captain;  Isaac  "Whitehead,  as  Lieutenant;  and  John 
Woodruff,  as  Ensign. f 

Listructions  were  sent,  Oct.  1,  1673,  by  the  Council  of 
War,  to  Sellout  Ogden  and  the  Schepens  of  the  town,  for 
the  preservation  of  the  public  peace,  and  the  administration 
of  justice.  Among  other  things,  it  was  carefully  provided, 
that 

"  Tlie  Sheriff  and  Magistrates  sliall,  each  in  his  quality,  take  care  that 
the  Eeformed  Christian  Religion  be  maintiiiued  in  conformity  to  the  Synod 
of  Dordrecht  without  permitting  any  other  sects  attempting  any  thing 
contrary  thereto."  Power  was  given  them  for  "  laying  out  highways, 
setting  off  lands  and  gardens  and  in  like  manner  what  appertains  to  agri- 
culture, observance  of  the  Sabbath,  erecting  churches,  school-houses,  or 
similar  public  works."  The  Sheriff'  was  to  "  take  good  care  that  the  places 
under  his  charge  shall  be  cleansed  of  all  mobs,  gamblers,  whore-houses 
and  such  like  impurities;  to  receive  the  half  of  all  civil  fines  accruing 
during  his  term  of  otfice  together  with  one-third  part  of  what  belongs  to 
the  respective  villages  from  criminal  cases."  In  the  nomination  of  Schep- 
ens, "  a  double  number  of  the  best  qualified,  the  honestest,  most  intel- 
ligent and  wealthiest  inhabitants,  exclusively  of  the  Reformed  Christian 
Religion  or  at  least  well  affected  thereto,  were  to  be  presented  to  the 
Governor  for  his  election."  I 

Some  of  tha  Indians  having  committed  depredations  in 
the  neighborhood,  Mr.  Ogden  writes  to  Gov.  Colve,  Sept. 
29th,  [O.  S.],  for  instructions,  and  receives  in  reply  a  letter, 
dated  at  "  fturt  Willem  llendrick  14th  OctoV  1G73,  [N.  S.], 
as  follows : 

Mr.  John  Ogden.  Yesterday  I  sent  you  y'  Instructions  bij  ije  waij  of 
New  "Worke  since  that  time  I  Received  y"  of  y  29"'  of  Septcmb''  last  and 
Vndcrstood  out  of  y''  same  y  proceedings  of  ijour  people  w""  y"  Indians 

•  t.  J.  Records.  II.  129,  130;  L.  ITS.  t  N.  T.  Col.  DocmU.,  II.  620-2. 

t  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  II.  60S. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  I75 

of  w"=''  I  do  wel  approve  and  according  to  your  desire  I  wil  alsoo  Endeav- 
our that  Satisfaction  maij  be  given  by  y"  Indians  to  y"  owners  to  vi"^  End 
I  liavc  once  more  thought  fit  that  y*  Indian  Sachem  be  summoned  to  ap- 
peare  before  me  to  give  me  satisfaction  about  it,  and  that  y"  Messenger 
doth  signify  to  liim  that  I  do  much  wonder  that  all  y"  Ohiefc  Sachems 
hereabouts  as  also  those  of  y"  Mohacks  have  bene  here  to  present  them- 
selves unto  me  and  that  he  onlij  Remains  Defective  therein  wherefore  I 
would  willingly  Speake  w"'  him  to  know  y"  Reason ;  and  that  I  promise  him 
&  his  Company  freely  to  Passe  &  Repas  without  «ny  Molestation  you  may 
alsoo  give  Order  what  goods  he  hath  Tendred  or  yett  shall  tender  to  Re- 
store y  people  maij  Receive  from  him  and  lett  an  acc*^  be  sent  me  what 
y^  losse  maij  be  of  y"  goods  w"^''  still  are  wanting.  You  are  also  Required 
to  send  hether  bij  y"  first  opportunity  the  armes  &  other  goods  according 
to  Inventorij  formerlij  belonging  to  y*  Late  Gouvern"  Cartrett  and  to 
Cause  this  Inclosed  order  of  arrest  to  be  published  in  your  Severall 
Townes  and  to  order  y"  severall  Clarkes  to  return  an  ace'  thereof  unto 
you  for  to  be  presented  unto  me.  And  lett  M'  Hopkins  Examin  uppon 
what  Conditions  y"  Tennants  are  Seated  uppon  the  plantations  of  Capt" 
Carterett  and  ace'  thereof  Returned  unto  me;  not  Else  at  Present  but  that 
I  am,  Your  Loving  fi'rlend  A:  Colve.* 

It  would  tlins  api)car,  tliat  the  Indians,  with  their  Sachem, 
still  continued  in  the  neighborhood,  and,  at  times,  were  not  a 
little  troublesome — having,  just  before  this  date,  carried  off  a 
considerable  amount  of  property,  and  refused  to  restore  it. 
What  the  result  was  is  not  recorded. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  Dutch  Rule  at  tliis  period,  the 
following  Proclamation  of  Nov.  15,  1G73,  applicable  to  this 
town  as  M'ell  as  every  other  part  of  ISTew  Netherland,  is 
worthy  of  attention  : 

Trusty  &  Welbeloved,  Concidering  the  Manifold  Blessings  &;  fa- 
vours w'=''  the  BountifuU  &  Merciful  god  hath  bene  pleazed  graciously  to 
Bestow  uppon  this  Province  and  the  luhabitants  thereof  amongst  w*^''  is 
to  bo  Esteemed  beyond  all  others  the  free  &  pure  worshipp  of  god  w'^ 
Blessing  together  w"'  all  others  ought  Not  only  to  drawe  &  oblidge  us  to 
dutifull  thanckfulncsse  but  also  to  meeknesse  &  Rependance  because  of  our 
Manifold  sins  &  Transgressions  to  the  End  the  s'^  Blessings  &  favours  of 
our  god  may  be  Continued  towards  us  &  this  People  &  Country  be  free 
from  this  weldeserved  Wroth  and  Indignation,  Know  Yee  therefore  that 
wee  have  thouglit  it  Necessary  &  do  by  these  Presents  order  &  Proclaime 
an  universall  day  of  fast  humiliation  &  thancksgiveing  w""""  shall  be  held 
w"'ia  this  Province  on  the  first  Wednesday  on   every  mounth  &  begunn 

•  N.  T.  Col.  Docmta.,  II.  633. 


176  THE    HISTORY    OF 

on  tlic  first  wesnesday  of  the  next  ensuing  month  of  Dccemb''  being  Sec- 
ond day  of  the  s''  Month,  «Si  soo  Alsoo  nppon  Every  first  Wednesday  of  y"' 
month  thereunto  Ensuing  ;  And  to  the  End  the  s''  day  of  humiliation  & 
tliankxgiveing  may  bee  the  better  put  in  practice  &  due  Execution,  "Wee 
do  hereby  strictly  probibite  &  forbid  on  the  s"*  day  of  humiliation  Thaukx- 
giving  all  manner  of  Labour  &  exercizings  of  hunting  fiishing  gaming 
Excesse  in  drincking  and  the  Lyke  &  all  Inkeepers  and  ordinaris  not  to 
Retayle  any  Licquors  or  drinke  uppon  Penalty  of  Corporall  Punishment, 
To  the  true  p''formance  of  w''  wee  do  hereby  stricktly  order  &  Co- 
mand  all  Magistrates  officers  &  Justices  of  this  Province  &  prolecute 
against  tlic  Transgressions  according  to  the  Tenn'' :  thereof  and  to  Cause 
this  Proclamation  to  bee  published  in  due  time  and  place,  Soo  we  Rec- 
ommand  you  to  the  protextion  of  the  Almighty  godt ;  Antony  Colve.* 

All  Assembly,  composed  of  "  the  Sellout  and  Magistrates 
of  Aclitcr  Kol,  to  make  laws  and  orders,"  was  held  here, 
commencing  on  the  18tli  of  November,  1673.  The  ordi- 
nances enacted  were  few  and  simple,  pertaining  mostly  to 
questions  of  morality  and  religion.  They  were  submitted  to 
the  Dutch  authorities  for  ratification.  At  the  same  time. 
Sellout  Ogden  requested,  that  the  bail-bonds  of  Meeker  and 
Tomson,  in  the  hands  of  the  late  Marshal,  Sam.  Moore,  be 
put  into  the  hands  of  Ogden,  and  the  records  of  the  late 
government,  deposited  with  Secretary  Hopkins.  Tlie  records 
were  put  in  charge  of  Hopkins,  and  Meeker  and  Tomson 
were  told  to  bring  the  matter  into  court.  Moore  was  ordered, 
by  the  court  of  "  deputed  councillois,"  "  to  deliver  up  the 
bail-bond  executed  by  "  Meeker  and  Tomson,  "  on  the  26th 
June,  1GT3,  to  Capt°  John  Berry  then  Deputy  Governor," 
in  the  case  of  Wm.  Pardon  ;  on  his  refusal,  Mr.  Ogden  was 
required  to  demand  the  said  bail-bond  of  Sam.  Moore  ;  and, 
in  case  of  default,  to  arrest  him,  and  send  him  to  the  fort  at 
New  York.f 

For  more  than  a  year,  the  land  was  at  rest.  The  people 
lived  on  good  terms  with  the  authorities  at  Fort  Orange, 
and  were  secured  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  lands  and  juivi- 
leges.  Ogden  was  virtually  Governor  of  the  English  towns 
in  N.  Jersey,  and   the  government    was   administered  very 

*  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  II.  C5S. 

t  Alb.  Rccordx,  XXII.  370  ;  XXIII.  19.  Whltiliead's  E.  Jcrscj:,  pp.  61,  2.  K  Y.  Col. 
Docmts.,  II.  6S2,  3,  728. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  177 

much  after  the  fashion  of  Kew  England.  Their  okl  troublers 
had  either  left  the  town,  or  were  kept  in  f|uict,  shorn,  of  all 
authority.     The  people  had  it  their  own  way. 

But  the  Dutch  rule  was  soon  terminated.  A  treaty  of 
peace  was  signed,  at  Westminster,  Eng.,  Feb.  9,  16Tf,  pro- 
viding for  the  mutual  restoration  of  all  captured  territory. 
Possession  of  these  provinces  was  retained  by  the  Dutch, 
until  they  were  superseded  b}--  the  English,  in  November 
following, 

12 


178  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A.  D.  1G74-1C81. 

Restoration  of  English  Rule  —  Berkeley  sells  West  Jersey  —  Sir  G.  Carteret 
sole  Proprietor  of  E.Jersey  —  Return  of  Gov.  Carteret  —  Stringent  meas- 
ures to  subdue  the  People  —  Requires  them  to  take  Patents  for  their  Lands  — 
Old  Conflict  renewed — Compromise  proposed,  but  rejected  by  Carteret  — 
Schedule  of  Surveys  —  Militia  System  —  Legislature  at  E.  T. —  Enactments  — 
Prices  —  Act  of  Oblivion  —  Thanksgiving  Day  —  Meeker  indemnified  —  Inns 
regulated — Marking  of  Cattle  —  Troubles  with  Gov.  Andros  of  N.  Y.  —  Car- 
teret seized,  and  imprisoned  at  N.  Y. —  Tried  and  acquitted — Legislature  at 
E.  T.,  again — They  decline  the  jurisdiction  of  Andros  —  Marriage  of  Car- 
teret—  Andros  recalled  —  Carteret  reinstated  —  Legislature  meet  again  — 
Collision  with  Carteret  —  He  dissolves  them  —  Death  of  John  Ogden. 

Capt.  Philip  Carteret,  after  an  absence  of  more  than  two 
years,  returned  to  his  old  home,  in  November,  1674.  He 
came  over  from  England,  in  the  same  vessel  with  his  kins- 
man, Col.  Edmund  Andros,  Governor  of  New  York,  arriving 
Oct.  31,  1674.  Berkeley  had  sold,  March  18,  167f,  his  half 
of  the  province  for  £1000,  to  John  Fcnwick,  in  trust  for  Ed- 
ward Byllinge,  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Sir  George  Car- 
teret had  thus  become  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  eastern 
moiety  of  tlie  province,  which  was  confirmed  to  him,  June 
13,  by  royal  mandate,  requiring  obedience,  from  the  people 
of  the  territory,  "  to  the  laws  and  government "  of  Sir  George, 
as  having  "the  sole  ])ower  under"  the  king,  "to  settle  and 
dispose  of  the  country,  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as 
he  shall  think  fit ;  "  as  broad  a  basis  for  despotic  power  as 
could  be  desired.  A  new  patent  for  the  whole  territory  was 
given,  June  29,  to  the  Duke  of  York  ;  by  whom  East  Jersey 
was  rcconveyed,  July  29,  to  Sir  George  Carteret,  "  in  as  full 
and  ample  manner  as  the  same  "  had  been  granted  himself. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  179 

The  "  Concessions,"  so  remodeled  as  to  give,  to  the  Governor, 
the  control  of  the  Legislature,  and  deprive  the  people  of  all 
original  jurisdiction,  were  re-issued,  Jul}^  31,  and  the  same 
daj,  Capt.  Philip  Carteret  was  newly  commissioned  as  Gov- 
ernor.* 

Immediately  after  his  arrival,  Carteret  proceeded  to  Ber- 
gen and  called  about  him  his  old  Council ,  by  whom,  of 
course,  he  was  heartily  welcomed.  A  summons  was  issued 
at  once,  Nov.  6,  calling  upon  "  the  inhabitants,  by  their  Dep- 
uties, to  meet  for  to  hear  his  Majesty's  Letter,  the  Governor's 
Commission,  and  those  Instructions  and  Orders  read  that  the 
Governor  brought  over  with  him."  Deputies  were  "  sent  by 
all  the  towns  except  Shrewsbury  ;' "  before  whom  the  papers 
were  read  and  the  Governor's  policy  set  forth.  The  spirit  of 
that  policy  may  be  gathered  by  what  the  Council  wrote  to 
Sir  George  Carteret  on  the  Tth  of  November : 

TTe  are  very  sensible  of  the  disorders  and  troubles  that  have  happened 
amongst  u«,  occasioned  by  some  turbulent  spirits,  which  hath  cost  us 
much  time,  labour  and  pains  to  redress,  and  brought  your  Honour's  Or- 
ders, Desires  and  Instructions  to  Perfection,  had  not  the  Dutch  unhappily 
come  in  and  nipt  us  in  the  bud,  to  whom  these  old,  turbulent  people  were 
more  wilUng  to  submit,  than  to  their  lawful  King  and  Lord.f 

In  a  Proclamation  issued  by  the  Governor  and  Council, 
dated  at  Elizabeth  Town,  Dec.  11,  thej^  speak  of  "  the  late 
past  distractions  of  times,"  as 

Occasioned  first  by  the  meeting  of  several  male-content  inhabitants, 
and  then  by  tlie  arrival  of  the  Dutch  forces  in  our  neighbor  Colony,  giv- 
ing opportunity  to  those  seditious  spirits,  to  cover  their  former  guilt  with 
the  mantle  of  treason. 

They  further  say : 

"We  find  ourselves  not  obliged  to  countenance  the  commisi-ionatingany 
person  or  persons,  to  any  office  military  or  civil,  wlio  have  not  patented 
their  lands,  &c.,  nor  to  yield  tlie  privileges  of  a  Corporation  to  any  other- 
wise qualified,  than  the  said  Orders  of  our  said  Proprietor  doth  allow. 

Notice  is  thereupon  given,  "  that  the  Surveyor  General,  or 
his  substitute  shall  attend  and  remain  at  Elizabeth  Town  from 

*  Whltebcairs  E.  Jersey,  pp.  C3-5.  Mulford's  N.  J.,  pp.  159-162.  Learning  and  Spirer,  pp 
■lC-9.  t  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  40, 1.    E.  J.  Kocords,  III.  98,  9. 


180  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  first  day  of  April,  until  tlio  15th  day  of  May  following, 
for  runing  out  and  surveying  land  there,  in  order  for  pat- 
enting the  same."* 

The  "Instructions  and  Orders"  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  to 
which  they  thus  allude,  of  date,  July  31,  1074,  were  to  this 
effect : 

For  such  as  pretend  to  a  rigbt  of  propriety  to  land  and  government 
■within  our  Province,  by  virtue  of  any  patents  from  Governor  Colonel 
Kichard  Nic()lI^!.  as  they  ignorantly  assert,  we  utterly  disown  any  sucli 
thing.  But  if  such  persons  as  have  not  already  received  patents  of  their 
land  from  us,  sliall  not  within  one  year  after  notice  to  them  given  of  this 
our  pleasure  therein,  desire  and  accept  patents  of  tlie  said  land,  wq  do 
hereby  order  our  Governor  and  Council  to  dispose  of  such  lands  and  ten- 
ements, in  whole  or  in  part  for  our  best  advantage  to  any  other  persons. 

All  other  grants  were  declared  "  to  be  null  and  void  in 
law."     It  was  further  ordered,  by  the  same  authority  : 

That  those  persons  who  were  the  chief  actors  in  attempting  the  mak- 
ing an  alteration  in  our  government  be  proceeded  against,  except  they 
shall  immediately  upon  publication  hereof,  make  their  addresses  to  our 
Governor  and  Council,  for  remission  of  their  offences  ;  (further)  that  all 
persons  that  have  sustained  loss  or  damage,  by  maintaining  our  just 
rights  and  interest  since  the  26th  of  March,  1G72,  may  have  reparation 
in  law.t 

These  were  the  orders  that  the  Governor  and  Council 
deemed  themselves  bound  to  put  in  execution  among  the 
people  of  this  town,  who  had  been  among  the  principal  of- 
fenders in  the  province.  Carteret's  residence  abroad  for  the 
space  of  two  years,  and  his  attendance  during  this  period 
upon  a  court  so  aristocratic  and  corrupt,  had,  evidentl}',  not 
induced  him  to  be  a  whit  more  tolerant  of  the  principles  and 
spirit  of  the  Puritan  settlers  of  the  town  than  before.  Nor 
were  the  people  any  more  disposed  to  yield  their  own  con- 
victions of  truth,  of  right,  of  duty  ;  nor,  as  has  been  affirmed, 
"  to  regard  with  satisfaction  the  return  of  their  governor." 
The  only  "  demonstrations  of  good-will  "  to  the  Governor 
were  on  tiie  part  of  those  who  had  sided  with  him  in  the  pre- 
vious conflicts.:}: 

•  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  41,  2.  t  Whitohcad's  E.  Jersey,  p.  CC.    Graham's 

+  Learaiqg  and  Splcer,  pp.  51-2.  U.  States,  I.  448. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  Igl 

Bj  the  same  proclamation  of  Dec.  11,  a  General  Court,  to 
be  composed  of  the  Governor's  Council,  was  ordered  to  be 
held  in  this  town,  on  the  second  Tuesday  (9th)  of  March  fol- 
lowing ;  and  the  Marshal,  Samuel  Moore,  was  ordered  to 
collect  the  fines  that  had  been  imposed  on  the  two  compa- 
nies that  tore  down  Michell's  house  and  fence,  and  broke 
open  Pardon's  house.  So  little  occasion  had  the  people  of 
the  town  to  hail  the  return  of  their  old  townsman,  the  Gov- 
ernor. They  had  openly  espoused  the  cause  of  those  so-called 
rioters,  and  were  not  to  be  driven  from  it.  The  Governor's 
coming  was  the  renewing  of  the  old  troubles. 

Wearied  with  these  conflicts,  the  town  at  length  sought  to 
make  some  kind  of  a  compromise  with  the  Governor  and 
Council.  A  town-meeting  was  held  on  Tliursday,  the  11th 
of  March,  167|,  when  it  was  resolved  to  offer  the  following 
Petition  to  those  dignitaries  : 

"We,  the  inhabitants  of  Elizabetli  Town,  are  willing  to  pay  the  Lord 
Proprietor  the  sura  of  Twenty  Pounds  per  annum,  current  pay  of  this 
country,  in  consideration  of  a  Township  of  eight  miles  square,  to  be  di- 
vided according  to  our  Agreement,  of  first,  second  and  third  lots,  to  be 
confirmed  by  Charter  to  us  and  our  heirs  for  ever,  with  all  such  privileges 
as  any  other  towns  in  the  Province  have  or  shall  have ;  which  we  do  ap- 
prehend may  be  sufficient,  in  regai'd  of  the  badness  of  the  soil,  which  has 
deceived  us  all,  and  the  half  or  more  being  but  waste  land.  This  was 
voted  by  all  present,  on  the  11th  of  March,  167|.  Voted,  Isaac  White- 
head and  George  Eoss  to  present  this  writing  to  the  Governor  and  his 
Council.  Isaac  Whitehead,  Clerk. 

But  these  gentlemen  were  determined  to  abate  not  one  jot 
of  their  exactions.  Accordingly,  the  following  answer  was 
indorsed  upon  the  back  of  the  petition,  March  15th  : 

There  cannot  be  granted  any  variation  or  alteration  from  the  Procla- 
mation dated  11th  December,  1674,  but  accordingly  the  Surveyor  is  re- 
quired to  attend  at  the  time  appointed,  and  its  expected  that  suitable  per- 
sons be  provided  for  his  assistance,  according  to  the  said  Proclamation. 
By  order  of  the  Governor  and  Council, 

James  Bollen,  Secretary.* 

Finding  no  present  prospect  of  securing  their  rights,  with 
no  means  of  redress  at  hand,  and  threatened  by  their  imperi- 

♦E.Town  Bill,  pp.  42,3. 


182  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ons  riilcM's  with  a  suminaiy  confification  of  all  their  lands  and 
improvements,  laboring,  too,  under  grievous  embarrassments 
for  want  of  definite  surveys  and  a  recognized  title,  tlie  people, 
with  great  reluctance,  yielded  to  the  compulsion  put  upon 
them,  and,  without  prejudice  to  their  previous  titles,  con- 
sented to  receive  such  as  the  Governor  chose  to  give  them. 
One  after  another  they  applied  for  surveys,  and  warrants 
were  given  them  by  the  Governor ;  but  so  distasteful  was  it, 
that  only  one  of  their  number,  with  the  exception  of  Vau- 
quellin,  the  Surveyor,  applied  wdthin  the  time  assigned — 
April  1st  to  May  loth,  1675 ;  and  only  ten  more,  including 
Pardon,  in  the  latter  half  of  the  year.  The  Schedule  in  the 
margin  shows  the  date  of  the  Governor's  warrant ;  the  per- 
son in  whose  favor  the  warrant  was  given  ;  and  the  number 
of  acres  to  be  survcj'cd  for  him.  The  warrant  was  ordinarily 
in  the  words  following  : 

To  the  Surveyor  General,  or  his  Deputy.     These  are  to  require  you  to 

lay  out  butt  and  bound  for  A.  B , acres  of  upland  and  meadow 

in  proportion  within  the  bounds  of  Elizabeth  Towne  in  right  of  A.  B , 

and  his  wife  [&c.]  and  to  return  a  certiticate  thereof  into  the  Secretary's 
Office,  and  for  your  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  Warrant.     Date .* 

"  Good  old  John  Ogden  "  was  tlie  very  last  to  make  ap- 
plication for  a  survey  ;  and,  when  he  did,  it  was,  doubtless, 

V  *  Warrants  for  Surveys. 

Ap.  8,  1675,  Symon  Rows ISO  acres. 

May  8,  "      Robert  Vauquellin,  and  wife 800  " 

June  80,  "     Charles  Tucker 140  " 

"     "  "     Robert  Bond 860  " 

"     "  "     Joseph  Bond 160  " 

"     "  "     Jacob  Mellins 800  " 

Sept.  12,  "     Robert  White,  wife  and  daaghter 180  " 

Oct.     6,  "      Leonard  Hcadley,  and  wife 120  " 

"        "  "     John  Parker 90  " 

"      22,  "     Nicholas  Carter 860  " 

"      28,  "     William  Pardon,  and  wife 200  " 

Nov.  5,  "     John  Woodruff,  wife,  and  three  servants 450  " 

Jan.21,167J,  Luke  Watson 400  " 

Mar.  S,  "      Henry  Lyon,  rights  and  purchase 860  " 

"14,  "      William  Letts 180  " 

"    "  "      Charles  Tucker,  (a  2d  warrant) ISO  " 

"    "  *'      Benjamin  Parkls ISO  " 

"    "  "      Henry  Norris,  self  and  John  Wllsor,  Carponr 210  " 

"    ''  "      Daniel  De  llacrt,  right  of  Richard  Painter 120  " 

"    "  "      Wm.  Pardon,  right  of  Wm.  Mcaker 120  " 

"    "  "      Isaac  Whitehead,  sen' 180  " 


ELIZABETH,    NfcW    JERSEY.  183 

nnder  protest,  as  in  the  case  of  tlie  most  of  liis  associates. 

The  survey's  were  made  in  due  form,  and  patents  obtained ; 

Mar.  14,    167|,  Samuel  Mooro,  right  of  Jolin  Wilson,  tlio  Less 90  acres. 

"    "  "      Capt.  Thomas  Young 240  " 

"    "  "      Capt  John  Baker,  wife  and  8  others 1200  '• 

"    "  "      Sir  George  and  Philip  Carteret,  and  IS  servants 2700  " 

"    "  •'      rhilip  Carteret,  right  of  Abraham  Shotwell 150  " 

"    "  "       Do.         Do.        Do.    "  Peter  "Wolverson 4S0  " 

"    "  "       Do.         Do.        Do.   "  Dennis  White 120  " 

"    1,  "      Benjamin  Wade 120  '• 

"  20,  "      Eio.hard  Beach 90  " 

"    '•  "      Robert  Moss,  and  wife. ISO  " 

"22,  "      William  Cramer ISO  " 

"     "  "      Nathaniel  Tutthill 90  " 

"    "  "      Peter  Mobs,  and  wife 180  " 

•'  27,    1G76,  George  Eoss,  and  wife 120  " 

"    "  "      Humphry  Spinings    ISO  " 

"    "  "      George  Morris 90  " 

"    "  "      Koger  Lambert 120  " 

"    "  "      Stephen  Cnane 120  •' 

"    "  "      William  llill 60  " 

"28,  "      William  Johnson 240  " 

"    "  "      John  Little,  right  of  self  and  Stephen  Salsbury 180  " 

"     "  «'      George  Pack 120  " 

"     "  "      William  Ollivcr ISO  " 

"    "  "      Samuel  Marsh,  Sen^ 180  " 

"    "  "      Samuel  Marsh,  Jun' 100  " 

"     "  "      John  Pope 100  " 

"    "  "      John  Carter 60  " 

"     "  "      David  Olliver 60  " 

Aprils,  "      AVilliam  Pills....: 820  " 

"    "  "      Benjamin  Price,  Sen' 270  " 

♦'    "  "      Benjamin  Price,  Jun'' 90  " 

"    10,  "      Stephen  Osborne ISO  " 

"    "  "      Nathaniel  Bonnel ISO  " 

"    11  "      Joseph  Sears ISO  " 

"     14,  "      Jonas  Wood 300  " 

"    "  "      ThomasMoorc ISO  " 

"    25,  "      Jeffery  Jones ISO  " 

"    27,  "      David  Ogdon 120  " 

May  2,  "      Hur  Tompson 120  " 

•'    9,  "      Jeremiah  Peck ISO  " 

"    "  "      Joseph  Fraize 120  " 

"    "  "      John  Winnns 120  " 

"    "  "      Barnaby  Wines 240  " 

"    "  "      Kichard  Michell 120  " 

"    80,  "      Math:  Iletfleld 120  " 

"    31,  "      Joseph  Osborne 150  " 

"    "  "      Moses  Tompson ISO  " 

"    "  "      Joseph  Meaker 120  " 

June  12,      "      Benjamin  Meaker 120  '' 

"    14,  "      Benjamin   Waide 144  " 

"    "  "      John  Ogden,  Jun' 150  " 

"    "       "      Isaac  Whitehead,  Jun' 120  " 

"     "  "      Jonathan  Ogdon 120  " 

8ept.l2,      "      Aaron  Tomaon,  right  of  his  father,  Thomas 120  " 


184  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

but,  in  many  cases,  the  number  of  acres  differed  very  con- 
siderably from  the  number  specified  in  the  warrant ;  several 
of  the  people  having  added  to  their  estates  by  large  purchases. 
Ilurr  Thompson's  survey  was  for  160  acres ;  Stephen  Crane's, 
156;  Nathaniel  Tuttle's,  153;  Humphrey  Spinage's,  2185 
John  Winans',  200  ;  Matthias  Hatfield's,  208  ;  John  Pope's, 
150  ;  and  Jeremiah  Peck's,  223.'''' 

A  season  of  comparative  quiet  ensues.  Carteret  applies 
himself  to  the  erection  of  a  new  and  more  substantial  house ; 
for  whicli  purpose  he  leased  from  Henry  Lyon,  Dec.  8,  1674, 
two  acres  of  Lyon's  house-lot,  adjoining  his  own,  for  brick- 
making,  at  a  yearl}'  rent  of  "  one  thousand  of  good  and  Mer- 
chantable Bricks."  Yauquellin  takes  up  his  abode  in  Wood- 
bridge.  Bollen  finds  it  expedient  to  sell  out  to  Lyon,  and  go 
down  to  Woodbridge  to  live.  Pardon,  evidently,  discovers 
that  the  atmos]3here  of  Elizabeth  Town  does  not  agree  with 
him,  and  he  retires  to  l^ew  York  to  engage  in  merchandise. 
His  former  wife  having  proved  a  disloyal  partner,  and  ab- 
sconded, he  procures  a  release  from  the  bonds  of  wedlock, 
only  to  bind  himself  at  once  to  Anna  Bostoe,  on  whom  he 
bestows,  Sept.  16th,  1675,  for  her  dowry,  his  house  and  home- 
lot  of  six  acres.  Being  still  regarded  as  an  Associate,  how- 
ever, by  reason  of  his  considerable  estate  in  the  town,  and 
continued  a  member  of  the  Council,  he  makes  request,  April 
12, 1679,  "  to  be  discharged  from  all  further  service  as  mem- 
ber of  council,  justice,  or  any  thing  more  to  do  on  public 
concerns,  but  to  remain  in  the  condition  of  any  other  private 
gentleman, f 

Some  apprehension  of  famine  existed,  at  the  close  of  the 
winter  of  167|^,  on  account  of  tlie  failure  of  the  crops  the  pre- 
vious season;    and  an  order  was  published,  Feb.  24,  167|, 

Sept.  12,  1676,  Aaron  Tomson,  right  of  self CO  acres. 

"     "      "      John  Lainbird 100      " 

Oct.  27,      "      Joseph  Ogdon 90      " 

Nov.  23,    "      JohnSimkine SO      " 

Dec.  2T,    "      Samuel  Trotter,  right  of  his  father,  Wm DO      " 

Feb.  1,    167J,  MargaretBaker,  right  of  Peter  Wol?erson 200      " 

July  11, 1677,  James  Ilaynes,  and  wife 120      " 

Oct.  26,  167(<,  Mrs.  Hannah  Hopkins,  wife  of  Samuel  Uopkios 120      " 

•'     29,     "      John  Ogden,  Sen'  800      " 

*  E.  J.  Records,  II.  t  E.  J.  Records,  I.  50;   III.  15a    Stearns'  Newark,  p.  64. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  185 

prohibiting  tlie  export  of  corn  and  grain.  In  the  summer  of 
the  same  year,  the  eastern  provinces  were  surprised  into  a 
bloody  war  with  the  native  tribes,  and  fears  were  entertained 
of  hostilities  with  the  tribes  in  New  Jersey  and  beyond  the 
Delaware.  A  militia  system  was,  therefore,  inaugurated, 
July  15,  1G75,  by  which  all  able-bodied  males,  from  16  to  GO 
years  of  age,  were  to  be  enrolled,  to  supply  themselves  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  to  train  four  days  every  year.'''" 

The  first  General  Assembly,  after  the  restoration  of  British 
rule,  was  held  here,  in  !N'ovember,  1675,  beginning  on  Friday, 
the  5th,  and  continuing  until  the  13th.  Henry  Lyon  and 
Benjamin  Price  represented  the  town.  Provision  was  order- 
ed to  be  made  to  guard  against  surprise  by  the  Indians,  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  show,  that  the  alarm  was  very  general. 
Jacob  Mollins  [Melyn]  the  Province  Treasurer,  was  to  have 
twenty  shillings  salary.  Newark  and  E.  Town  were  consti- 
tuted a  County. 

An  adjourned  session  was  held  from  Nov.  29th  to  the  9th 
of  December,  when  the  code  of  1668  was  revised,  enlarged, 
aad  enacted.  The  following  statute  shows  at  least  an  out- 
wird  regard  for  the  ordinances  of  religion  : 

Whosoever  sliall  prophane  the  Lords  Day,  otherwise  called  Sunday, 
by  my  kind  of  servile  work,  unlawful  recreations,  or  unnecessary  travels 
on  tlat  day,  not  falling  within  the  compass  of  works  of  mercy  or  neces- 
sity, either  wilfully  or  through  careless  neglect,  shall  be  punished  by 
fine,  inprisonmcnt,  or  corporally,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  oftence, 
at  the  judgment  of  the  Court  Justice  or  Justices  where  the  oftence  is 
commit.ed. 

The  X)llowing  rates  M'erc  established  for  country  produce  i 
Winter  Wheat,  5  shillings;  Summer  Wheat,  four  shillings 
and  sixiTsnce  ;  Rye  and  Barley,  four  shillings  ;  Indian  Corn 
and  Pease,  three  shillings,  a  bushel ;  Beef,  two-pence ;  Pork, 
three  pciice  ;  Bacon,  six  pence  ;  Try'd  Tallow,  six  pence  ; 
Green  Ili^cs,  three  pence;  Dry  Hides,  six  pence;  "Hogs 
fat  good  aid  try'd,"  six  pence  ;  and  Tobacco,  four  pence,  a 
pound  ;  Btef,  fifty  shillings,  and  Pork,  seventy  shillings,  a 
barrel. f 

*N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  254.    E.  J.  Records,  III. .110,  117. 
tLeaiiiing  and  Spicer,  pp.  93-103. 


186  THE    HISTORY    OF 

At  the  close  of  the  session,  an  act  of  oblivion  was  passed 
by  the  Asseniblj  in  i-espect  to  the  troubles  of  the  preceding 
live  years,  providing : 

That  there  shall  be  an  utter  abolishing  of  all  actions,  tending  to  re- 
cover daraagos,  costs  and  charges,  for  any  action  committed  or  done 
against  any  one  within  this  Province,  that  hath  been  a  party  or  any  M'ay 
concerned  in  the  endeavoring  and  making  an  alteration  in  the  govern- 
ment here  settled  by  the  Lords,  anytime  from  the  year  1670  until  June 

1673,* 

• 

All  previous  judgments  of  Court,  however,  were  to  stand. 
Xo  abatement  was  made  of  the  lines  and  penalties  in  the 
Michell  and  Pardon  cases.  The  peace  intended  to  be  se- 
cured by  this  measure,  was,  after  all,  a  compulsory  peace, 
designed,  apparently,  on  the  part  of  of  the  government,  the 
more  effectually  to  establish  their  arbitrary  claims  ;  of  which 
they  had  abated  "not  one  jot  or'  tittle." 

Something  of  the  temper  of  the  popular  branch  of  the 
Legislature  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact,  that  Isaac  White- 
Lead,  the  town-clerk,  and  always  of  the  town  party,  was,  and 
continued  to  be  for  years,  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Deputies. 

Two  sessions  of  the  Assembly  were  held  in  1676,  the  first, 
beginning,  April  6th,  in  this  town,  and  the  second,  from  the 
5th  to  the  8th  of  October,  at  "Woodbridge.  On  the  latter 
occasion,  the  custom  of  an  autumnal  Tranksgiving-Da\,  so 
common  in  New  England,  was  introduced  here,  by  Act  of 
Assembly.f 

As  William  Meeker  had  been  adjudged  to  lose  his  estate, 
because  of  what  he  had  done,  as  the  town's  agent,  in  tie  cases 
of  Michell  and  Pardon,  a  petition  for  indemnity  was  sent  by 
him  to  the  Governor,  Council,  and  Deputies,  of  whiai  no  no- 
tice is  taken  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Legislature,  bat  which 
resulted,  JS'ovember,  1676,  in  a  voluntary  contribution  in  his 
behalf  on  the  part  of  this  town  and  Newark,  and  p'obably  of 
otlier  towns,  also.ij; 

During  the  years  1677-0,  the  Assembly  met  innually  in 
October,  at  this  place  ;  but  in   1677  and   1678  nothing  of 

•  Leamin?  and  Ppicer,  p.  110.  J  Newark  Town  Eocords,  p.  6. 

t  Loaming  and  Spicer,  pp.  121,  2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  187 

special  interest  in  respect  to  the  town  affairs  was  transacted. 
No  collision,  ajiparently,  occurred  between  the  people  and 
the  court.  Both  parties  evidently  were  seeking  to  "  follow 
after  the  things  which  make  for  peace."  A  regulation  re- 
specting Inns,  passed,  Oct.  10,  1677,  is  of  interest,  as  showing 
the  cost  of  living  at  that  day  : 

No  Ordinary-keeper  shall  by  tbe  Gill  exceed  ten  shilliniis  and  eight 
pence  the  gallon  strong  liquors  ;  if  by  the  quart  two  shillings  and  six 
pence ;  good  wine  after  tbe  rate  of  seven  shillings  tbe  gallon  ;  cyder  four 
pence  the  quart ;  eight  pence  a  meal  for  victuals ;  six  pence  a  day  natu- 
ral for  pasture  for  horse  in  tbe  summer,  and  tbe  like  for  winter ;  and  nine 
pence  a  peck  fur  oats,  the  ordinary  keeper  be  left  at  liberty  for  such  as 
will  bespeak  their  ow-n  provision.* 

Stringent  laws  were  made  against  selling  strong  drink  to 
the  Indians,  and  in  private  houses,  as  well  as  against  disor- 
derly conduct  on  the  Sabbatli-day.  Much  trouble  grew  out 
of  the  custom  of  having  a  common  pasturage  for  cattle  and 
swine  ;  leading  to  numei'ous  regulations  for  the  branding  and 
marking  of  animals,  the  making  offences  and  keeping  them 
in  repair,  as  well  as  providing  a  pound  for  estrays.f 

The  first  travelers,  of  whose  visit  to  this  place  we  have  any 
printed  record,  were  Jaspar  Dankers  and  Peter  Sluyter,  of 
Friesland.  They  visited  the  town,  on  Frida}',  Oct.  13th, 
1679,  coming  here  from  Staten  Island,  of  which  they  had  just 
made  the  circuit.  "Pierre  Jardinier,"  at  whose  liouse  they 
had  lodged  the  night  before,  brought  them, 

In  his  canoe  over  to  the  Point  of  Mill  Creek  in  New  Jersey  acTitcr  Icol. 
We  learned  immediately,  (they  say),  that  there  was  a  boat  up  this  creek 
loading  with  brick,  and  would  leave  that  night  for  tbe  city.  After  we 
had  thanked  and  parted  with  Pierre  le  Gardinier,  w'C  determined  to  walk 
to  Elizabethtown,  a  good  half  hour's  distance  inland,  where  the  boat  was. 
From  the  Point  to  this  village  there  is  a  fine  wagon  road,  but  nowhere 
in  tbe  country  had  we  been  so  pestered  with  raosquitos  {mnggcn)  as  we 
were  on  this  road.  The  land  about  here  is  very  poor,  and  is  not  well 
peopled.  We  found  the  boat,  and  spoke  to  the  captain  who  left  about 
two  hours  afterwards ;  but  as  the  wind  was  against  going  out  of  tbe  creek, 
he  lay  by  and  waited  for  the  tide.     We  returned  by  evening  to  the  Point 

•  Learning,  and  Spicer,  p.  12S. 

t  A  register  of  the  various  oar-markB  of  cattle  within  the  town  has  been  preserved  to  the 
present  day,  wbich  is  not  without  interest  to  the  antiquarian. 


188  THE    HISTORY    OF 

where  we  were  to  stay  until  morning.  There  was  a  tavern  on  it,  kept 
by  French  papists.  "NVe  slept  there  this  night,  and  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  we  set  sail. 

At  the  end  of  a  month,  they  ■were  again  at  "  the  Point  of 
Elizabeth's  kil :  " 

We  all  went  ashore,  and  lodged  for  the  night  in  the  house  of  the 
Trench  people.  "We  all  slept  on  the  floor,  and  supped  upon  what  we  had 
brought  with  us. 

Again,  Jan.  1,  1C80,  they  say, — 

"We  made  good  speed  past  Smoker's  hook,  and  by  evening  arrived  at 
the  Point  of  Elizabethtown  Creek,  in  the  tavern  before  mentioned,  where 
we  lodged  for  the  night ;  but  there  was  nothing  to  be  had  there  except  to 
warm  us.  "We  had  sometLing  left  in  our  traveling  sack,  upon  which  we 
made  our  supper,  and  then  laid  ourselves  down  to  sleep  in  our  old  fashion 
upon  a  little  bay,  before  the  fire.* 

Gov.  Carteret  found  it,  doubtless,  a  desirable  thing  to  be 
on  good  terms  with  his  townsmen,  because  of  his  apprehen- 
sion of  difficulties  with  Gov.  Andros,  of  New  York,  The 
Duke  of  York,  out  of  regard  to  his  brother,  or  in  obedience 
to  his  order,  and  because  of  the  services  of  Berkeley  and  Car- 
teret to  the  royal  family  in  the  days  of  their  exile,  had  waived 
his  claim  to  jurisdiction,  in  his  Grant  to  the  two  lords.  But 
Berkeley  had  retired  from  the  concern,  and  Sir  George  Car- 
teret was  then  getting  old  and  infirm.  The  opportunity 
might  soon  occur  of  reclaiming  East  Jersey.  The  commis- 
sion, given  to  Andros,  gave  him  jurisdiction  over  all  the  ter- 
ritory from  the  Connecticut  to  the  Delaware  rivers.  Andros 
wanted  but  an  occasion  to  assert  and  maintain  his  claims.f 

The  question  had  been  nnder  discussion  from  the  time  that 
the  two  Governors  came  over  in  1G74.  But  Andros  had. 
been  told  to  exercise  caution  in  the  matter,  as  long  as  Sir 
George  retained  the  proprietorship.  The  interests  of  the  lat- 
ter were  safe  in  the  hands  of  Gov.  Philip  Carteret.  From 
the  very  first,  he  had  been  determined  on  developing  the 
commerce  of  his  colony.     Many  of  the  planters  had  been  ad- 

*  Journnl  of  a  Voyajo  to  New  York  and  a  Tour  in  Several  of  the  American  Colonies  in 
1679-SO.  l!y  Jaspar  Dankers  and  Peter  Sluytcr  of  Wiewerd  in  Friesland  :  Brooklyn,  1867 
pp.  147-S,  ICS,  252-3.  t  N.  Y.  CoL  Docmts.,  III.  229,  240. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  189 

dieted  to  sea-faring  pursuits.  Their  position  on  tide-water 
gav^e  them  great  facilities  for  navigation,  and  they  readily 
embraced  them.  Several  of  them,  as  has  been  seen,  engaged 
in  the  whale  fishery.  They  were  in  constant  communication 
by  water  with  New  Yorli.  Vessels  were  fitted  out  for  the 
coasting  trade  as  far  east  as  Piscataqua,  and  South  to  the 
Carolinas,  Barbados,  and  St.  Christopher's.  These  vessels 
cleared  and  entered  at  Elizabeth  Town,  greatly  to  the  an- 
noyance of  Andros,  though,  as  yet,  he  could  not  openly  re- 
sist it.  In  November,  1677,  he  returned  home  for  further 
instructions.  Previous  to  his  departure,  he  paid  Carteret  the 
compliment  of  a  short  visit : 

November  y  16th  the  Governo''  parted  from  New  Yorke,  and  went  to 
take  Iiis  leave  of  Governo''  Carterett  in  New  Jersey,  &  lay  there  all  night ; 
the  17th  went  aboard  neare  Staten  Island,  weyed  &  went  down  in  y''  Bay 
neare  Sandy  point,  whence  hee  sayled.* 

Andros  returned  in  August,  1678,  having  been  thoroughly 
posted,  in  the  meantime,  as  to  the  policy  of  the  Duke.  The 
colonists  of  West  Jersey  were  speedily  apprized  of  his  pur- 
pose to  press  his  claims  of  jurisdiction  to  the  very  letter  of 
his  commission.  An  opportunity  soon  presented  itself  for  a 
similar  interposition  in  East  Jersey  : 

In  the  year  1G79,  Governour  Carteret  declares  that  all  vessels  tbat  will 
come  and  trade  to  East  New  Jersey  shall  be  free.  One  M^  Hooper  orders 
a  Ketch  from  Barbadoes  to  goe  thitlier  upon  that  proclamation ;  the 
Ketch  was  brought  up  to  New  Yorke  and  made  to  enter  here  &  pay  the 
dutys  before  she  could  carry  her  rumm  to  New  Jersey. 

So  says  Grahjim,  Lord  Bellamont's  Attorney  General,  at 
New  York,  in  1C98,  giving  reasons  against  a  free  port  in 
East  Jersey. t 

A  meeting  of  the  Assembly  was  held  here,  April  3,  1679, 
probably,  on  account  of  the  above  transaction,  at  which  it 
was  resolved,  to  raise  "  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  for  the  security  and  encouragement  of  a  ship  or  ves- 
sel to  come  into  this  Province  for  trade,  by  v:ay  of  Sandy 
Hook,  to  enter  and   clear  in  his  Majesty's   Custom-IIouse 

♦  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  257.  t  N.  Y.  Col   Docmts.,  IV.  SS2. 


190  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Avliich  is  at  the  Governor's  House  in  Eliz£\beth  ToAvn,  where 
is  the  King's  Customer  .and  Collector  of  New  Jersey  ;  "  the 
money  to  be  used  to  repair  any  damage  accruing  in  case  of 
any  trouble  from  the  authorities  at  Nev/  York.* 

To  be  fully  prepared  for  this  conflict  of  jurisdiction,  An- 
dros,  having,  possibly,  h'eard,  that  Sir  George  Carteret  is  no 
longer  among  the  living,  writes,  on  Monday,  March  8  [18, 
N.  S.]  1679-80,  to  Gov.  Philip,  reminding  him  of  his  claim, 
and  informing  him,  that  he  [Andros]  had  determined  to  take 
possession  of  Sand}^  Point  and  proceed  to  erect  there  a  fort. 
Five  days  afterwards,  13th,  he  sent  another  message  to  Car- 
teret, commanding  him  to  desist  from  all  further  exercise  of 
authority,  forbidding  all-  persons  exercising  any  authority 
under  Carteret,  and  requiring  all  constables,  whom  he  at  the 
same  time  coniirmcd  in  ofiice,  to  act  under  his  commission. 

To  all  this  Carteret  replied,  on  the  20th,  as  follows  : 

If  you  intend  to  set  a  fort  at  Sandy  Ilook,  I  shall  be  constrained  to  en- 
deavor to  prevent  the  same ;  and  shall  be  necessitated,  if  any  force  be 
used,  to  defend  ourselves  and  families  the  best  vre  can,  which  if  any  blood 
be  shed  it  will  be  contrary  to  our  desires,  and  the  just  and  righteous  God 
require  it  at  your  hands  who  are  the  causes  thereof.  And  therefore  we 
intreat  you  to  forbear  your  threats  or  any  other  acts  of  hostility  towards 
us,  until  his  Mnjesty  decides  this  controversy,  which  wo  shall  endeavor 
to  have  effected  ns  soon  as  possible  may  be.  The  occasion  that  hinders 
this  from  being  sent  you  sooner,  is  the  foulness  of  the  weather  hindering 
the  Councils  meeting,  as  also  an  alarm  we  had  yesterday  of  your  being 
come  with  your  sloops  and  a  considerable  number  of  soldiers  which  con- 
strained us  to  put  ourselves  in  a  posture  of  defence. 

A  few  days  after,  29th,  Carteret  sent  Andros  another  mes- 
sage, commanding  that  no  more  of  his  "  Emissaries  be  sent 
or  appear  here,  under  penalty  of  being  proceeded  against  by 
imprisonment,  trial,  condemnation  and  penalty,  as  his  Majes- 
ty's laws  direct  to- spies  or  disturbers  of  the  peace,  unless  with 
particular  message  to"'  the  Governor  "and  so  return."  The 
people  a])pear  to  have  been  quite  as  much  opposed  to  a 
change  of  rulers  as  Carteret  himself,  if  his  word  is  to  be  be- 
lieved : — "  the  people  resolving  to  live  and  dye  with  the  name 
of  true  subjects  and  not  traytors."t 

•  Learning  and  Splcor,  pp.  131,  3.  t  Learning  and  Ppicer,  pp.  6T3-7. 


^       ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  191 

The  case  had  now  assumed  a  serious  aspect.  Resolute  as 
Carteret  was,  he  had  to  do  with  a  most  determined  and  un- 
scrupulous autocrat.  It  was  well  that,  at  the  sessions  of  the 
Assembly  in  November,  tliey  had  made  more  stringent  regu- 
lations for  the  calling  out  and  exercising  tlie  militia,  to  guard 
against  the  evil  designs  of  their  savage  neighbors. 

They  have  more  to  fear  from  the  wily  Andros,  than  from 
the  savage  Sachem  of  Piscataqua,  to  whom,  six  months  be- 
fore they  had  sent  an  embassy  of  peace,  of  which  "  old  John 
Ogden,"  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  was  one. 
Andros  had  sent  his  writs  to  all  the  towns,  demanding  their 
subjection  to  his  authority  as  the  representative  of  the  Duke 
of  York.  The  answer  sent  by  this  town  was,  undoubtedly, 
similar  to  that  sent  by  the  people  of  l^ewark  : 

The  town  being  met  together  the  29th  of  March,  1G79-80,  and  give 
their  positive  Answer  to  the  Governor  of  York's  Writ,  (viz) :  That  they 
have  taken  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  the  King  and  Fidelity  to  the  pres- 
ent Government,  aud  untill  they  have  sufficient  Order  from  his  Majesty  we 
will  stand  by  the  same.* 

The  next  scene  in  the  drama  is  well  described  by  Gov. 
Carteret  himself,  in  a  letter  to  Sir  George,  of  whose  decease, 
Jan.  14th,  1679-80,  he  had  not  yet  heard  : 

Sir  Edmund  Andross,  came  hither  on  Wednesday  the  7th  instant,  ac- 
companied with  several  of  his  officers,  councellors  and  merchants,  to  de- 
mand the  government  of  this  your  Honour's  Province,  supposing  to  have 
gained  it  either  by  threats  or  flattery, — and  having  notice  of  it  beforehand 
I  had  gotten  together  a  matter  of  150  men  in  arms  to  receive  him,  doubt- 
ing lie  would  have  brought  some  offensive  forces  along  with  him  but  did 
not,  aud  having  leave  with  his  train  to  come  a  shore,  he  came  up  to  my 
house  where  after  the  civilities  past,  he  began  to  show  by  what  authority 
he  liad  to  lay  claim  to  the  government. 

.   Both  parties  presented  their  documents  and  pleas  ;  ending 
of  course  as  they  began  : 

His  last  answer  was,  that  he  had  showed  what  authority  he  had  and 
according  to  his  duty  did  require  it  in  behalf  of  his  Master,  and  if  we  would 
not  obey  him,  let  it  rest  at  our  perils,  for  that  wo  answered  him  we  had 
sent  away  our  Appeal  to  his  Majesty,  and  should  be  ready  to  submit  to 

*  Newark  Town  Eecords,  p.  7S. 


192  THE    HISTORY    OF 

^vhat  liis  Mnjesty  should  determine,  and  then  we  went  to  dhincr,  that 
done  we  accompanied  him  to  his  sloop  and  so  parted.* 

What  Andros  saw  and  lieard,  that  "Wednesday,  was  enough 
to  convince  hlin,  that  neither  tlie  court  nor  the  people  of  this 
metropolis  were  at  all  disposed  to  favor  his  pretensions  ;  tliat, 
however  much  the  two  parties  differed  from  each  other,  they 
were  entirely  of  one  accord  in  looking  upon  Andros  as  an  im- 
pertinent usurper,  to  be  resisted,  if  need  be,  by  force  of  arms. 

Dankers,  who  M'as  in  the  country  at  this  very  time,  and 
cognizant  of  the  whole  affair,  saj's, — 

He  sent  hoats  several  times  to  Achtci-  Kol  to  demand  the  suhmis- 
sion  of  the  place  to  his  authority,  which  the  people  of  Achter  Kol  jeered 
at  and  disregarded,  being  ready  to  uphold  the  king  and  their  own  gov- 
ernor, whom  they  bound  themselves  to  maintain.  At  night,  and  un- 
seasonable hours,  and  by  surprise,  betook  from  New  Jersey  all  the  staves 
of  the  constables  out  of  their  houses,  which  was  as  much  as  to  deprive 
them  of  the  power  to  act.  Seeing  he  could  accomplish  nothing  by  force, 
he  declared  the  inhabitants  released  from  their  oaths  to  the  Heer  Carteret ; 
they  answered  they  could  not  acknowledge  any  release  from  their  oaths, 
unless  by  the  same  authority  which  had  required  it  of  them  or  the  exhibi- 
tion of  a  higher  one,  that  of  the  king. 

The  sequel  is  thus  related  by  Carteret.   He  says  of  Andros, — 

After  many  debates  and  disputes,  we  concluded  to  decide  it  rather  by 
arguments  than  arms,  but  the  rancor  and  malice  of  his  heart  was  such 
that  on  the  31st  [30th]  day  of  April  last  he  sent  a  party  of  soldiers  to 
fetch  me  away  dead  or  alive,  so  that  in  the  dead  time  of  the  night  broke 
open  my  doors  and  most  barbarously  and  inhumanly  and  violently  hailed 
me  out  of  my  bed,  that  I  have  not  words  enough  sufficiently  to  express 
the  cruelty  of  it ;  and  indeed  I  am  so  disabled  by  the  bruises  and  hurts  I 
then  received,  tliat  I  fear  I  shall  hardly  be  a  perfect  man  again. 

The  testimony  of  Bankers  is  more  full  and  explicit : 

At  length  he  corrupted  one  of  Carteret's  domestics,  for  Carteret  had  no 
soldiers  or  fortifications,  but  resided  in  a  country  house  only.  He  then 
equipped  some  yachts  and  a  ketch  with  soldiers,  arms,  and  ammunition, 
and  despatched  them  to  Achter  kol  in  order  to  abduct  Carteret  in  any 
manner  it  could  be  done.  They  entered  his  house,  I  know  not  how,  at 
midnight,  seized  him  naked,  dragged  him  through  the  window,  struck  and 
kicked  him  terribly,  and  even  injured  him  internally.     They  threw  him, 

*  Loamlng  and  Spicer,  pp.  677-8. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  193 

all  naked  as  ho  was,  into  a  canoe,  witliont  any  cap  or  hat  on  his  head,  and 
carried  liini  in  that  condition  to  Xew  York,  where  they  furnished  him 
clothes  and  shoes  and  stockings,  and  then  conducted  him  to  the  fort  and 
put  him  immediately  in  prison.  When  they  seized  him  at  Achter  kol 
the  armed  boats  had  gone  home,  and  the  seizure  was  accomplished  through 
treachery.  Two  of  the  head  men  of  Carteret  [Bollen  and  Vauquellin] 
immediately  took  possession  of  his  papers,  such  as  were  of  importance 
to  him  and  travelled,  one  to  Maryland,  and  the  other,  crossing  the  upper 
part  of  the  North  river,  to  Boston  over  land,  and  both  to  England,  in 
order  to  remonstrate.  The  governor  [AndrosJ  sent  immediately  to 
Achter  kol,  took  possession  of  the  place,  posted  up  orders,  and  caused 
inquiries  to  be  made  for  the  man  who  had  set  Carteret['s  man,  Bollen] 
over  the  river,  but  without  success.  While  Carteret  was  in  prison  he 
was  sick,  very  sick,  they  said,  in  regard  to  which  there  were  various 
surmises.* 

Carteret  was  kept  a  prisoner  at  ISTew  York,  under  the 
charge  of  Capt.  John  Colljer,  until  the  27th  of  May,  when 
lie  was  arraigned  before  a  special  Court  of  Assizes,  and  tried 
for  presuming  "  to  exercise  jurisdiction  and  government  over 
his  Majesty's  subjects  within  the  "bounds  of  his  Majesty's 
Letters  Patents  granted  to  his  Royal  Highness,"  the  Duke  of 
York.  Carteret  presented  his  "  Commission  with  other  In- 
structions," in  justification.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict 
of  "  Not  Guilty." 

"  Upon,  which,"  says  Carteret  in  a  letter  to  Bollen,  "  he 
asked  them  questions  and  demanded  their  reasons,  which  I 
pleaded  was  contrary  to  law  for  a  jury  to  give  reasons  after 
their  verdict  given  in,  nevertheless  he  sent  them  twice  or 
thrice  out,  giving  them  new  charges,  which  I  pleaded  as  at  first 
to  be  contrary  to  law,  notwithstanding  the  last  verdict  of  the 
jury  being  according  to  the  first  brought  in  by  them, — 'the 
prisoner  at  the  bar  not  guilty,'  upon  which  I  was  acquitted 
accordingly." 

A  singular  order,  however,  was  annexed  to  the  record  : 

But  the  Court  declare  their  opinion  and  give  judgment,  that  if  he  the 
said  Capt.  Carteret  shall  go  to  New  Jersey,  he  should  give  security  or 
engagement  not  to  assume  any  authority  or  jurisdiction  there,  civil  or 
military. 

*  Learning  and  Spiccr,  p.  C7S.    Dankers'  Journal,  pp.  347-352. 

13 


[94:  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The  cftcct  of  this  order  was  to  give  him  his  liberty  on 
parole,  but  to  deprive  him  of  that  very  authority  of  which, 
by  the  verdict  of  the  jury,  he  had  been  declared  to  be  law- 
fully possessed. 

The  trial  took  place  on  Thursday ;  and,  on  Tuesday  of  the 
following  week,  June  1st  [11th  N.  S.], 

The  governor  [Audrossl  attended  by  las  whole  retinue  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  escorted  Carteret,  the  governor  of  New  Jersey,  in  great  pomp, 
liome  to  Achter  kol ;   witli  all  the  magnificence  he  could. 

Carteret  drew  up  the  necessary  papers,  and  sent  them,  as 
he  tells  Bollen,  July  9,  IGSO,  by  the  hands  of  "  Mr.  George 
TIeathcott  for  England,"  to  be  laid  before  the  Home  Govern- 
ment.- 

In  the  mean  time  Andros  had  called  a  General  Assembly 
to  meet  in  this  town,  on  the  2d  of  June,  five  days  only  after 
the  conclusion  of  Carteret's  trial,  and  the  day  after  his  return 
to  the  town ;  at  which  time  he  presented  himself  before 
the  Deputies  with  "  the  King's  Letters  Patents,"  under  the 
Great  Seal  of  England,  and  claimed,  contrar}'  to  the  jury 
verdict,  to  be  their  right  and  lawful  Governor.  He  brought 
with  him,  also,  a  copy  of  the  Hempstead  Code  of  Laws  to  be 
adopted  and  enacted  by  the  Assembly. 

True,  however,  to  their  oaths  of  fidelity,  the  Deputies  re- 
turned for  answer,  that 

As  we  are  the  Representatives  of  the  Freeholders  of  this  Province,  we 
dare  not  grant  his  Majesty's  Letters  Patents,  though  under  the  Great  Seal 
of  England,  to  be  our  rule  or  joint  safety  for  the  Great  Charter  of  England, 
alias  Magna  Cbarta,  as  [U]  the  only  rule,  privilege  and  joint  safety  of 
every  freeborn  Englishman. 

At  the  same  time,  they  presented  Andros  with  a  copy  of 
their  own  Laws,  as  enacted  by  previous  General  Assemblies, 
declining  to  exchange  them  for  the  "  Duke's  Laws."  Andros 
gained  nothing  by  his  visit  heroj  but  a  tacit  acquiescence,  on 
the  part  of  the  people,  in  the  existing  state  of  things,  until 
the  authorities  in  England  could  be  lieard  from.f 

Carteret  returned  to  liis  residence  here,  and  devoted  him- 

•  T-eaming  and  Spicer,  pp.  CS-"?,  4.    U).,  p.  CTO.    Dankftrs'  Journal,  pp.  346,  S. 
t  Learning  and  Spicer,  pp.  6S0-3. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  195 

self  to  the  iinproveineiit  of  liis  estate,  and  the  construction  of 
his  new  liouse,  for  wliich  he  had  been  making  preparation. 
He  improved  his  leisure,  also,  in  making  some  friendly  visits, 
either  to  the  city,  or  to  Long  Island,  resulting  in  his  marriage, 
April,  1681,  to  Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Capt.  William  Law- 
rence, of  Tew's  ISTeck,  L.  I.,  who  had  died  in  1G80,  in  the  58th 
year  of  his  age.  Mrs.  Carteret  was  tlie  daughter  of  Richard 
Smith,  patentee  of  Smithtown,  L.  L,  and  brought  with  her,  to 
this  town,  seven  children :  Mary,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Eichard, 
Samuel,  Sarah,  and  James.  Samuel  died  xiug.  IG,  1G87, 
aged  15  years,  and  Thomas,  Oct.  26,  168Y,  aged  19  years  ;  and 
both  were  buried  in  the  rear  of  the  meeting-house.  Their 
graves  are  now  covered  by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  their  monuments  adorn  the  rear  wall  of  the  buildine-, 
being  the  most  ancient  stones  in  the  .Cemetery.  This  w^as, 
in  all  probability,  the  Governor's  lirst  marriage,  no  allusion 
to  any  other  having  been  discovered.  He  resumed  office  by 
proclamation,  March  2,  IGSJ-.* 

The  controversy  with  Andros  had  brought  into  prominence 
the  fundamental  constitutions  of  the  government.  Carteret, 
in  his  triumph  over  Andros,  was  disposed  to  stretch  his  pre- 
rogative to  the  utmost,  as  if  in  compensation  for  his  recent 
expulsion  from  power.  The  town,  as  well  as  the  other  parts 
of  the  Province,  was  now  agitated  very  considerably  by  this 
question.  The  Assembly  met  here,  Oct.  19,  1681.  At  the 
very  opening  of  their  sessions,  the  Deputies  determined  to 
re-assert  and  establish  their  fundamental  rights,  according  to 
the  terms  of  the  Concessions,  as  originally  published  in  1665. 

A  conflict  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  dissolution  of  the 
Assembly  by  the  Governor,  a  few  days  after  they  met. 

Carteret  had  learned  nothing  by  his  troubles,  and  his  long- 
continued  association  with  the  people.  The  breach  between 
them  must  have  been  greatly  widened  by  this  transaction. 
It  was  the  first  time  he  had  ventured  to  exercise  this  doubt- 
ful and  dangerous  prerogative. f 

♦  Scot's  Model  of  E.  Jersey,  p.  135.  Thompson's  L.  I.,  II.  864-5.  Eiker's  Newtown,  pp. 
282,  3.  N.  York  Marriages,  pp.  OS,  225.  "Wliitohead'i  E.  J.,  p.  85.  Learning  and  Spicer,  pp. 
6S6-T.  t  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  293-300.    Whitehead's  E.  Jersey,  pp.  80,  192-5. 


19G  THE    HISTORY    OF 

All  unquiet  time  these  liumble  pioneers  had,  it  must  be 
admitted.  Seventeen  years  had  passed  since  Baker  and 
Bailey,  Ogden  and  Watson  liad  acquired,  lawfully  and  hon- 
orably, a  title  to  the  soil,  and  entered  into  possession.  Yet, 
year  after  year,  almost  from  the  beginning,  they  were  coming 
into  collision  with  the  ruling  powers  of  the  territory,  and 
compelled  to  resist  what  they  conld  not  but  regard,  as  en- 
croachments on  their  vested  and  sacred  rights.  Some  few  of 
them,  wearied  with  conflict,  had  parted  with  their  interest  to 
others,  and  removed.  But  by  far  the  most  of  them  remained, 
and  manfully  maintained  the  principles  so  dear  to  them. 

ISTor  were  these  troubles  without  their  use.  They  served 
to  strengthen  and  develop  character ;  fostering  and  bringing 
into  active  exercise,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  an  intelligent 
love  for  freedom,  for  independence,  for  well-regulated  self- 
rule,  for  constitutional  principles,  for  popular  rights ;  pre- 
paring them,  all  the  better,  for  the  work  of  laying  the  foun- 
dations of  the. town,  the  state,  the  church.  Their  children, 
too,  who  were  just  coming  to  years,  were  thereby  subjected 
to  an  admirable  training,  iittingthem  to  occupy  the  place  and 
do  the  work  of  the  founders,  when  these  sturdy  yeomen 
should  cease  from  their  care  and  toil. 

One  by  one,  they  were  dropping  into  the  grave.  Seeley, 
Andris,  Dickinson,  Pope,  Simpkin,  Trotter,  Hopkins,  Parker, 
Wilson,  Goodman  Tomson,  Bond,  and  possibly  others,  had 
gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth.  And  now  "  good  old  John 
Ogden,"  whose  wanderings  for  forty  years  had  justly  entitled 
him  to  rank  with  the  "  Pilgrim  Fathers," — the  acknowledged 
pioneer  of  the  town,  in  whose  house  the  first  white  child  of 
the  settlement  was  born,  the  accepted  leader  of  the  people, 
a  pillar  in  the  church  and  in  the  state,  honored  and  trusted  by 
all, — just  as  the  year  1681  is  expiring,  lies  down  and  dies  ; 
leaving  the  impress  of  his  political  and  religious  principles, 
not  only  upon  his  children,  but  upon  the  community  that  he 
has  so  Largely  aided  in  founding.  A  man  he  was  of  more 
than  ordinary  mark — a  man  of  sterling  worth  ;  of  whom  the 
town,  as  well  as  his  numerous  posterity,  should  be  gratefully 
mindful.     lie  was  called   a  "  malcontent,"  and  regarded  as 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  I97 

"  the  leading  malcontent  of  Elizabeth  Town  ;  "  but  surely 
the  man  that  was  held  in  such  high  esteem  by  the  accom- 
plished, sagacious  and  j)ious  Winthroj), — the  man  who,  both 
at  Southampton  and  here,  had  been  an  honored  magis- 
trate, loved  and  trusted  by  the  people,  and,  during  the  Dutch 
rule,  the  virtual  Governor  of  the  English  portion  of  the 
Province,  is  not  to  be  ranked  with  restless  agitators  because 
of  his  persistent  opposition  to  an  arbitrary  government,  A 
true  patriot,  and  a  genuine  Christian,  he  devoted  himself 
while  living  to  the  best  interests  of  the  town,  and  dying  be- 
queathed to  his  sons  the  work  of  completing  what  he  had  so 
fairly  and  effectually  inaugurated — the  establishment  of  a 
vigorous  plantation  founded  on  the  principles  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty. 


198  THE    HISTORY    OF 


ClIAPTEE  X. 

A.  D.  1664-1G82. 

Ecclesiastical — Church  early  organized,  of  Puritan  type — First  Meeting-House 
and  Grounds  —  Ministry  —  Rev.  Thomas  James  —  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck  — 
Rev.  Seth  Fletcher. 

The  early  religious  history  of  the  town  is  involved  in  great 
uncertainty.  But  few  memorials  remain,  from  which  any 
thing,  respecting  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  town,  during 
the  first  score  of  years,  can  be  learned.  It  is  known,  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  settlers,  and  especially  the  leading 
men,  were  professing  Christians,  God-fearing  men,  of  Puri- 
tan principles,  and  religiously  observant  of  the  ordinances  of 
Christianity ;  that  they  were  early  organized  as  a  Christian 
Church  ;  that  this  was  the  only  church-organization  in  the 
town  for  forty  years  ;  that,  soon  after  their  arrival,  they 
erected  a  "  meeting  house,"  in  which  they  were  wont  to 
worship  on  the  Lord's  Day,  and  hold  their  town-meetings. 
But,  of  the  date  of  these  events,  and  of  the  circumstances 
connected  with  the  founding  of  the  church,  and  the  erection 
of  the  meeting-house,  nothing  is  known. 

Mention  is  made  of  "  the  town  house,"  as  early  as  June, 
1671.  Pardon,  in  his  testimony  relative  to  the  Michell  case, 
says,  "that  on  the  10th  of  June,  1G71,  he  was  at  a  meeting  of 
several  inhabitants  of  this  town  who  were  met  togetlier  at 
the  town  house."  It  was,  in  all  probability,  in  this  "  town 
house,"  that  the  first  General  Assembly  of  the  Province  met. 
May  26,  1668,  and  subsequent  Assemblies,  also,  met.  In  the 
Act  of  1682  for  the  erection  of  County  Courts,  it  is  provided, 
that  "the  County  of  Essex  Sessions"  sliall  be  held  "in  the 
publick  Meeting  House  of  Elizabeth  Town,"  twice  in  the 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  199 

year.  The  ''  town-house  "  and  the  "  meeting-house  "  were 
one.  Tlie  Puritans  did  not  believe  in  consecrated  places, 
and  so  had  no  scruples  in  respect  to  the  transaction  of  secu- 
lar business  in  their  meeting-houses.  As  John  Ogden  had, 
more  than  a  scoj-e  of  years  before  his  coming  here,  erected 
the  stone  church  in  the  fort  at  New  Amsterdam,  and  had, 
soon  after  his  coming,  put  up  and  operated  a  saw-mill  at  the 
bridge  ;  and  as  several  of  the  original  Associates  were  car- 
penters and  joiners ;  it  is  more  than  probable,  that  one  of 
their  first  public  concerns  was  the  building  of  their  meeting- 
house. As  early  as  Feb.  19,  166|-,  they  held  "  a  meeting 
court,"  at  which  the  whole  town  was  present,  and  sixty-five 
men  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  fidelity.  The  house  had, 
most  likely,  been  built  before  this  date."- 

Nothing  can  now  be  determined  as  to  its  size,  cost,  arrange- 
ments, or  general  apj^earance.  Something  may  be  conjec- 
tured, by  reference  to  the  town  house  at  Newark,  built  in 
1669,  which  was  to  be  erected  "with  a  Lenter  to  it  all  the 
Length  which  will  make  it  Thirty  Six  foot  Square,  with  the 
doors,  and  Windows,  and  Flue  Boards  at  the  Gable  Ends  ;"  to 
cost  seventeen  pounds,  and  the  Town  to  furnish  the  timber. 
It  w^as  a  frame  building,  and,  probably,  somewhat  larger  and 
more  sightly  than  the  one  at  Newark.f 

The  lot,  on  which  the  house  was  built,  included  the  present 
burying-ground  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  extended 
on  the  west  to  the  river,  and  contained  about  eight  acres. 
The  earliest  survey  of  the  lot,  now  to  be  found,  bears  date, 
June  5,  1Y32,  and  was  made  by  Joseph  Man,  Surveyor.  It 
is  recorded  by  Jeflerys,  the  Town  Clerk,  in  these  words : 

Surveyed  for  the  Committee  of  the  Freeholders  of  Elizabeth  town  tlie 
meeting  house  Lot  beLonging  to  y"  s'^  Eliz"*  town  Begining  at  y*' :  n :  E : 
Corner  of  m'  will"'  ■Williamsons  house  Lot  thence  Euning  North  50 : 
(leg* :  7  :  m :  &  a  \  west  13  :  Chanes  :  75  :  Links  to  y"  mill  Kiver.  thence 
Runing  a3  y"  s''  Kiver  Runs :  2 :  Chanes  &  a  -}  to  m''.  Jewels  Line, 
thence  Runing  South.  88 :  degr'.  East  fifteea  Chanes  &.  15 :  Links  to  a 
highway  thence  Runing  South  15  deg".  &  a  i  west.  9  :  Chanes  :  &.  70 
].inks  to  y  first  mentioned  place    Bounded  on  y"  South  by  Cap:  williain- 

*  Learning  and  Spicer,  pp.  77,  231.     E.  T    Bill,  p.  82.     E.  J.  Roconls,  III.  79. 
t  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  10,11. 


200  THE    HISTORY    OF 

sons  aud  west  by  y'  mill  River  and  north  by  mr.  Jewels  and  East  by  y* 
highway,  the  Contents  of:  y"  abone.  s''.  jieace  of  Land  is  Seiien  acres  and 
foure  hundred  parts  of  one  aero  which  is  but  a  Narey  small  mater  a  bout 
6  Rod  &  all  most  a  i. 

Another  survey  was  made  by  Joseph  Mors?,  May  22, 17G6, 
including  more  ground  on  the  South,  and  estimating  the  whole 
as  containing  about  eight  acres.  The  Trustees  claimed  "  that 
the  first  Purchasers  &  Associates  did  give  tlie  af^  Tract  of 
Land,  for  the  Use  of  a  Presbyterian  Cliurch,  the  Record  of 
which  on  or  about,  the  year  1T19  was  either  lost  or  destroyed." 
Wliereupon  the  Committee  of  the  Freeholders  allowed  "  the 
above  Lot  of  Land  to  the  s*^  Trustees  their  Heirs  &  Succes- 
sors on  the  Eight  of  Matthias  Hatfield,  one  of  the  s*^  Asso- 
ciates." * 

The  meeting-house  occupied  the  site  of  the  present  church  ; 
but,  as  it  was  much  smaller,  it  did  not  cover  much,  if  any, 
more  than  the  front  half — the  other  half  containing  the  graves 
of  most  of  the  first  settlers.  Graves  were  sometimes  dug  "  in 
the  church,"  as  will  appear  on  a  subsequent  page ;  so  that 
nearly  the  whole  area  of  the  First  Church,  probably,  is  occu- 
pied with  the  remains  of  the  first  two  or  tliree  generations  of 
the  people  of  the  town.f 

Provision  was  made,  by  the  Associates,  for  a  "  Town  Lott 
for  the  Minister ; "  who  was  to  have  "  a  third  Lot  Right  in 
the  p'^misses;"  and  reference  is  occasionally  made,  in  the 
Records  of  Survej^s,  to  "  the  parsonage  lot ;"  but  the  survey 
of  the  lot  itself,  and  of  the  first  and  second  divisions  of  the 
third-lot  right,  is  not  on  record. :{; 

The  Rev.  Thomas  James,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  East 
Hampton,  Jj.  I.,  as  already  stated,  had  been  chosen  the  first 
minister  of  the  town,  and  had  consented  to  cast  in  his  lot 
with  them  ;  but  was  persuaded,  by  those  of  his  people  who 
remained,  to  abandon  the  enterprise.  Great  must  liave 
been  the  disappointment,  especially  to  tlie  godly  men  and 
women  who  composed  ^o  large  a  part  of  the  community,  as, 
from  the  scarcity  of  Avortliy  ministers  of  the  gosj^cl,  it  was 

♦  E.  Town  Book,  B.,  pp.  47,  lTO-1.  J  E.  Town  Book,  B.  p.  2. 

t  Tnistoes'  Book,  Mar.  24, 1766 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  201 

no  easy  matter  to  supply  his  place.     That  it  was  supplied, 
to  some  extent,  can  scarcely  he  questioned. 

But  whence  their  pulpit  was  supplied  for  the  first  two 
years  is  not  known.  Possibly  some  one  of  the  ministers  of 
Long  Island,  or  Connecticut,  may  have  made  them  an  occa- 
sional visit.  The  venerable  Pierson  may  liave  made  them 
a  visit,  before  he  removed  to  JSTewark,  Oct.  1, 1667.  Daven- 
port, or  Street,  may  have  come  on  from  'New  Haven,  to  look 
after  the  scattered  sheep  of  their  flock.  Newton,  from  Mil- 
ford,  or  Eliot,  from  Guilford,  or  Bishop,  from  Stamford, 
may,  for  a  like  reason,  have  made  them  an  occasional  visit. 
The  venerable  John  Young,  of  Southold,  had  two  sons  in  the 
colon}'  and  several  of  his  flock,  whom  he  may  have  visited 
now  and  then.  The  same  may  have  been  true  of  James, 
of  East  Hampton,  Fordham,  of  Southampton,  Leverich,  of 
Huntington,  andWalker  of  Jamaica  ;  or  some  recent  graduate 
of  Harvard,  or  some  probationer  of  more  humble  pretensions, 
may  have  here  made  trial  of  his  gifts  ;  or  they  may  have  had 
to  rely  only  on  "  deacon's  meetings,"  as  they  were  called. 

REV.   JEREMIAK    PECK. 

Tlie  Rev.  Jeremiah  Peck  became  a  freeholder  of  this 
town,  as  early  as  1G68.  The  home-lot  of  Capt.  Robert 
Seeley,  deceased,  is  described,  Nov.  2,  1668,  as  lying  "  be- 
tween the  Personage  Lott  and  Jeremiah  Peck's."  The 
precise  date  of  liis  coming  is  not  stated.* 

He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Dea.  "Wm.  Peck,  of  New  Haven, 
Ct. ;  was  born  near  London,  Eng.,  in  1622,  or  1623  ;  and, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  accompanied  his  father,  in  the  ship 
Hector,  to  this  country,  arriving  at  Boston,  June  26,  1637. 
Thence  l)ea.  Peck,  with  his  family,  proceeded  to  New 
Haven,  in  1639,  and  became  one  of  the  founders  of  that 
town.  According  to  Cotton  Mather's  statement,  Jeremiah 
studied  at  Harvard  College,  graduating  in  1654.  But  his 
name  is  not  included  in  the  Harvard  Catalogues.  He  was, 
at  this  time,  in  his  32d  year  ;  and  must,  therefore,  have 
commenced  his  studies  late  in  life.f 

*  E.  J.  Records,  I.  6,  7.  t  Savage's  Gen.  Diet.,  III.  331.    Mather's  Ilccatompolis. 


202  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Devoting  himself  to  the  work  of  teaching,  lie  was  employ- 
ed at  Guilford,  Ct.,  where,  Nov.  12,  1656,  he  married 
Johannah,  daughter  of  Robert  Kitchell,  of  that  town  ;  and 
where,  Jan.  IS,  1659-60,  his  eldest  son,  Samuel,  was  born. 
In  the  Kecords  of  the  Colony  of  New  Haven,  under  date  of 
June  28,  1660,  appears  the  following  entry  : — 

It  was  agreed  that  M'  Pccke,  now  at  Guilford,  should  be  schoole- 
inaster,  and  that  it  should  l>egin  in  October  next,  when  his  half  yeare 
expires  there  ;  he  is  to  keepe  y''  scboole,  to  teach  the  schollers  Lattine, 
Greek  and  Hebrew,  and  fitt  tliem  for  the  Colledge ;  and  for  the  sal.nry, 
he  knovves  the  alowance  fro  the  colony  is  40"  a  yeare  and  for  further 
treaties  they  must  leave  it  to  New  haven,  where  the  schoole  is  ;  and  for 
further  orders  concerning  the  schoole  and  well  carrying  it  on,  the  elders 
will  consider  of  some  against  the  court  of  magistrates  in  October  next, 
when  things  as  there  is  cause  may  be  further  considered. 

Mr.  Peck  accepted  the  appointment,  and  returned  to  his 
old  homo,  in  Oct.  1660,  a  house  and  a  plot  of  land  being 
also  allowed  him.  Under  date  of  May  29,  1661,  the  follow- 
ing record  is  made  : — 

There  was  sundry  propositions  presented  by  ilr.  Pecke,  schoolemaster, 
to  this  Court  as  followeth  :  (in  all  fifteen,  relative  to  the  school ;  closing, 
as  follows)  :  these  things  being  suitably  considered  and  confirmed,  if  it 
please  the  honoured  court  further  to  improue  him  who  at  present  is 
schoole  master,  although  unworthy  of  any  such  respect,  and  weako  for 
such  a  worke,  yet  his  reall  intention  is  to  giue  vp  himselfe  to  the  work 
of  a  gramer  schoole,  as  it  shall  please  God  to  giue  opportunity  and 
assistance. 

His  propositions,  with  some  considerable  modifications, 
were  accepted,  with  -which  "  M''  Pecke  seemed  to  be  very 
well  satisfied.'' 

Nov.  5,  1GG2.  M'  Pecke  ppounded  about  some  differance  betwixt 
the  treasurer  &  himselfe  in  making  vp  their  accounts,  but  the  Court  left 
it  to  them  to  issue  it  between  themselves. 

It  was  alsoe  ppounded  about  4"  abated  of  M'  Pecke's  sallary,  for  some 
time  that  he  left  y"  schoole,  whether  it  should  not  return  to  y'  jurisdic- 
tion.    Owing  to  tlie  distraction  of  the  time  the  school  was  laid  down.* 

This  settlement  of  accounts  was  owing  to  his  removal,  a 
year  previous,  to  the  town  of  Saybrnok,  having  entered  into 

•  N.  Haven  Colonial  Eeconls,  II.  STT,  407,  S;  471,  2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  203 

an  agreement  with  tlie  people,  Sept.  25,  1G61,  to  labor 
among  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  to  receive,  as 
a  settlement,  £100,  in  lands  in  fee,  and  £55,  in  a  house  and 
lot  to  revert  to  the  town  if  he  removed  within  five  years  ; 
his  salary  to  be  £60,  a  year,  to  be  paid  in  two  firkins  of 
butter,  and  the  rest  in  corn  and  flesh  at  current  prices  ;  his 
maintenance  to  be,  if  necessary,  increased.  His  ordination 
must  have  taken  place  in  the  latter  part  of  IGGl,  or  early 
part  of  1662.* 

The  people  of  Saybrook  were  either  a  little  ftistidious,  or 
reasonably  convinced  that  Mr,  Peck  was  not  just  the 
preacher  that  they  needed,  as  appears  from  the  following 
letter : 

Anno  Domini  63  feb.  2  Respected  and  loving  fFriends  the  Inhabitants 
and  planters  of  Seabroke  I  understand  and  that  from  divers  that  there  is 
much  Dissatisfaction  with  Keference  to  myselfe  in  respect  to  my  proceed- 
ing in  the  Ministry  at  least  to  a  settlement  and  that  there  are  desires  in 
many  to  provide  themselves  with  a  more  able  Help:  I  do  freely  leave  my- 
self to  the  providence  of  God  and  the  Thots  of  his  people  :  and  so  far  as  I 
am  any  waycs  concerned  herein  I  doo  leave  the  Towne  wholly  to  their 
own  Liberty  to  provide  for  themselves  as  God  shall  direct:  and  with  re- 
spect to  laying  aside  the  future  Term  of  years  expressed  in  the  Covenant 
as  also  of  laying  me  asi'de  from  an  Employment  of  so  great  a  concernment 
I  do  desire  that  these  Things  may  be  duly  considered  and  dealt  tenderly 
in  that  I  may  not  be  rendered  useless  in  future  service  for  God  :  altho  I 
am  unworthy  to  be  improved  so  I  am  yours  in  what  I  may  as  God  shall 
please  to  direct  and  enable.t 

jSTotwithstanding  these  difficulties,  he  continued  at  Say- 
brook  nearly  two  years  longer,  closing  his  engagement,  Jan. 
30,  166|,  the  town  "  giving  him  full  possession  of  his  accom- 
modation," and  purchasing  it  of  him  for  his  successor.  He 
returned  to  Guilford,  where  he  found  his  father-in-law,  many 
of  the  Guilford  people,  and  the  greater  part  of  Branford  with 
Mr.  Pierson,  their  aged  minister,  talking  about  a  removal  to 
New  Jersey.  Casting  in  his  lot  with  them,  he  came  to 
Newark,  either  in  the  autumn  of  1666,  or  the  spring  of  1667, 
and  became  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town.  His  house-lot 
was  on  the  E.  corner  of  Market  and  Mulberry  sts.,  adjoining 

*  Bronson's  Waterbury,  pp.  201-12.       t  Stiles'  Itineniry,  in  Y;ilo  Coll.  Lib.,  III.  122. 


204r  THE    HISTORY    OF 

his  father-in-law's,  on  Mulljcny  st.,  and  Obadiah  Bruen's  on 
Market  st.  It  is  probable,  that  he  served  the  town  in  the 
ministry  until  ]\[r.  Pierson's  arrival,  Oct.  1,  1G67.* 

The  close  relations,  that  subsisted  between  the  people  of 
this  town  and  !Newark,  may  have  led  them  to  seek  a  supply 
for  their  vacant  pulpit  at  Newark.  Mr.  Peck  was  not 
needed  there,  after  Mr.  Pierson  came,  and,  in  all  probability', 
soon  after  removed  to  this  town,  and  entered  on  the  work  of 
the  ministry  here,  occupying  himself,  also,  as  a  teacher  of 
the  rising  generation.  As  stated  before,  he  was  a  townsman 
in  November,  10G8,  and  may  have  been  such  for  a  year, 
previous.  In  Jul}-,  1670,  the  people  of  Woodbridge  instruct- 
ted  their  committee  for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit,  to  apply  to 
"Mr.  Peck  of  Elizabethtown,"  or  "Mr.  Samuel  Treat,  to 
preach  six  or  seven  months."  A  subsequent  application.  May, 
1675,  was  made  to  Mr.  "  Jeremiah  Peck,"  but  with  no  better 
success.f 

It  is  evident  that  Mr.  Peck  was  known  extensively  as  a 
minister  of  the  gospel.  An  application  for  his  ministerial 
services  was  made  in  March,  107{;,  by  the  people  of  Jamaica, 
L.  I.  At  a  town  meeting,  March  6, 167f ,  they  made  "  choise 
of  Jonas  holsteade  &  John  Foster  to  goe  to  Mr"  Pek  or  any 
other  minister  that  may  be  j^rocured  to  come  and  live 
amongst  us  as  our  minister."  In  the  Records  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  E.  Jersey,  he  is  designated  as  "  Clarke,"  or  Clergy- 
man,:{: 

In  the  absence,  therefore,  of  all  evidence  to  the  contrary, 
it  is  safe  to  conclude,  that  Mr.  Jeremiah  Peck  came  to  this 
town  as  early  as  1668,  on  invitation  of  the  people,  to  serve 
them  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel ;  and  that  he  is  to  be  re- 
garded as  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  in  this  place.  His 
house-lot  is  described  as  containing  5  acres,  13  by  4  chains, 
bounded,  N.  &  E.,  by  highways  ;  S.,  by  Ben.  Parkis  (for- 
merly Capt.  Seeley's) ;  and  W.,  by  the  Mill  Creek.  He  had 
an  allotment  of  ISO  acres,  M'ith  a  third-lot  right.§ 

In  1672,  he  became,  with  others,  a  purchaser  from  the  In- 

*  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  8,  5,  10.    E.  J.  Records,  II.  93. 

t  'WbUohcod's  Amboy,  p.  331.        $  Macdonald's  Jaraaicft,  p.  59.        §  E.  J.  Records,  II.  93. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  205 

dians,  of  a  tract  of  land,  in  the  western  part  of  the  present 
town  of  Greenwich,  Ct.  In  the  autumn  of  1G78,  he  accepted 
an  invitation  to  settle  with  them  in  the  ministry,  where  he 
continued  until  1690  ;  when,  having  made  himself  obnoxious 
to  some  of  the  Greenwich  people,  by  his  opposition  to  "  the 
half-way  covenant,"  and  having  been  invited  to  settle  at 
Waterbury,  Ct.,  he  entered  upon  the  pastoral  work  at  the 
latter  place,  and  continued  there  until  his  death,  June  7, 
1699,  in  the  78tli  year  of  his  age.  Ilis  eldest  son,  Samuel, 
remained  at  Greenwich,  and  became  the  father  of  the  numer- 
ous family  of  that  name  in  that  vicinity.* 

REV.  SETH  FLETCHER. 

The  second  minister  of  the  town  v/as  the  Rev.  Seth 
Fletcher.  After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Peck  at  the  close  of 
1678,  there  is  nothing  on  record  to  show,  that  any  minister 
of  the  gospel  had  become  a  permanent  resident  until  the 
summer  of  1680,  when  Mr.  Fletcher  was  employed  to 
preach. 

He  was  the  son  of  Robert  Fletcher,  of  Concord,  Mass.,  who 
died,  April  3, 1677,  aged  85.  His  sister,  Hope,  was  married 
to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stow,  son  of  Thomas  Stow,  of  Concord,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  in  1645,  the  first  minister  of  Middletown, 
Ct.,  from  1616  to  1655,  and  thenceforward  a  citizen  of  Mid- 
dletown till  his  death,  in  1701.  Mr.  Fletcher  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion,  at  Hampton,  ]^.  II.,  in  early  life,  under  the 
ministry  of  the  Rev,  Timothy  Dalton,  with  whom  he  studied  for 
the  ministry.  He  married,  previous  to  1655,  at  Portsmouth, 
N.  IL,  Mary,  the  only  daughter  of  Maj.  Bryan  Pendleton, 
a  man  of  considerable  propert}^  and  distinction.  Their  only 
child  inherited,  at  his  grandfather's  death,  in  1681,  the  home- 
stead at  Winter  Harbor,  Me.  As  early  as  1655,  Mr..Fletcher 
became  the  minister  of  Wells,  Me.  ;  but,  owing  mainly  to  the 
laxness  of  his  views  on  the  sanctitication  of  the  Sabbath,  he 
was  dismissed,  in  Oct.,  1660.  From  this  time  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Indian  War,  in  1675,  he  resided  at  Saco, 
Me.,  supplying  the  pulpit,  except  for  short  intervals,  from 

♦  Bronson'8  Watorbury,  pp.  201-12.    Mead's  Hist,  of  Greenwich,  pp.  C7,  8,  72,  3,  295-306. 


206  THE    HISTORY    OF 

year  to  j'car.  Ketiring  with  his  i'ather-in-Liw  from  the  ex- 
posed frontiers,  he  tarried  awhile  at  Salem.  Mass.,  where  he 
preached  occasionally  for  the  Kev.  John  Iligginson,  at  whose 
instance,  in  1676,  he  visited  the  towns  on  the  east  end  of  Long 
Island.  Fordham,  of  Southampton,  had  died  in  1674,  and 
had  been  succeeded,  until  Jul}',  1676,  by  John  Ilarrinian. 
He  had  now  returned  to  New  Haven,  and  Mr.  Fletcher  was 
employed  as  his  successor.* 

Mr.  Fletcher  remained  at  Southampton  about  four  years, 
(1676-80) ;  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  was  induced 
to  remove,  and  become  the  minister  of  this  town,  in  the  sum- 
mer or  autumn  of  1680.  Of  his  ministry  here,  the  only  me- 
morial is  a  letter  to  Mr.  Increase  Mather  of  Boston,  dated 
"  Elizabeth  Townc,  March  25,  1681."  It  is  a  document  of 
great  interest,  and  the  earliest  ecclesiastical  memorial  of  the 
town.     It  presents  some  facts  not  otherwise  known  : — 

Rev.  Sir  :  You  may  please  to  call  to  mind  tliat  since  I  saw  you  in  March 
(or  Aprell)  the  year  past,  I  wrott  a  Letter  to  you  bearing  date  May  28 ; 
1080,  and  another  before  that,  May  10,  IGSO.  That  upon  May  10  (espe- 
cially) being  about  Mr.  Gershom  Hobart's  16?.  6d.  whicli  be  is  indebted 
to  mee,  and  Mr.  Trapp's  Exposition  from  Romans  to  the  end  of  the  Bible 
(in  quarto.)  I  never  beard  from  you  since  what  bath  been  done  with  it. 
I  am  now  more  remote  and  so  the  more  to  secke  of  cash.  New  Yoi'k  not 
being  such  a  place  for  the  production  of  money  as  Boston  is.  Be  pleased 
therefore  to  acquaint  Mr.  Bateman  at  the  draw  bridge  foote  what  you 
have  done,  or  like  to  doe,  or  are  inclined  to  doe  about  it.  I  have  been 
much  molested  with  Quakers  here  since  I  came.  New  ones  comeing  in 
one  ofter  another.  Upon  February  last  past  upon  the  motion  of  two  of 
the  sect,  one  of  which  two  is  a  schoolcmr  to  some  children  in  the  towne 
(by  nation  a  Scott,  by  name  John  Usquehart,)  by  former  profession  (as 
fame  makes  known  to  mee)  a  Popish  Priest.  A  scholler  he  doth  professe 
hiraselfe  to  be,  and  I  find  that  he  hath  the  Latiuo  tongue.  The  businesse 
of  that  day  was  for  mee  to  maintain  an  Assertion  viz.  That  a  Quaker  liv- 
ing and  dyeing  as  a  Quaker  (without  repentance)  must  find  out  a  new 
gospell,  which  might  aford  them  hope  of  salvation,  for  what  God  hath 
revealed  in  liis  holy  word  there  was  no  salvation  for  them  in  their  impen- 
itent condition.  I  opened  the  terms  Explicated  by  way  of  distinction  of 
sedusers  and  seduced  and  so  tlieir  sinncs,  and  likewise  wliat  God  expected 
from  the  one  and  the  other  sort,  which  being  done  (jilthough  there  were 

*  Bavagc's  Gon.  Diet.,  II.  173^.  Allen's  Am.  Biog. 'Diet.,  Art.,  Stow.  Grecnleafs 
Sketdtics,  p.  53.  Folsom's  Saeo  and  Biddoford,  pp.  180-S.  Felt'3  New  England,  II.  173, 
249,  392.    Maes.  Records,  IV.  420,  434. 


ELIZACETn,    NEW    JERSEY.  207 

four  or  fire  more  Quakers  in  the  tlirong,  yet  none  appearing  in  the  cause 
but  the  scholler  aforesaid  and  a  Chirurgeon)  I  demanded  of  them  -what 
they  had  to  say  against  my  Explanation.  Instead  of  speaking  pertinently 
the  scholler  (whom  I  understand  had  been  at  the  University  four  or  five 
years)  begins  to  tell  the  people  a  story  of  Moses,  Ezra,  Elabaccuk  their 
being  Quakers.  "Whereupon  having  the  people  on  account  of  the  business 
of  the  day  I  proceeded  to  six  severall  Arguments  by  -whicli  to  make  good 
my  Assertion,  viz.  That  a  Quaker  living  and  dyeinaas  a  Quaker  (without 
repentance)  according  to  what  God  hath  revealed  in  his  word,  he  could 
not  be  saved.  I  in  every  argument  demanded  what  part  of  the  Argu- 
ments they  would  deny  but  instead  of  answer  there  was  railing  and 
threatening  mee  that  my  destruction  was  nigh  at  hand.  To  ])rove  the 
Minor  I  continually  produced  their  owne  authors  and  several  things  out 
of  their  Rabble's  books,  which  so  exceedingly  gauled  them  that  then  they 
set  themselves  to  Humming,  singing,  reeling  their  heads  and  bodies  (An- 
tique like)  whereby  both  to  disturb  mee  and  to  take  off  the  people  from 
attending  to  what  I  had  to  say  for  the  maintaining  the  Assertion.  Since 
that  (I  heare)  I  must  ere  long  be  proved  to  be  no  minister  of  Christ,  and 
they  have  attempted  to  raise  as  great  a  party  at  Eoad  Inland  and  Delle- 
way  Bay  against  mee  as  tliey  can.  Nay  more  tliey  say  England  and  their 
friends  there  shall  heare  of  it  and  in  speciall  Will.  Penn,  Avhom  I  men- 
tioned once  and  but  once  and  then  but  in  my  4th  argument,  Namely  his 
denyall  of  Christ  being  a  distinct  person  without  us  from  his  book  en- 
titled Counterfeit  Christian  p.  77.  As  for  news  about  Commonwealth 
afi'airs  I  saw  a  Proclamation  of  the  old  Governor  forbideing  upon  Perill 
the  graunting  any  obedience  to  those  in  present  power,  promiseing  open 
courts  shortly.  The  proclamation  was  put  up  here  at  our  meeting  house 
upon  Sabbath  morn  March  1G80-1,  but  before  morning  exercise  taken 
down,  and  the  day  after  sent  to  York.  What  the  issue  will  be  God  (in 
time)  will  discover.  Sir  no  further  to  inlarge  I  take  leave  committing 
you,  to  the  keeper  of  Israel,  remaineing  yours  to  serve  you  in  the  Lord. 

I  saw  Mr.  Abraham  Person  in  healtli  upon  Tliursday  morning  March 
9  at  his  own  house  and  the  next  day  Mr.  Allen  (in  health  also)  at  my 
house.* 

During  Mr.  Fletcher's  residence  at  Southampton,  he  had 
become  somewhat  intimately  acquainted  with  the  familj  of 
Mr.  Henry  Pierson,  the  ancestor  of  the  Pierson  family.  Mr. 
Fletcher,  whose  wife  had  died  some  years  previously,  may 
liave  been  an  inmate  of  his  house.  Mr.  Pierson  died,  Oct.^ 
1680,  leaving  his  wife,  Mary,  and  their  children,  Joseph, 
Henry,  (b.  1652),  Benjamin,  Theodore,  and  Sarali  (b.  Jan. 

*  MaUier  Papers.    Folsom's  Saco,  pp.  130-6. 


208  THE    HISTORY    OF 

20,  1660).  His  estate  was  valued  at  £125G,  1,  2,— a  large 
sum.  In  due  time  Mr.  Fletcher  made  proposals  of  marriage 
to  tlie  -widow,  wliicli  were  accepted  ;  and,  May  30,  1681,  or 
shortly  after,  they  were  united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock.  A 
written  contract  was  drawn  np,  and  entered  on  the  Kecords 
of  the  Province,  as  follows  : — 

This  writing  witnesseth  A  Covenant  Contract  and  Agreement  by  and 
between  M'  Seth  Fletcher  of  Elizabeth  Town  in  the  Province  of  New 
Jersey  of  the  one  part  and  M"  'Mary  Pearson  of  Southanipton  in  the  East 
rilling  of  Yorkshire  on  Long  Island  of  the  other  part  and  is  as  followeth 

Imp'  the  said  M"'  Seth  Fletcher  by  and  upon  tlie  said  M"  Peirson's 
and  his  sollom  Contract  of  Marriage  doth  hereby  bind  bimself  his  heirs 
Executors  and  Administrators  firmly  by  these  presents,  that  he  will  not 
at  any  time  vase  or  dispose  or  in  the  Least  ever  Concern  himself  or  desire 
any  of  the  Estate  of  her  the  said  M"  Peirson  notwithstanding  their  Mar- 
riage togcath  Onely  one  lumdred  pounds  which  the  said  M"  Peirson  doth 
Engage  to  Deliver  into  his  hands  for  the  Mutual  Comfort  of  each  other 
and  doth  Engage  himself  that  if  it  should  please  God  to  call  him  out  of 
this  Life  before  the  said  M"  Pearson  to  Leave  unto  her  the  said  hundred 
pounds  again  and  also  to  give  unto  her  one  hundred  pounds  more  of  his 
own  proper  Estate  and  to  take  three  of  her  children  with  her  as  Long  as 
she  shall  see  cause  to  have  them  so  to  be  with  her  and  she  the  said  M" 
Mary  Pearson  doth  hereby  Engage  herself  and  her  Executors  that  if  she 
shall  depart  this  her  Natural  Life  before  him  the  said  M"'  Seth  Fletcher 
that  then  he  the  said  M""  Seth  Fletcher  shall  Quietly  have  and  forever  as 
his  own  proper  and  free  Estate  Enjoy  the  aforesaid  One  Hundred  Pounds, 
without  the  Least  demand  of  any  by  from  or  under  her  the  said  M"  Peir- 
son Clayming  or  Laying  any  manner  of  title  or  Clairae  to  any  part  or 
I)arcoll  thereof  and  this  our  mutual  sollomn  Covenant  and  agreement,  wee 
Joyntly  and  Severally  before  the  sollomn  Tye  of  Matrimony  have  here- 
unto for  the  Conformation' of  this  our  Covenant  both  of  us  set  our  hands 
and  scales  in  Southampton  this  thirtieth  day  of  May  in  the  thirty  third 
yeare  of  the  Reigne  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  Charles  the  Second  By  the 
Grace  of  God  King  of  England  France  and  Ireland  Annoq,  Dom  ICSl. 

Seth  Fletcher 

In  the  presence  of  us  Josiiah  Barnes  Mary  Peirson 

Henry  Peirson  Tliomas  Harris.* 

,  Benjamin  Pierson,  and,  probably,  two  others  of  her  chil- 
dren, accompanied  Mrs.  Fletcher  to  her  new  home,  and  thus 
the  Pierson  family  were  introduced  here — distinct  from  the 

•  E.  J.  Records,  IV.  14.    N.  Y.  Book  of  Wills.  II.  C2-4. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  209 

Kewark  family,  wlio  sprang  from  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson  ; 
though  the  latter  was  probably  an  nncle,  or  elder  brother  of 
Henry  Pierson,  Sen"",  of  Southampton.* 

Mr.  Fletcher's  death  occurred  in  August  of  the  following 
year  (1682),  and  his  widow  took,  Sept.  18,  Letters  of  Admin- 
istration from  Governor  Carteret.  His  estate  was  valued  at 
£559,  5,  8,  of  which  the  books  were  rated  at  £175,  4,  4. 
His  library  must  have  been  quite  large  for  the  times.  He 
appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  vigorous  thought,  of  scholarly 
attainments,  and  of  much  zeal  for  the  truth, — though,  at  one 
time,  somewhat  lax  on  the  doctrine  of  the  Sabbath.  Possibly, 
his  controversies  with  the  Quakers  in  these  parts  may  have 
led  him  to  entertain  more  orthodox  vi6ws  on  that  subject. 
He  was,  probably,  nearly  sixty  years  old  at  the  time  of  his 
decease.  The  children  of  his  son,  Pendleton,  (who  died  a 
captive  among  the  Indians  in  1698),  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
"Wells  and  Saco,  Me.f 

*  Ilowell's  Southampton,  pp.  263,  4. 

t  E.  J.  Eecords,  IV.  U.    Folsora's  Saoo,  pp,  130-C. 

14 


210  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    XI. 

A.D.  1682-1688. 

Death  of  Sir  George  Carteret  —  Sale  of  the  Province  —  Quaker  Rule  —  Robert 
Barclay,  Governor  —  Thomas  Rudyard,  Dep.  Governor  —  Death  of  Gov.  Car- 
teret—  His  Character  —  His  Will  —  New  Era  —  Quaker  Settlers  —  Descrip- 
tions of  the  Town  and  Country  in  1684-5  —  Rudyard's  Administration  — 
Legislature  —  Enactments — Gawen  Laurie,  Dep.  Governor — Land  Troubles 
revived  —  Militia  —  Scotch  Immigration  —  Lawrie's  Account  of  the  Town  and 
Country  —  Scot's  Model  —  Other  Accounts  —  Lawrie's  Land  Investments  — 
Western  Bounds — Baker's  Trial  —  Perth  Amboy  made  the  Capital  —  Acces- 
sion of  the  Duke  of  York  to  the  Throne  —  Trouble  about  the  Newark  Bounds  — 
Lawrie  Superseded. 

With  the  decease  of  Sir  George  Carteret,  Jan.  14,  IG-^-f  j  ^ 
new  administration  of  tlie  government  of  East  Jersey  became 
a  necessity.  In  bis  will,  dated  Dec.  5,  1678,  all  bis  property 
in  E.  Jersey  was  devised  to  Trustees  for  the  benefit  of  bis 
creditors.  Fruitless  attempts  were  made,  for  two  or  three 
^ears,  to  obtain  a  purchaser,  though  the  whole  territory  with 
the  right  of  jurisdiction  was  offered  to  Lord  Norreys  and 
others  for  less  than  £6000,  The  government  of  the  Province, 
in  the  mean  time,  was  administered  in  the  name  of"  The  Right 
Hon^'*^  The  Lady  Elizabeth  Carteret,  Baroness,  Widow,  The 
Relict  and  Sole  Executrix  of  the  Right  Hon^'®  Sir  George 
Carteret,  Knight  and  Baronet  Deceased  Late  Lord  Proprietor 
of  the  said  Province,  and  Grandmother  and  Guardian  to  Sir 
George  Carteret  Baronet  Grandson  and  Heir  of  the  said 
Sir  George  Carteret  Deceased,  the  Present  Lady  Proprietrix 
of  the  Province  aforesaid.""  "" 

The  Province,  with  the  Jurisdiction  of  the  People,  was  at 
length  disposed  of  to  the  highest  bidder  in  January,  168^, 

•  E.  J.  Records,  II.  ST. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  211 

together  with  all  arrearages  of  rent  and  sums  of  money  due 
to  the  late  Proprietor,  for  which,  Deeds  of  Lease  and  Release 
were  executed,  Feb.  1  &  2,  168|^.  The  sum  paid  for  the 
property  and  privileges  was  £3400.  The  purchasers  were 
an  Association  of  twelve  persons,  residents  of  London  and  its 
vicinity,  the  most  of  them  connected  with  the  Society  of 
Friends,  Wm.  Penn,  Thomas  Rudyard  and  Samuel  Groome 
being  of  the  number.  Presently  after,  the  number  of  the 
Associates  was  doubled,  six  being  added  from  Scotland,  and 
the  remainder  mostly  from  London.  Among  the  Scotch 
were  James  Drummond,  the  Earl  of  Perth,  Lord  High  Chan- 
cellor of  Scotland,  a  thorough  monarchist  of  the  Stuart  type, 
and  subsequently  a  Papist  and  an  exiled  Jacobite  ;  his  brother, 
David  Drummond ;  and  Robert  Barclay,  of  Urie,  the  Quaker 
Apologist.  Gawn  Lawrie,  the  Quaker  merchant,  was  one  of 
the  new  Proprietors,  from  London.  One  Proprietor  was  thus 
exchanged  for  twenty-four  ;  and  the  Cavalier  for  the  Quaker 
rule.* 

Robert  Barclay,  originally  a  Presbyterian,  then  a  Papist, 
and  now  a  Quaker,  being  in  favor  not  only  with  William 
Penn,  the  leading  Quaker,  but  with  the  royal  family,  was 
'chosen  Governor  of  the  Province,  with  the  privilege  of  non- 
residence  and  of  acting  by  Deputy.  He  made  choice  of 
Thomas  Rudyaed,  one  of  the  Proprietors,  and  a  London  bar- 
rister, as  his  Deputy.  Samuel  Groome,  another  Proprietor, 
and  a  sea-captain,  of  Stepney,  near  London,  who  had  visited 
America  in  1676,  was  appointed  Receiver  and  Surveyor 
General. f 

Rudyard  and  Groome  arrived,  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  the  town,  November  13,  1682  ;  thus  superseding  Carteret 
and  Vauquellin,  and  putting  an  end  to  Carteret's  long  con- 
test with  the  people.  Rudyard  brought  with  him  his  two 
adult  daughters,  Margaret  and  Anne,  and,  possibly,  his  two 
sons,  Benjamin  and  John,  also.  Groome,  whose  tamily  re- 
mained in  England,  became  the  Governor's  host.     Carteret 

*  Loamins  and  Spicer,  pp.  141-150.  Whitehead's  E.  Jersey,  pp.  82, 3, 8,  90,  196-203.  E.  T. 
Bill,  pp.  8,  y,  S2. 

t  Griihame's  United  States,  I.  482,  8;  5SS.    Whitcheail's  E.  Jersey,  pp.  89-91,123-5,  200, 

1.  3.     Whitehead's  Amboy,  p.  13. 


212  THE    HISTORY    OF 

continued  to  occupy  the  government-house,  which  he  claimed 
as  his  own  property.  Groorae's  house  was  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Creek,  below  the  bridge,  on  tide  water.* 

Carteret  survived  his  retirement  from  office  only  some  four 
weeks,  his  will,  made  just  before  his  death,  bearing  date, 
Dec.  10,  1G82.  Of  the  cause,  occasion  and  circumstances  of 
his  death,  no  record  remains.  It  may  have  result*ed  from  the 
injuries  received  at  the  time  of  his  capture  by  Andros. 
However  well-qualiiied,  by  gifts  and  attainments,  he  may 
have  been,  for  the  administration  of  the  government  of  a 
newly-founded  Colony,  he  failed  to  secure  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  town  and  province.  Living  among,  and  asso- 
ciating daily  with,  a  community  in  full  sympathy  with  the 
men  and  manners  and  principles  of  the  Commonwealth,  he 
was  ever  exemplifying,  asserting,  and  upholding  the  social 
and  political  (if  not  the  ecclesiastical)  principles  of  the 
Stuarts,  and  exacting  a  deference,  as  the  representative  of 
that  aristocratic  and  vicious  court,  which  the  Puritan  colo- 
nists of  the  town  and  Province  were  among  the  very  last  to 
concede.  Instead  of  identifying  himself  as  much  as  possible 
with  his  townsmen,  and  seeking  to  conciliate  them,  he  seems 
to  have  pursued  a  course,  almost  from  the  first,  that,  he  must 
have  known,  would  excite  their  prejudices,  and  thwart  their 
plans  and  purposes  in  founding  a  settlement  in  the  wilderness. 
From  the  time  of  the  first  collision  with  the  people  in  1668, 
he  persisted  in  excluding,  from  his  council  and  confidence, 
the  very  best  men  in  the  communit^^ — men  of  sterling  integ- 
rity and  of  great  moral  worth,  putting  in  office,  and  persist- 

*  Scot's  Model  of  E.  N.  J.,  pp.  149, 150.  The  government  honse,  built  by  Carteret,  Just 
before  his  death,  was  subsequently  known  as  the  "  White  House;"  sometimes  as  "  t^chuy- 
Icr's  House,"  it  having  passed  into  the  bands  of  Col.  Peter  Scbuylep.  It  was  converted  into 
a  public  house,  and  was  kept  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Johnston,  formerly  the  widow  of  TVm.  Wil- 
liamson, aud  then  of  Mr.  Chetwood,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Matthias  De  Hart,  and  sister  of  Mrs. 
Samuel  Mann.  It  was  then  called,  "the  Nag's  Head  Tavern."  In  1766,  it  was  offered  for 
s.ile,  by  Jonathan  Hampton.  lu  17S4,  It  was  again  advertised  (by  Col.  Edward  Thomas)  for 
sale,  as  "  that  large,  commodious,  and  famous  Brick  House,  known  by  tho  name  of  the  White 
House,  built  in  tlio  strongest  and  best  manner,  by  a  former  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  for  the 
seat  of  government,  beautifully  situated  on  tho  river  running  tlirough  the  town,  on  which  is 
a  very  good  wliarf"  It  is  tlius  fully  identified  as  Carteret's  house.  In  1749,  St.  Johns  Par- 
sonage is  described  in  the  deed  of  sale,  as  -'on  the  South  side  of  the  said  Elizabeth  Town  Creek 
opposite  to  a  large  white  house  now  or  late  belonging  to  Mr.  Peter  Schuyler."  Tliis  deter- 
mines the  locality.  Weyman's  N.  Y.  Gazette,  No.  249.  Holt's  N.  Y.  Journal,  No.  1214. 
Clark's  St.  John's  Church,  p.  1S6. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  213 

entlj  retaining,  Avlicn  notoriously  rejected  and  despised 
for  their  sycopliancy,  such  parasites  as  Bollen,  Yauquellin, 
and  Pardon.  His  administration  must  be  regarded  as  a  com- 
plete  faihire,  opposed,  as  it  was,  almost  from  the  beginning, 
by  the  worthiest  men  of  tlie  Colony.  He  seems  to  have  had 
no  party  in  the  town,  outside  of  the  clique  that  came  with 
him  and  lived  on  his  favor  and  patronage. 

His  position  enabled  him  to  acquire  some  of  the  very  best 
properties  in  the  settlement ;  not  less  than  4,000  acres  having 
been  surveyed  for  him  and  Sir  George.  He  died  in  his  44th 
year.  His  widow  survived  him,  and  continued  to  reside  in 
the  town,  octupying  for  a  considerable  time,  and  claiming 
as  her  own,  in  her  husband's  right,  the  government  house 
and  property.  She  became,  in  1685,  the  wife  of  Col.  Richard 
Townley,  who  had  become  a  resident  of  the  tgwn  very  shortly 
after  her  husband's  death.  Her  eldest  son,  Joseph,  married 
in  1690  Mary  Townley,  who  was  undoubtedly.  Col.  Richard's 
daughter,  by  his  first  wife." 

With  the  change  of  proprietorship  came  a  new  era  in  the 
history  of  the  town.  Rudyard  w^as  furnished  with  a  kind 
and  conciliatory  letter  from  the  Proprietors  to  the  planters. 
Everything  connected  with  the  new  order  of  affairs  gave 
promise  of  peace  and  prosperity.  Rudyard  was  a  man  of 
amiable  instincts,  and  courteous  demeanor,  though  not  want- 
ing in  firmness*.  He  represented,  not  the  lordly  cavalier  of 
an  aristocratic  court,  but  a  trading  association,  of  which  the 

*  E.  J.  Records,  A.  17-18;  II.  2„  p.  84S.  Whitehead's  E.  Jersey,  p.  85.  Extracts  from 
the  Will  of  Philip  Carteret.  "I  give  ifc  bequeath  my  Soul  to  Almighty  God  that  Gave  it 
inc  in  full  Assurance  that  I  shall  be  made  Partaker  of  Eternal  Life  by  &  through  the  :Mcrrits 
of  ray  most  Dear  and  blessed  lledeemer  Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour,  and  my  Body  to  be  buryed 
in  such  decent  manner  as  my  Executri.x  shall  think  meet  in  the  Vault  at  Goveru"^  Stephen- 
son's Bowry,  if  Liberty  may  be  obtain'd,  otherways  Liberty  to  be  purchas'd  in  the  Church  att 
New  York."  All  his  Estate  in  Now  Jersey  he  gives  to  his  "-most  de«ro  Wife  Elizabeth  Car- 
teret'' and  her  heirs;  ho  then  adds:  "And  all  my  Negroes  and  other  Servants,  excepting 
Black  Jack  who  Ja.  sett  free  from  servitude  from  and  after  the  Day  of  my  Burial."  "  Unto 
my  Mother  Mrs.  Kachell  Carteret  if  she  bo  yctt  living  All  that  my  Manner  House,  Edifice  and 
Buildings  with  all  my  Lands,  Tenements  &  Hereditaments  within  tho  Island  of  Jersey  : " 
in  case  of  her  death,  to  be  "equally  conveyed  to  my  Brother's  and  Sister's  children  of  my  said 
Mother."  Ho  appoints  his  "  dearo  Wife  sole  Executrix;"  and  desires  his  "well-beloved 
friends  Thomas  Rudyard  and  Robert  Vicars  of  Elizabeth  Town  afores""  to  bo  assistant  to  my 
aaid  Executrix  appointing  them  to  bo  my  Trustees  and  Supervisors."  Tho  witnesses  to  the 
Will  arc  Robert  Vicars,  Isaac  Swinton,  James  Einott,  George  Jewell  and  Martha  Symes. 
It  was  proved  Dec.  80, 1GS2.  See,  also,  Genealogy  of  the  Lawrence  Family,  pp.  139, 149-50. 
Learning  and  Sjiicer,  p.  ITT. 


214  THE    HISTORY    OF 

members  were,  most  of  tlicm,  plain  and  unassuming  men, 
attached  to  a  sect  everywhere  spoken  against,  familiar  with 
adversity,  and  who,  in  person  and  estate,  had  suffered  not  a 
little  from  the  intolerance  of  the  crown. 

Some  few  of  this  sect,  but  not  the  most  favorable  speci- 
mens, had,  as  appears  from  Mr.  Fletcher's  statement,  already 
found  their  way  into  the  settlement.  Shrewsbury,  one  of  the 
seven  associated  towns  that  constituted  the  Province,  had 
been  settled  in  1667,  almost  exclusively  by  Quakers,  the  first 
religious  meetings  of  the  Society  in  N.  Jersey  having  been 
held  there  in  1670.  The  territory  of  West  Jersey  had,  since 
167-1,  been  in  the  possession  of  members  of  the  Society,  and 
the  lower  part  of  the  Delaware  had  been  peopled,  on  either 
side,  by  numerous  arrivals  of  Quakers,  year  by  year,  since 
1675.  This  towj?  had  now  become  the  seat  of  a  Quaker  gov- 
ernment, and  so  gradually  began  to  receive  accessions  to  the 
number  of  its  planters  from  the  better  class  of  the  Society. 
These  mostly  took  up  or  bought  lands  on  the  Kahway  river, 
where  their  successors  in  lineage  and  doctrine  are  found  at 
the  present  day.* 

An  "  Account  of  the  settled  towns  "  "  in  the  Province  of 
East  New  Jersey,"  in  1680,  "  given  under  the  hand  of  Cap- 
tain Nicholls,  Secretary  of  the  Duke  in  New  York,"  contains 
the  following  statements  respecting  this  town : — 

It  lies  up  3  miles  within  a  Creek,  the  entrance  whereof  is  opposite  to 
the  IsTortliwcst  end  of  Staten  Island.  Tiiere  are  several  Out-plantations 
on  the  North  end  of  the  River  which  divides  the  bounds  between  this 
Town  and  Woodbridge,  particularly  where  the  roads  pass  over,  to  which 
place  is  about  7  or  8  miles.  There  are  other  plantations  at  the  point  or 
entrance  of  the  Creek,  on  the  North  side  of  it,  commonly  called  Gov- 
ernor Carteret's  point,  where  there  is  another  farme,  between  the  pro- 
prietor and  him.  Its  but  a  narrow  passage  there  over  to  the  meadows  of 
Staten  Island,  then  'on  Northward  there  are  other  Plantations  fronting 
to  the  Bay  that  lies  to  the  North  part  of  Staten  Island,  besides  some  other 
within  Land,  from  the  Town  to  New  York  bounds.  There  is  in  this 
Town  a  house,  orchards  and  farm,  within  the  Town  in  partnership  be- 
tween the  Proprietor  and  Govcrnour,  Philip  Carteret,  it  being  one  of  the 
first  houses  built  there,  and  hatii  all  along  been  the  resident  of  tlie  Gov- 
crnour, mitill  of  late  he  hath  finished  his  New  house.     The  Town  is  built 

*  Proud'8  nist.  of  Pa.,  1. 161. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  215 

on  both  sides  of  the  Creek,  and  consists  of  150  Families  and  of  700  In- 
habitants. The  Acres  taken  up'  by  the  Town  are  computed  to  be  10,000, 
and  for  the  Out-Plantations  30,000.*, 

Several  interesting  statements  respecting  the  Town  are, 
also,  preserved  in  a  letter  written  by  Gov,  Rudyard,  May  30, 
1683,  about  six  months  after  his  arrival.     He  speaks  of  the 

Fresh  and  salt  meadows,  which  now  are  very  valuable,  and  no  man 
here  will  take  up  a  Tract  of  Land  without  them,  being  the  support  of  their 
flocks  in  Winter,  which  other  parts  must  supplie  by  store,  and  taking 
more  care  for  English  grass.  But  know,  where  salt  marshes  are  not  there 
is  no  muskettos  and  that  manner  of  Land  the  more  health. 

AVe  have  one  thing  more, — which  is  vast  Oyster  banks,  which  is  Con- 
stant fresh  victuals  during  the  winter,  to  English,  as  well  as  Indians ;  so 
we  are  supplied  with  salt  fish  at  our  doors,  or  within  half  a  tyde's  pas- 
sage, and  fresh  Fish  in  abundance  in  every  little  brook,  as  Pearch,  Trout, 
Eels,  &c.  which  we  catch  at  our  doors.  Provisions  here  are  very  plenti- 
ful, and  people  generally  well  stockt  with  cattle.  New  York  and  Bur- 
lingtown  have  hitherto  been  their  market ;  Few  or  no  Trading  Men  being 
here  in  this  Province.  I  believe  it  hath  been  very  unhappy  heretofore 
under  an  ill  managed  Government,  and  most  of  the  people  who  are  such, 
have  been  invited  from  the  adjacent  Colonies  by  the  goodness  of  its  soil, 
and  convenient  Scituation. 

There  is  5  or  6  Saw  mills  going  up  here  this  Spring,  two  at  work  al- 
ready, which  abates  the  price  of  boards  half  in  half,  and  all  other  timber 
for  building:  for  although  timber  cost  nothing,  yet  workmanshiiJ  by 
hand  was  London  price,  or  near  upon,  or  sometimes  more,  which  these 
mills  abate. 

My  habitation  with  Samuel  Groome  is  at  Elizabeth  Town,  and  here 
we  came  first ;  it  lyes  on  a  fresh  smaU  river,  with  the  tyde,  ships  of  30  or 
40  Tuns,  come  before  our  doors,  throughout  this  town  is  good  English 
grass,  and  very  good  burthen ,  we  cannot  call  our  habitation  solitarie  for 
what  with  the  public  employ  I  have  little  less  company  at  my  house 
dayly,  than  I  had  in  George  Yard,  although  not  so  many  pass  by  my 
doors.  The  people  are  generally  a  sober  professing  people.  Wise  in  their 
Generation,  Courteous  in  their  Behaviour,  and  Eespectful  to  us  in  office 
among  them. 

As  for  the  Temperature  of  the  Air,  it  is  wonderfully  scituatcd  to  the 
Humours  of  Mankind,  the  wind  and  weather  rarely  holding  in  one  point 
or  one  kind  for  ten  dayes  together.  It  is  a  rare  thing  for  a  vessel  to  be 
wind  bound  for  a  week  together,  the  wind  seldom  holding  in  a  point  more 
than  48  hours  ;  and  in  a  short  time  we  have  wet  and  dry,  warm  and  cold 
weather.     Yet  this  variation  creates  not  cold,  nor  have  wo  the  tenth  part 

*  Scot's  Model  of  E.  J.,  pp.  134,  5. 


216  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  the  cold  as  we  liavo  in  England :  for  generally  I  go  with  the  same 
Cloaths  I  use  to  wear  in  Summer  with  you;  but  warm  Cloaths  hurt  not. 
I  bless  the  Lord,  I  never  had  better  health,  nor  my  family,  my  Daughters 
are  very  well  improved  in  that  respect,  and  tell  me  they  would  not  change 
their  place  for  George  Yard,  nor  would  I.  People  hero  are  generally  set- 
tled, where  the  tyde  reaches ;  and  although  this  is  a  good  Land,  and  well 
Timbered,  and  plentifully  supplied  with  salt  Marsh,  yet  there  is  much  bet- 
ter Land  up  higher  on  the  Eiver,  where  they  may  go  up  with  small  boats, 
where  many  now  are  settling.  There's  extrordinary  Land,  fresh  Meadows 
overflowed  in  the  Winter  time,  that  producesmultitudes  of  Winter  Corns: 
and  it  is  believed  will  endure  20,  30,  or  50  years  overflowing  without  in- 
termission, and  not  decay.  William  Penn  took  a  view  of  the  Land,  this 
last  month  when  here,  and  said  he  had  never  seen  such  before  in  his 
life:  All  the  English  Merchants,  and  many  of  the  Dutch  have  taken, 
and  are  desirous  to  take  up  Plantations  with  us.  At  a  town  called  New- 
ark, 7  or  8  miles  hence,  is  made  great  quantities  of  Syder,  exceeding  any 
we  can  have  from  New  England  or  Rhod  Island  or  Long  Island.  I  hope 
to  make  20  or  30  Barrels  out  of  oar  Orchard  next  year,  as  they  have  done 
who  had  it  before  me,  for  that,  it  must  be  as  Providence  orders. 

We  have  store  of  Clams  esteemed  much  better  than  Oysters  ;  on  Fes- 
tivals the  Indians  feast  Avith  them ;  there  are  shallops,  but  in  no  great 
plentie.  Fish  we  have  great  store,  as  our  relation  sets  forth,  but  they  are 
very  good  when  catcht  (as  the  proverb  is).  I  have  several  barrels  by  me 
now,  which  are  good  for  our  Table  and  for  Sale.  In  probability,  there  is 
not  an  industrious  man,  but  by  God's  blessing  may  not  only  have  a  com- 
fortable, but  plentiful  supplie  of  all  things  necessary  for  this  life. 

Samuel  Groome,  the  Surveyor  General,  observes,  Aug.  11, 
1863,— 

Well  here  is  a  brave  Countrey,  the  ground  verj'  fruitfull,  and  wonder- 
fiilly  inclinable  to  English  grass,  as  Glower,  &c.  It  Pi'cdominates  over  the 
more  wild  grasse :  very  little  barren,  much  dry  upland,  and  good  meadow, 
some  phenny,  swampy  land  and  small  running  brooks  and  rivers  through- 
out all  the  parts  of  the  Countrey  I  have  been,  and  this  phenny  and  swampy 
Land  bears  great  burdens  of  grass ;  in  short,  the  land  is  four  times  better 
than  I  expected.* 

Gov.  Rudyard  subsequently  obtained  a  Grant  of  3000 
acres,  mostly  on  the  llahway  and  Tlaritan  rivers;  and  became 
a  Planter  on  a  large  scale,  thus  confirming  his  declaration  of 
preference  for  these  new  settlements  over  the  crowded  thor- 
oughfares of  London. f 

•  Scott's  Model  of  E.  Jersey,  pp.  147-154,  6.  t  E.  Jersey  EecorUs,  L.,  16,  IT. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  21T 

Among  the  Council,  whom  Rudyard  appointed,  December 
13,  1682,  was  Benjamin  Price,  Sen"",  of  this  town.  On  the 
20th  of  December,  the  Governor  took  the  oath  of  office,  and 
shortly  after  called  a  General  Assembly  to  meet  in  this  town 
on  the  1st  of  March  next  ensuing.  Henry  Lyon,  Isaac 
Whitehead,  Benjamin  Price,  and  Benjamin  Parkis,  all  of 
them  men  of  character  and  influence,  and  true  representa- 
tives of  the  people,  were  appointed,  February  4,  16S|,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace.  Capt.  John  Baker  and  Benjamin  Parkis 
were  appointed,  March  .28,  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Right ;  Capt.  John  Baker,  Coroner ;  George  Jewell,  Clerk 
and  Messenger ;  and  James  Emott,  Clerk  of  the  new  County 
of  Ess'ex.  These  appointments  indicate,  on  the  part  of  Rud- 
yard and  the  Council,  a  disposition  to  conciliate,  and  be  on 
good  terms  with,  the  populace,  whose  preferences  were, 
evidently,  consulted  in  these  nominations ;  with  the  excep- 
tion, possibly,  of  the  last, — Emott,  who  was  a  new  comer, 
and  not  in  full  sympathy  with  the  town.  It  w^as,  at  all 
events,  a  great  change  from  the  old  regime  under  Carteret, 
when  an  entirely  different  class  of  men  were  put  in  power.* 
The  General  Assembly  met  here  the  first  day  of  March, 
and  continued  in  session  until  the  28th.  An  adjourned  meet- 
ing was  held  in  May,  and  another  in  December  following ; 
both  in  this  town.  At  their  first  sessions,  the  Province  was 
divided  into  four  counties,  Bergen,  Essex,  Middlesex  and 
Monmouth  ;  "  Essex  and  the  County  thereof,  to  contain  all 
the  settlements  between  the  West  side  of  Ilackinsack  River, 
and  the  parting  line  between  Woodbridge  and  Elizabeth- 
Town,  and  so  to  extend  westward  and  northward,  to  the  ut- 
most bounds  of  the  Province."  Provision  was  made  for  the 
appointment  of  Sherifts,  Coroners,  Justices,  Clerks  and  other 
officers,  and  for  the  erection  of  County  Courts,  a  Court  of 
Small  Causes  for  every  town,  and  a  Superior  Court  to  be 
called  the  Court  of  Common  Right,  to  be  held  quarterly  in 
this  town.  Numerous  laws,  mostly  such  as  were  passed  in 
Carteret's  time,  for  the  preservation  of  good  morals,  the 
rights  of  property,  and  the  welfare  of  the  community,  were 

*  E.  J.  Records,  C,  9-20. 


218  THE    HISTORY    OF 

enacted.  The  same  strictness  in  regard  to  profanity,  intem- 
perance, licentiousness,  and  Sabbath-breaking,  was  retained. 
Evidently,  a  healthful  tone  of  morals  prevailed,  in  the  sev- 
eral settlements,  notwithstanding  the  recent  disturbances.* 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  in  May,  the  existence  of  domes- 
tic slavery  is  distinctly  recognized.     They  say,  that 

It  is  found  by  daily  experience,  that  negro  and  ludian  slaves  or  servants 
under  pretence  of  trade,  or  liberty  to  traffick,  do  frequently  steal  from 
tlieir  masters  and  others,  what  they  expose  to  sale  at  distance  from 
their  habitations ;  (and,  therefore,  they  forbade  all)  barter,  trade  or  traf- 
fique  with  any  negro  slave,  or  Indian  slave,  or  servant,  for  any  rum, 
brandy,  wine,  or  strong  drink,  or  auy  othei*  goods,  wares,  or  commodi- 
ties, living  or  dead. 

At  the  sessions  in  December,  Benjamin  Price,  Henry 
Lyon,  and  Benjamin  Barkis  were  appointed  on  the  Commis- 
sion to  lay  out  and  appoint  "  all  necessary  highways,  bridges, 
passages,  landings,  and  ferries,  for  the  County  of  Essex."  As 
the  country  was  every  where,  at  this  early  day,  infested  with 
wolves,  a  bounty  of  15s.  was  offered  for  every  wolf's  head. 
Of  the  six  assessors  for  the  county  of  Essex,  three,  Benjamin 
Price,  Benjamin  Parkis,  and  George  Boss,  were  of  this 
town.f 

Rudyard's  administration  was  brief.  In  July,  1GS3,  Bar- 
clay appointed  Gawen  Lawrie,  also  one  of  the  Proprietors, 
his  Deputy  for  East  Jersey.  Lawrie  had  been,  for  several 
years,  associated  with  Wm.  Penn,  in  the  Trusteeship  of  "West 
Jersey,  but  had  not  yet  come  to  America.  He  was  a  London 
merchant,  and  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  arrived,  in 
January,  1684,  at  the  new  town  of  Perth  Amboy,  bringing 
with  him  his  wife,  Mary,  his  son,  James,  and  his  two  daugh- 
ters, Mary  and  Ilebecca.  The  latter  became  the  wife  of 
Miles  Forster,  of  Perth  Araboy,  and  her  sister,  Mary,  married 
"William  Haige  of  this  town.  Isabel,  the  daughter  of  James, 
jnarricd  "Wm.  Davis  of  New  York.:}: 

It  has  been  said,  that  Lawrie's  a2)pointment  was  occasioned 
by  a  variance  between  Governor  Rudyard  and  Surveyor 

•  I.ctiming;  nnd  Sricer,  pp.  227-251.  t  lb.,  pp.  252-273. 

t  lb.,  pp.  16S-170.    Wbitehcad'8  E.  J.,  pp.  99-100,  126,  7.    Scot's  Model,  pp.  160-3. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  219 

Groome,  in  relation  to  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued  in  the 
allotment  of  lands.  But  this  variance  did  not  occur  until 
after  Lawrie's  appointment.  Groome  was  not  suspended 
from  his  office  until  after  July  2i,  1683,  at  which  time  he 
was  serving  as  Surveyor  ;  and  Lawrie  was  appointed  Dep. 
Governor  not  later  than  July  20.  Groome's  death  occurred  * 
here  soon  after,  as  his  will  was  admitted  to  probate,  March  • 
1,  IffSf  .* 

It  has,  also,  been  affirmed,  that  the  Associates  of  this  town, 
"  in  the  year  1675,  or  soon  after,  laid  aside  the  pretension  by 
Indian  purchase  and  Nichblls's  grant ;  and  continued  peace- 
able and  quiet  inhabitants  until  the  death  of  Carteret,  and 
until  the  year  1699,  except  that  in  the  year  1684,  John  Baker 
and  some  others. of  the  Associates,  endeavour'd  to  impose 
upon  Governor  Lowry,  at  his  first  Arrival  in  the  country." 
It  would  seem  that  Rudyard  had  to  do  with  some  "  tumultu- 
ous spirits,"  who  still  adhered  to  their  old  claims.  So,  also, 
it  appears,  from  the  first  instructions  given  to  Lawrie,  who 
was  directed  to  examine  and  determine  the  character  of  "the 
Patents  and  Grants  of  land  given  by  Governor  Nicholls 
which  several  seems  to  stand  upon." 

The  same  thing  appears  from  the  Address  of  Barclay  and 
the  other  Proprietors,  Feb.  29,  168f ,  to  the  Planters  of  the 
Province,,  in  which  they  say  : — 

"\Ye  must  be  plain  to  acquaint  you,  that  we  were  not  a  little  troubled, 
to  find  that  there  are  too  many  dissatisfied  and  self-ended  persons,  among 
you  whose  indirect  designs  did  quickly  appear  in  seeking  to  subvert  our 
just  interest,  that  they  might  advance  their  own  unwarrantable  pretences, 
wlio  we  hope  are  in  some  measure  rebuked  by  the  disappoiutment  of  their 
vain  expectations  of  the  invalidity  of  our  right  and  title  to  the  govern- 
ment. 

We  have  seen  and  considered  yo"^  Addresses,  made  to  some  of  Our  Num- 
ber upon  their  Arrival],  and  hope  that  in  a  great  Measure  yo""  Desires 
therein  are  Answered,  as  to  what  Eelates  to  the  former  Oppression  yo" 
have  been  under,  eitlier  from  yo''  Neighbours,  or  those  who  liave  hereto- 
fore Governed  yo".  But  we  find  yo"  lay  that  Stress  upon  your  Purchase 
from  the  Indians  w'^''  it  will  jiever  beare,  for  wee  would  have  yo"  informed 
that  thereby  yo"  have  acquired  noe  Right  but  what  is  duly  Confirmed  by 
us  or  Our  Legal  P''decessors. 

*  E.  J.  Records,  I.  122-5. 


220  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Again,  Nov.  13,  IGSi,  they  give  Lawrie  power, 

To  end  all  controversies  and  differences  with  the  men  of  Neversinks, 
and  Elizabeth-Town,  or  any  other  planters  or  persons  whatsoever,  con- 
cerning any  pretended  titles,  or  claim  to  land  in  the  said  Province :  And 
we  do  hereby  declare  that  we  will  not  enter  into  any  treaty  on  this 
^ide,  with  any  of  those  people  who  claims  by  Colonel  NichoUs  Patent, 
nor  with  any  others  that  challenge  land  by  Patents  from  the  late  Gov- 
ernor Carteret,  as  being  both  an  affront  to  the  government  there  and  of 
evil  consequence  to  make  things  to  be  put  off  by  delays,  and  thereby^in- 
der  the  settlement  of  .our  affairs  in  the  Province.* 

It  is  perfectly  evident,  tlierefore,  that  the  same  claims 
were  put  forth  by  the  town  in  respect  to  their  rights  of 
property,  as  in  Carteret's  time,  and  the  same  resistance  was 
made  to  these  claims  by  their  Qi^^f^ker  rulers.  The  old 
planters  never  wavered  in  their  conviction  o-f  the  lawfulness 
and  equity  of  their  title,  and  never  shrank  from  avowing  and 
maintaining  it.  A  second  generation  were  now  coming 
forward,  in  whom  this  conviction  had  "  grown  with  their 
growth  and  strengthed  with  their  strength."  If  possible, 
they  were  even  more  resolute  than  their  fathers. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  their  sessions  in  December, 
1G83,  had  passed  a  stringent  militia  law,  and  an  act  for  the 
'appointment  of  a  Chief  Ranger  in  every  County,  to  look  after 
the  estrays  of  the  flocks  and  herds.  Benjamin  Parkis  was, 
thereupon,  appointed  Captain  ;  George  Ross,  Lieutenant  ; 
and  John  Woodruff,  Ensign,  of  the  E.  Town  Foot  Company  ; 
James  Emott  was  made  Chief  Ranger ;  and  Isaac  White- 
.head,  Sen',  Coroner  of  Essex  Co.  In  their  commissions, 
dated  Dec.  3, 1683,  they  are  all,  with  the  exception  of  Emott, 
styled,  "  Gent."  This  law  relative  to  the  militia  troubled 
the  Quaker  Proprietors  not  a  little,  especially  "  wherein 
power  is  given  to  the  military  oflicers  to  take  distress  upon 
defaulters  ;  which  clause,  (they  say,)  so  far  as  it  extends  to 
the  people  called  Quakers,  who  for  conscience  sake  cannot 
bear  arms,  or  contribute  to  the  same,  we  do  not  confirm, 
but  that  the  same  is  void  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  so  far 
as  it  concerns  thera."t 

*  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  4.3,  4.    Lcaraing  and  Spiccr,  pp.  174,  133-190.    E.  J.  llecords,  1. 140-50. 
t  LeamiDg  and  Spicer,  pp.  262,  27",  281.    E.  J.  Records,  C,  57,  8,  65,  6. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  221 

The  law  against  Sabbath-breaking,  also,  came  into  con- 
flict with  their  religious  prejudices,  and  so  the}^  recommend- 
ed "  a  further  consideration  thereof,  least  it  prove  a  burthen 
to  some  tender  consciences  who  may  find  it  their  duty  not 
only  to  testify  against  the  Jewish  superstitions,  but  also 
against  some  others  in  that  point."  * 

Governor  Lawrie,  on  his  arrival  in  January  168f ,  occupied 
himself,  for  five  weeks,  in  laying,  out  the  town  lots  of  the 
new  city  of  Perth,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Raritan ;  "  then 
came  in  a  Boat,  privately,  to  Elizabeth  Town  the  12th  of 
February  ;  the  next  morning  went  to  New  York  to  visit  the 
governour  [Dongan] ;  staid  there  two  or  three  days,  and 
found  him  very  kind."  lie  then  returned,  about  the  18th, 
to  E.  Town,  and  found  the  people  "  kind  and  courteous." 
On  the  28th  he  published  his  commission  before  the  Council 
and  took  the  oath  of  office.  Rudyard  gracefully  retired  to 
the  more  humble  station  of  Secretary  of  the  Province  ;  but 
soon  after,  Aug.  1684,  became  Attorney  General  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Kew  York.  Groome  had  died  a  few  weeks  pre- 
viously, Phillip  Welles  having,  since  Aug.  1683,  occupied 
his  place  as  Dep.  Surveyor.  Wm.  Ilaige,  who  with  eight 
servants  had  accompanied  Lawrie  to  this  country,  had  re^ 
ceived  the  appointment,  July  22,  1683,  of  Tleceiver  General. 
Lawrie  also  brought  eight  servants.  Other  servants,  22  in 
number,  with  two  overseers,  were  sent  over  by  the  Pro- 
prietors. Wm.  Dockwra  brought  over  24  servants  ;  Stephen 
and  Thomas  Warne,  11 ;  and  John  Barclay,  brother  of  the 
Governor,  5  servants. f 

These  servants  were  Scotch  laborers,  of  the  poorer  classes. 
The  most  of  them  were  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  home, 
because  of  the  terrible  persecutions,  to  which,  as  Presby- 
terians, they  had  been  subjected  at  the  hands  of  the  cruel 
Mackenzie  and  the  bloody  Claverhouse,  minions  of  the 
crown.  A  large  number  came  over  in  1684, — "  the  killing 
time,"  as  the  Scotch   called  it.     The  most  of  these  immi- 

*  Learning  and  Spicer,  p.  199. 

t  Scot's  Model,  pp.  1G2,  -3.    E.  J.  Records,  A.  154, 171  ;  C.  81 ;  L.  9.    N.  Y.  Col.  Docints.. 
■   111.851,2. 


222  THE    niSTORY    OF 

grants  were  employed  in  and  about  Perth  Amboy.  Some  of 
tlieni  found  a  liome  in  E.  Town — liow  many  is  not  known. 
TJiey  were  diffused  tlirougli  the  Province,  and  proved  a 
valuable  acquisition,  both  as  laborers,  and  as  men  of  sterling 
principle.  Many  of  them  became  planters  and  most  respect- 
able membci'S  of  society. 

No  sooner  had  Lawrie  assumed  the  reins  of  government, 
than  he  wrote  home  a  glowing  account  of  the  new  country. 
Under  date  of  March  2,  168f,  he  wrote  to  the  proprietors 
from  this  town,  as  follows: — 

Now  is  the  time  to  send  over  people  for  settling  Here.  The  Scots,  and 
William  Dockwra's  people  coming  now  and  settling,  advance  the  Province 
more  than  it  bath  been  advanced  these  ten  years.  Here  wants  nothing 
but  people ;  There  is  not  a  poor  body  in  all  the  province,  nor  that  wants  ; 
Here  is  abundance  of  provision,  Pork  and  Beef,  at  2d  per  pound.  Fish 
and  Fowl  plenty,  Oysters  I  think  would  serve  all  England ;  Sider  good 
and  plenty,  for  Id  per  Quart.  Good  Venison,  plenty  brought  us  in  at 
18d  the  quarter,  Eggs  at  3d  per  dozen,  all  things  very  plenty.  •  Land  very 
good  as  ever  I  saw :  Wines,  Walnuts,  Peaches,  Strawberries,  and  many 
other  things  plenty  in  the  woods. 

T  have  put  two  houses  in  repair  upon  the  River,  called  the  Point  2 
miles  from  Elizabethtown  ;  have  let  one  of  them,  with  10  acres  of  Pasture 
ground,  and  10  acres  of  Woody  ground,  for  7  years  at  2G  lib  per  annum  : 
the  man  to  cleare  the  ten  acres  of  Woody  ground  and  make  it  fit  for 
Ploughing  or  Pasture.  I  intend  to  let  the  other  also  with  some  land. 
All  the  houses  were  like  to  drop  down,  all  the  land  lying  without  fence, 
and  a  barn  quite  fallen  down  and  destroyed  ;  another  without  any  cover, 
and  that  other  next  to  the  house  where  I  dwell,  all  to  pieces,  and  all  the 
fences  and  out  houses  were  down,  but  repaired  before  I  came.* 

A  few  days  later,  March  26,  he  gives  a  friend  at  London  a 
more  particular  account  of  the  country  : 

It  is  beyond  what  I  expected.  It  is  scituate  in  a  good  Aire,  which  makes 
it  healthy,  and  there  is  great  conveniency  for  travelling  from  place  to 
place  throw  the  Province  in  Boats,  from  a  small  canoe  to  vessels  of  30, 
40,  or  50  Tuns,  atid  in  some  places  100. 

The  soil  is  generally  black,  and  in  some  places  a  foot  deep,  beareth  great 
burthens  of  Corn,  and  Xaturally  bringeth  forth  English  grass  2  years 
ploughing:  the  ground  is  tender,  and  the  ploughing  is  very  easie,  the 
trees  grow  generally  not  thick,  but  some  places  10,  in  some  15,  in  some  25 

♦  Scot's  Model,  pp.  lCO-5. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  223 

or  30  upon  an  Acre.  This  I  find  generally,  but  in  some  jmrticular 
places  there  are  100  upon  an  Acre,  but  that  is  very  rare :  The  trees  are 
very  tall  and  straight,  the  geuerall  are  Oak,  Beech,  Walnut :  Chesnuts 
and  Acorns  lie  thick  upon  the  ground  for  want  of  eating,  Peaclie?5,  Vines, 
Strawberries  and  many  other  sorts  of  Fruit  grow  commonly  in  the 
Woods.  There  is  likewayes  Gum  tree,  Cedar,  White  Wood,  like  our  Fir 
tree ;  Walnuts,  Chesnuts  and  others  lye  thick  upon  the  ground. 

We  have  good  brick  earth,  and  stone  for  building  at  Amboy  and  else- 
where, the  countrie  Fanne  houses  are  built  very  cheap,  a  carpenter,  with 
a  man's  own  servants,  builds  the  house,  they  have  all  materials  for  nothing 
except  Nails;  their  Chimnies  are  of  stones;  they  make  their  own  Ploughs 
and  Carts  for  the  most  part,  only  the  Iron  work  is  very  dear.  The  poorer 
sort  set  up  a  house  of  two  or  three  Rooms  themselves  after  this  manner. 
The  walls  are  of  cloven  Timber,  about  8  or  10  inches  broad,  like  planks 
set  on  end  to  the  ground,  and  the  other  nailed  to  the  raising,  which  they 
plaister  within ;  they  build  a  Barn  after  the  same  manner,  and  these  cost 
not  above  5  lib  a  piece ;  and  then  to  work  they  go,  2  or  3  men  in  one 
year  will  clear  50  acres,  in  some  places  GO,  and  in  some  more.  They  sow 
Corn  the  first  year,  and  afterwards  maintain  themselves ;  and  the  encrease 
of  Corn,  Cows,  Horses,  Hogs  and  Sheep  comes  to  the  Landlord.  Several 
Merchants  of  New  York  have  left  their  several  Plantations  there,  to  come 
to  East  Jersey ;  2  or  3  join  together,  bring  12,  15  or  20  servants  and  one 
Overseer,  which  cost  them  nothing  for  the  first  year,  except  some  shoes, 
Stockings,  and  shirts  ;  I  have  been  to  see  these  Plantations;  and  find  they 
make  a  great  encrease  by  them,  maintain  their  Families  at  New  York  with 
all  provisions,  sell  a  great  deal  yearly,  and  for  Servants  our  English  peo- 
ple are  far  better  Husbandmen  than  the  New  England  men  ;  the  Servants 
work  not  so  much  by  a  third  as  they  do  in  England,  and  I  think  I'eed 
much  better,  for  they  have  Beef,  Pork,  Bacon,  Pudding,  Milk,  Butter 
and  good  Beer;  and  Cyder  for  drink.  When  they  are  out  of  their  time, 
they  have  land  for  themselves,  and  generally  turn  Farmers  for  themselves. 
Servants  wages  are  not  under  2  shil.  a  day  beside  victuals.  There  is  one 
man  since  I  came  here  sold  his  Plantation  for  £1500  lib.  the  whole  Avas 
1600  or  1800  acres,  whereof  only  120  acres  were  cleared,  upon  which  he 
had  a  house.  Garden  and  Orchard,  and  Barn  planted  ;  I  know  several  men 
who  lett  cleared  Land  at  G  shil  8  pennies  to  10  shil.  the  acre  yearlie  rent, 
which  is  a  good  encouragement  for  sending  over  servants  to  plant. 

He  urges  the  Proprietors  to  send  over  more  people,  which 
would  "  encourage  others  to  take  np  Land,  and  bring  all  the 
division  that  hath  been  here  to  an  end,  for  these  men  seeing 
that  they  shall  be  ballanced  are  alreadj^  more  coinplyant  than 
they  were."  * 

*  Scot's  Model,  pp.  100-171. 


224  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Tlie  confident  calculations  of  Lawrie,  in  respect  to  the 
people  of  tliis  town,  were  far  from  being  fulfilled.  The  land 
about  the  town  was  in  the  possession  of  the  old  families  and 
held  by  tlie  old  Indian  purchase.  The  new  comers,  in  order 
to  obtain  a  freehold  in  the  town,  were  under  the  necessity  of 
buying  land  thus  held  and  transferred.  They,  too,  therefore, 
became  interested  in  upholding  these  titles  and  defending 
these  claims. 

Still  another  letter  is  extant,  evidently  from  the  pen  of 
Lawrie,  l)ut  signed  conjointly  by  David  Barclay,  (a  brother 
of  the  Governor,)  and  Arthur  Forbes,  (brother  to  a  Scotch 
Lord,)  and  himself,  dated  March  29,  16S4.  It  repeats  much 
of  what  is  said  above,  and  adds  other  particulars  : 

Many  of  those  who  have  settled  here  upwards  of  sixteen  years,  have 
lived  upon  the  product  of  the  Land  They  cleared  the  first  two  years  after 
they  came,  (and  cleared  none  since),  wliich  produced  not  only  Corn  to 
maintain  their  own  Families,  but  to  sell  every  year,  and  the  increase  of 
their  Bestial,  whereof  they  have  good  store  of  several  sorts,  Cows,  Oxen, 
Horses,  Sheep  and  Swine,  yields  them  other  provisions  and  to  sell  besides  ; 
yet  there  be  some  more  Industrious  among  them  who  have  continued 
clearing  and  Improving  Land,  and  these  have  got  Estates,  and  would  not 
sell  their  Plantations  for  several  hundred  pounds. 

They  build  not  only  of  Wood,  but  also  of  Stone  and  Brick,  yet  most  of 
Countrey  Houses  are  built  of  Wood,  only  Trees  split  and  set  up  an  end  on 
the  ground,  and  coverings  to  their  Houses  are  mostly  shingles  made  of  Oak, 
Chesnut  and  Cedar  wood,  which  makes  a  very  neat  Covering,  yet  there 
are  some  houses  covered  after  the  Dutch  manner  with  pantikles.  The 
Towns  are  all  settled  upon  Eivers,  where  Vessels  of  30  or  40  Tuns  may 
come  up  to  their  doors,  and  the  out  plantations  generally  upon  some 
Brooks  or  Rivulets  which  are  as  plenty  here  as  in  our  own  Countrey,  and 
curious  clear  water,  and  in  many  places  are  good  spring  wells ;  but  in  the 
Towns  every  man  for  tlie  most  part  has  a  well  digged  by  liis  own  hand. 

There  be  People  of  several  sorts  of  Religion,  but  few  very  Zealous.  The 
People  being  mostly  New  England  men,  doe  mostly  incline  to  their  way, 
and  in  every  Town  there  is  a  meeting  house  where  they  worship  publickly 
evepy  Week  :  Thej'  have  no  publick  Law  in  the  Countrey  for  maintaining 
public  Teachers,  but  the  Towns  tliat  have  them  make  way  within  them- 
selves to  maintain  them.  Wo  know  none  that  hath  a  settled  Preacher 
that  follows  no  other  Imployment,  save  one  Town  Newark. 

The  richest  Planters  have  not  above  8  or  10  Servants;  they  will  have 
some  of  them,  1  Dozen  of  Cows,  yea  some  20  or  30 ;  8  or  10  Oxen,  horses 
more  than  they  know  themselves,  for  they  keep  breading  Mares,  and  keep 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  225 

no  more  horses  at  home  than  they  have  occasion  to  work ;  The  rest  they 
let  run  in  the  wood  both  Winter  and  Summer,  and  tal'ce  them  as  they  liavc 
occasion  to  use  them.  Swine  they  liave  in  great  flocks  in  the  wood,  and 
Sheep  in  flocks  also,  but  they  let  them  not  run  in  the  woods  for  fear  of 
being  destroyed  by  wolves.  TJieir  jjrdfit  arises  from  the  Improvement  of 
their  Land,  and  Increase  of  their  Bestial. 

Every  house  in  the  Town  hath  a  Lott  of  4  Acres  lying  to  it:  so  that 
every  one  building  upon  his  own  Lott  makes  the  town  Irregular  and  scat- 
tering. Their  streets  are  laid  out  too  large,  and  the  Sheep  in  the  Towns 
are  mostly  maintained  in  them :  They  are  so  large  that  they  need  not 
trouble  to  pave  tliem. 

There  is  no  Ships  belonging  to  this  Province  particularly,  or  built  here, 
save  one  which  Samuel  Groome  built  here  the  last  summer,  which  stands 
yet  in  the  Stocks  (a  stop  being  put  to  it  by  his  death).  There  is  conveniency 
enough  to  build  ships.  The  Ships  in  this  part  trade  mostly  to  the  West 
Indian  Islands,  and  some  to  Kewfound  Land,  where  the  Provisions  of 
this  Countrey  vends. 

There  are  but  few  Indian  Natives  in  this  countrey.  Their  strength  is 
inconsiderable,  they  live  in  the  Woods,  and  have  small  towns  in  some 
places  fur  up  in  the  Countrey.  They  plant  a  little  Indian  Corn,  shoot 
Deer,  and  other  wild  Beasts  and  Fowls  for  their  food.* 

These  letters  are  invaluable  for  their  details  of  the  early 
state  of  the  town  and  neighboring  country,  and  of  the  man- 
ners and  customs  of  that  pei-iod,  particularly  in  the  matter  of 
livelihood.  They  are  preserved  in  a  work  published  at 
Edinburgh,  in  16S5,  entitled,  "The  Model  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Province  of  East-Xew-Jersey  in  America ;  " 
written  by  George  Scot,  of  Pitlochie  ;  who,  having  suffered 
greatly  for  his  religion,  embai'ked,  with  his  wife,  two  chil- 
dren, and  a  large  company  of  emigrants,  at  Leith,  Sept.  5,, 
1GS5,  for  America;  but  both  he  and  his  family  died  on  the 
passage. t 

From  other  letters  contained  in  the  same  volume,  several 
other  particulars,  illustrative  of  the  state  of  the  town  and 
neighborhood  may  be  learned.  Peter  Watson,  one  of  David 
Barclay's  servants,  but  withal  an  intelligent  man,  writes, 
Aug.  20, 1684,— 

There  are  hero  very  good  Eeligious  People,  they  go  under  the  name  of 

*  Scot's  Mo.lcl,  pp.  1T3-1S3. 

+  Whitchemrs  P.  Ainboy,  pp.  24-31.  Kcprintcd  in  tho  Appendix  to  Whitcheairs  E.  Jer- 
sey, pp.  239-333.    A  copy  of  the  original  is  in  the  Library  of  tho  N.  J.  His.  8oc.,  at  Newark. 

15 


226  TUE    niSTOTwY    OF 

Indopcndants  but  are  most  like  to  the  Presbyterians,  only  they  will  not 
receive  every  one  to  their  Society ;  we  have  great  need  of  good  and 
Faitliful  Ministers;  we  have  none  witliin  all  the  Province  of  East-Jersey, 
except  one  who  13  Preacher  in  Newark  ;  there  were  one  or  two  Preacli- 
ers  more  in  the  Province,  but  they  are  dead,  and  now  the  people  they 
meet  together  every  Sabbath  day  and  Read  and  Pray,  and  sing  Psalms 
in  their  Meeting  houses.  This  Countrey  is  very  well  settled  with  People, 
most  part  of  the  first  Settlers  came  out  of  New  England,  very  kind  and 
loving  people,  kinder  than  in  Scotland  or  England ;  And  for  the  Indian 
Natives,  they  are  not  troublesojme  any  way  to  any  of  us,  if  we  do  them 
no  harm,  but  are  a  very  kind  and  loving  people  ;  the  men  do  nothing  but 
hunt,  and  the  women  they  plant  corn,  and  work  at  home ;  they  come 
and  trade  among  the  Christians  with  skins  or  Venison,  or  Corn,  or  Pork. 
And  in  the  summer  time,  they  and  their  "Wives  come  down  the  Rivers  in 
their  Canoes,  which  they  make  themselves  of  a  great  tree,  like  a  little 
Boat,  and  there  they  Fish  and  take  Oysters. 

Charles  Gordon,  -writing  from  Amljo}',  March  5,  168f, 
says, 

The  highest  designo  of  the  old  Buckskin  Planters  is  to  acquire  a  piece 
of  monie  to  drink  in  the  change  house.  I  am  just  now  drinking  to  one 
one  of  them,  our  Countreyman,  who  was  sent  away  by  Cromwell  to  New 
England  ;  a  slave  from  Dunbar,  Living  now  in  Woodbridge  Like  a  Scots 
Laird,  wishes  his  Countreymen  and  Native  Soyle  very  well,  though  he 
never  intends  to  see  it. 

David  Miidie  wrote,  March  9,  1684, — 

This  Winter  hath  been  exceeding  hard  and  sharpe,  the  like  not  seen  by 
those  who  have  lived  20  or  30  years  in  it. 

Robert  FuUcrton,  one  of  the  Proprictors,«Jan,  7,  16S|, 
says,— 

As  to  the  nmnber  and  nature  of  these  Qnit-rentors,  they  are  about  2 
or  300  FaTnilies,  some  civill  and  Discreet,  otliei-s  rude  and  Malcontent 
with  the  late  Purchassers,  and  need  something  of  austerity  10  make  them 
complaisant.  AVe  have  at  present  sharp  frosts,  and  a  good  deall  of  Snow, 
three  dayes  of  vitrifying  frosts  this  winter,  had  not  its  match  for  cold 
these  IG  years  by  gone,  as  the  Inhabitants  do  inform  us. 

Charles  Gordon,  ]\[arcli  7,  168-^,  also  says, — 

This  hath  been  the  hardest  Winter  that  was  almost  since  ever  there 
were  English  here ;  The  sound  betwixt  Jersey  and  Staten  Island  was 
frozen  in  January  that  carts  and  hoi-ses  went  upon  it;  betwixt  Martenmas 
and  Christmas  flying  showers  of  snow  with  clear  moderate  frosts;  in 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  227 

January  deep  sno\v  and  most  bitter  frosts  wliich  ever  I  found ;  about  the 
20  of  January,  the  snow  went  off  insensibly,  and  about  3  weeks  in  Feb- 
ruary it  was  ahnost  like  Summer  in  Scotland  ;  the  end  of  February  and 
beginning  of  March  for  the  most  part  rain  and  wind. 

James  Jolinstone,  Marcli  9,  168|-,  says, — 

Quakers  are  not  numerous  :  "Wolves  are  so  far  from  troubling  men,  that 
if  a  man  should  lay  a  Glove  upon  a  Carcass  or  their  prey,  they  will  yell,  but 
not  come  nigh  it.  You  cannot  come  nigh  a  rattle-Snake,  but  they  will 
rattle  with  their  taile,  whereby  a  man  is  advertised  either  to  kill  them  or 
go  by  them  ;  they  frequently  charm  the  Squirrels,  or  other  little  Beasts 
off  the  tops  of  the  Trees  unto  their  mouth,  and  that  without  touching 
them  -with  their  teeth ;  -which  if  they  did,  they  -would  poison  themselves. 
There  is  a  Flee  by  the  Salt  Marshes  most  troublesome  in  Summer,  but  is 
not  in  the  up-lands.* 

The  publication  of  those  letters,  together  with  a  detailed 
statement  of  the  capacities  and  prospects  of  East-Jerscj,  was 
not  without  effect.  "  A  great  many  inhabitants  of  Scotland 
emigrated  to  East  Jersey,  and  enriched  American  society 
with  a  valuable  accession  of  virtue  refined  by  adversity,  and 
of  pict}^  invigorated  hj  persecution."  "  Is  it  strange,"  says 
Bancroft,  after  a  recital  of  their  cruel  wrongs,  "  that  many 
Scottish  Presbyterians  of  virtue,  education,  and  courage, 
blending  a  love  of  popular  liberty  with  religious  enthusiasm, 
came  to  East  New  Jersey  in  such  numbers  as  to  give  to  the 
rising  commonwcaltli  a  character  which  a  century  and  a 
half  has  not  effaced  ?  "  A  portion  of  tliis  increase  found  their 
way  into  tiiis  town,  esi>ecially  in.to  the  interior  section.  Tlie 
settlement  known  as  "  Scotch  Plains,"  then  included  in  the 
territory  of  this  town,  derived  its  name  from  these  settlers. f 

It  liad  been  recommended,  by  the  Proprietors,  to  Lawrie, 
"  to  use  all  means  of  gentleness  and  tenderness  with  the  peo- 
ple," "not  standing  much  with  them  upon  small  matters." 
So  far  as  can  be  gathered  from  existing  documents,  tlie  Gov- 
ernor fully  com])lied  with  tlie  recommendation.  lie  seems 
to  have  cultivated  a  good  understanding  with  his  fellow- 
townsmen,  and  was  so  well  pleased  with  liis  residence  here, 
that,  notwithstanding  the  desire  expressed  by  the  Proprietors 

•  Scot's  Model,  pp.  199-200,  224-5,  233,  248,  253,  262-3. 

t  GraLamc's  U.  States,  I.  431.    Bancroft's  U.  States,  II.  414. 


228  THE    HISTORY    OF 

that  lie  should  make  the  new  town  of  Peith  his  capital, 
he  continued  to  reside  here  until  his  death,  respected  and 
honored  of  all.* 

It  is  even  afHrracd  of  him,  that,  so  far  from  troubling  the 
settlers  about  their  Indian  title,  on  his  coming  into  the  coun- 
try, "  he  asked  old  Isaac  Whitehead  and  Capt.  John  Baker 
(divers  otlxjrs  of  the  principal  men  of  Eliz,  Town  being 
present),  how  they  held  their  Lands;  who  answered  him  by 
Nicholl's  Grant  and  an  Indian  Purchase ;  *'  and  that  then  he 
asked  them  to  shew  him  the  Bounds  of  their  Lands  so  pur- 
chased and  granted,  "  saying  he  had  a  Mind  to  make  a  Pur- 
chase of  some  Lands  lying  Westward  of  their  Purchase."  It 
is  further  said,  that  Stephen  Osborn  was  sent  by  the  town 
to  call  the  Indian  Sagamores  together  to  mark  out  the  bounds, 
with  whom  Lawrie  and  others  had  a  conference  at  the  house 
of  Capt.  John  Baker ;  also,  that  a  few  days  afterwards,  Pich- 
ard  Clarke,  Jr.,  Capt.  John  Baker,  Jonas  Wood,  Steijhen 
Osborn,  Joseph  Meeker,  and  Joseph  Wilson,  with  two  lads, 
Eichard  Baker  and  John  Cromwell  (who  went  to  see  the 
woods),  set  out  with  the  Indian  Wewanapo  (cousin  of  one  of 
the  Sagamores  that  sold  the  land  originally),  to  mark  the 
western  bounds  of  the  town. 

Instructed  by  the  old  Indian  Chief,  they  went,  "on  or 
about  the  10th  day  of  July,  1684,  to  a  Plain  back  of  Piscata- 
way,  to  a  marked  tree  with  some  stones  about  it  and  a  stake 
by  the  tree,"  and  thence  "  forward  towards  the  Green  River, 
near  where  it  comes  out  of  the  mountain,  and  lodged  by  the 
river-side  that  night ;  and  the  next  day  they  made  a  circle  or 
compass  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  by  the  directions  of 
the  Indian,  till  they  came  to  the  Minisink  Path,  and  then 
came  down  to  Eliz.  Town."  It  was  affirmed,  however,  that 
it  M-as  confessed  b}'  the  Indian  chief,  that  this  compass  in- 
cluded only  a  part  of  the  town  lands. 

In  this  conference,  it  is  said,  that  "  Capt.  Baker  was  the 
Dutch  interpreter,  and  an  Indian  interpreted  the  Indian  lan- 
guage into  Dutch  to  said  Capt.  Baker,  who  again  interpreted 
into  English."     It  is  also  said,  that  an  Indian  who  had  been 

•  Learning  and  Splccr.  pp.  171,  4. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  229 

at  sea,  and  knew  the  use  of  the  compass,  was  of  the  explor- 
ing^ partv. 

Tliis  transaction,  however,  became  the  source  of  a  serious 
litigation.  Baker  was  charged  with  having  prevailed  on 
the  Indians  to  include  a  much  larger  tract  within  the 
bounds  than  the  town  had  originally  purchased  ;  and  so 
with  havinc;  contravened  the  Act  of  Feb.  168|,  forbiddinsc 
private  ])urchascs  from  the  Indians  ;  on  which  cliarge  he 
was  indicted,  Aug.  12,  1684,  and,  on  the  28th,  was  tried, 
found  guilty,  fined  £10,  and  bound  to  good  behaviour  for 
a  year. 

Lawrie  is  also  said  to  have  bought,  Oct.  30,  1681,  of  the 
Indians  Seweckroneck,  Mindowaskein,  Cannndus  and  We- 
wonapec,  a  large  tract  about  Green  Brook  and  the  Blue  Hills, 
supposed  to  be  to  the  West  of  the  E.  Town  Purchase ;  on 
which  several  of  the  most  considerable  Scotch  immigrants 
presently  were  located  with  their  imported  Presbyterian 
servants  of  humbler  condition.  This  purchase  served  greatly 
to  complicate,  in  after  daj's,  the  question  of  land  titles ;  a 
portion  of  the  territory  thus  acquired,  if  not  the  whole  of  it, 
lying  within  what  were  subsequently  claimed  as  the  bounds 
of  the  original  purchase  of  1G61,  and  therefore  distributed  by 
allotment  to  the  Associates,  tiieir  heirs,  or  assigns.* 

Lawrie,  before  leaving  London,  had  been  instructed  "to 
take  possession  of  the  house  belonging  to  tlie  Proprietors, 
with  the  orchards  and  grounds  belonging  thereto ;  "  an  order 
being  at  the  same  time  sent  to  Thomas  Rudyard  to  put  Law- 
rie "  in  possession  thereof;  and  we  desire  thee,"  said  the  In- 
structions, "  to  clear  all  the  frivolous  pretences  of  Widow 
Cartright  thereto.'"  Wliat  was  the  issue  of  this  demand  does 
not  fully  appear,  ller  marriage  to  Col.  Townley  occurred 
shortly  after. f 

On  the  enlargement  of  the  Council,  Nov.  26,  1681,  Henry 
Lyon  was  associated  with  Benjamin  Price,  as  a  proper  repre- 
sentative of  this  town.  On  the  2Sth,  John  Woodruff,  Sen*", 
was  appointed  High  Sheriff  of  Essex  Co. :}: 

In  the  course  of  the  winter,  or  spring,  following,  Lawrie 

*  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  54-7,  113-0.        t  Leatning  and  Spicer,  p.  1T7.         J  E.  J.  Records,  C.  SO,  7. 


200  THE    HISTORY    OF 

received  instructions  from  the  Proprietors,  dated  Xov.  13, 
IGS-i,  requiring  that  tlic  new  town  of  Perth  Amboy  be  hence- 
fortli  regarded  as  the  capital  of  the  Province  ;  that  the  Court 
of  Common  Pight,  if  possible,  be  always  held  there;  "and 
that  all  other  necessary  Courts,  as  also  tlie  Assembly  (when 
called)  do  sit  there  ;  and  particularly  the  Deputy  Governor, 
for  the  time  being,  do  inhabit  there,  and  convene  his  Council 
in  the  said  town  of  Perth."  * 

Notwithstanding  this  order,  Lawrie  continued  to  reside  in 
this  town  during  his  continuance  in  office  and  nntil  his  death. 
So  that  no  Assembly  having  been  convened  during  168i  and 
5,  this  town  remained  the  virtual  capital  almost  to  the  close 
of  his  administration. 

In  May,  1685,  tidings  were  received  of  the  death,  Feb.  G, 
168|,  of  Charles  II.,  and  of  the  peaceful  accession  of  the 
Duke  of  York,  James  II.,  to  the  throne.  The  news  created 
a  profound  sensation  here,  as  well  as  elsewhere  throughout 
the  Colonies.  James  was  an  avowed  Pa])ist.  The  Puri1:an 
population  liated  Popery  with  perfect  hatred,  and  dreaded 
greatly  the  influence  of  a  Papal  Sovereign,  especially  one  so 
unscrupulous  as  James ; — "  a  libertine  without  love,  a  devotee 
without  spirituality,  an  advocate  of  toleration  without  a  sense 
of  the  natural  right  to  freedom  of  conscience, — in  him  the 
muscular  force  prevailed  over  the  intellectual ;  "  so  that  "he 
floated  between  the  sensuality  of  indulgence  and  the  sensual- 
ity of  superstition."  f 

Dongan,  the  Governor  of  ]^ew  York,  a  Papist  also,  had 
kept  up  the  agitation,  begun  bj'  Andros,  respecting  the  union 
of  the  two  Colonies  under  one  head, — a  project  that  now  was 
likely  to  be  effectively  prosecuted.  This  state  of  alarm  con- 
tinued to  the  end  of  Lawrie's  rule,  and  tended  to  promote 
peace  between  him  and  the  people. 

A  difficulty  sprang  up  about  this  time  between  this  town 
and  Newark,  as  appears  from  a  vote  of  the  latter  town,  March 
9,  108J,  when  certain  persons  were  "  chosen  as  a  Committee 
to  treat  with  Elizabeth  Town  about  the  Bounds,  and  to  issue 

•  Lcaniln^and  S;.iccr,  p.  lOD.  f  Dar.croft's  U.  States,  II.  40S. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  231 

it  witli  them  if  they  can ; " — a  vote  renewed,  April  5th, 
1686,  and  Jan.  24:,  168«.* 

A  General  Assembly  being  needed,  it  was  called,  obedient 
to  instructions,  to  meet  at  "  Arnboy  Perth,"  Ap.  6,  16S6 ; 
and  from  this  time  Amboy  became  the  seat  of  government 
for  the  Province.  The  Court  of  Common  Right,  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  Province,  was  ordered,  by  Act  of  Assembly,  to 
be  held  semi-annually  at  Amboy,  on  the  pretence  that  it  was 
"  more  conveniently  situated,  and  near  the  centre  of  the 
Province,  and  the  most  encouraging  place  for  trade  and 
trafHck  by  sea  and  land,  which  will  occasion  great  concourse 
of  people:  "  an  expectation  yet  remaining  to  be  fulfilled. f 

The  Quaker  Rule  had  now  continued  about  four  years, 
long  enough  to  give  it  a  fair  trial.  The  Proprietors  had  been 
at  great  expense  in  sending  over  colonists  and  all  manner  of 
necessary  material  for  the  planting  of  towns,  and  the  culti- 
vation of  the  soil,  but  had  been  greatly  disappointed  in  the 
re'sults.  The  Indian  titles  had  not  been  surrendered,  the 
rents  came  in  slowly,  and  the  prospect  of  regular  dividends 
was  quite  unpromising.  It  was  intimated  that  Lawrie,  as 
well  as  Rudj^ard,  was  more  intent  on  securing  the  best  lands 
for  himself,  than  on  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Proprie- 
tors. A  change  is  agreed  upon.  A  new  Deputj^  must  be 
appointed — not,  however,  a  Quaker.  A  large  proportion  of 
the  present  Proprietors  arc  Presbyterians — and  these  had 
sent  over  a  considerable  number  of  Colonists  of  like  faith. 
Tiic  old  Puritan  settlers  \vould  greatly  prefer  a  Presbyterian 
to  an  Episcopalian  like  Carteret,  or  a  Quaker,  as  Lawrie  was 
— as  Rudyard  had  been.  Lord  jSTeill  Campbell  receives  the 
appointment.:}; 

♦  Newark  Town  Eecords,  pp.  97,  9, 100.  t  Loaining  and  Sp!cei-,  pp.  2S3,  293. 

}  Leaminj  and  Spicer,  pp.  211,  2. 


232  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER   XII. 

A.  D.   1686—1702. 

Lord  Campbell,  Dep.  Gov.  —  And.  Hamilton,  Dcp.  Gov.  —  French  War  — Rates  — 
Annexation  to  New  York  and  Xew  England,  under  Gov.  Andros — Revolu- 
tion of  1688  —  Political  Agitations  —  Leisler  in  power  at  N.  Y. — Jacobite 
Party  at  E.  T.  —  Interregnum  —  Death  of  Rob.  Barclay — Col.  Hamilton, 
Gov,  —  Legislature — Appointments  —  Bounds  of  the  Town  —  Law.^uit  of 
FuUerton  vs.  Jones — Nicolls'  Grant  sustained  —  Notice  of  Wra.  Nlcoll, 
Esq.  —  Associates  in  1G95,  and  1C99  —  Administration  of  Basse,  Bownc  and 
Hamilton  —  Tumults  at  Newark  and  E.  T.  —  New  Allotment  of  Lands  — 
List  of  Surveys  —  Notices  of  New  Settlers  —  End  of  the  Proprietary  Gt»v- 
crnment. 

The  history  of  the  town  has  thus  far  been,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  identified  with  the  history  of  the  province.  As  the 
place  of  the  Governor's  residence,  and  of  the  meetings  of  the 
General  Assembly,  it  exerted  a  powerful  influence  over  pub- 
lic aifairs.  Gradually,  however,  as  it  ceased  to  be  the  pro- 
vincial metropolis,  and  the  patronage  of  tlie  Proprietary  gov- 
ernment was  withdrawn,  and  expended  on  their  favorite 
project,  the  establishment  of  a  great  commercial  mart  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Raritan,  it  lost,  in  part,  its  paramount  influ- 
ence, and  its  prominence  in  the  provincial  history.  Some  years, 
however,  elapsed  before  Amboy  became  a,  desirable  place  of 
residence,  and  the  comfortable  government-house  in  this 
town,  erected  by  Carteret,  held  out  superior  attractions,  and 
was  at  least  occasionally  occupied  by  the  representatives  of 
the  Proprietors. 

Lord  Keill  Cam])bcll  was  the  brother  of  that  "  ejcellent 
and  truly  great  and  good  man,"  Archibald  Campbell,  Earl  of 
Argyle,  who,  in  defence  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  in 
•dread  of  the  restoration  of  Popery  by  the  cruel  and  intolerant 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  233 

James  II.,  liad  adhered  to  the  Duke  of  Monmoutji,  taken  up 
arms  against  the  government,  and,  having  been  taken 
prisoner,  was  beheaded,  June  30,  1685,  at  the  Market-cross 
of  Edinburgh.  "So  high  did  the  tide  run  at  tliis  time  against 
this  noble  and  excellent  family,  that  the  Earl's  brother,  that 
excellent  person,  Lord  Neill  Campbell,  could  have  no  liberty 
to  live  at  his  own  house,  but  was  forced  to  go  in  the  hazard 
of  his  life  to  America,  and  leave  his  lady  and  family  behind 
him."  His  son,  Archibald,  however,  who  had  been,  Aug.  1, 
1685,  condemned  to  death  for  treason — which  sentence  was 
commuted,  Aug.lSth,  to  banishment, — accompanied  his  father, 
and  a  large  company  of  servants,  to  this  Province,  of  which 
he  became  an  influential  resident. 

Lord  Neill,  like  his  noble  brother,  was  "  heartily  averse  from 
prelacy  and  popery,"  and  thoroughly  a  Presbyterian  in  his 
principles.  Ho  found  a  refuge  and  hearty  welcome  here, 
among  his  countrymen  and  i'ellow  Proprietors.  He  arrived 
in  tlie  autumn  of  1686,  and,  for  a  season,  at  least,  became  a 
resident  of  this  town,  and,  probably,  a  guest  of  Gov.  Lawrie. 
His  commission,  as  Deputy  Governor,  was  received  about  the 
1st  of  Oct.,  1686,  and  published  on  the  5th,  at  which  time  he 
took  the  oath  of  oftice.  The  town  was  represented  in  the 
Council,  appointed  on  the  18th,  by  Gov.  Lawrie,  and  Richard 
Townlc_7.  The  latter  had  come  over  in  1683,  with  Francis 
Howard,  Lord  Effingham,  Governor  of  Virginia,  whence,  in 
1684,  he  found  his  way  to  this  Province,  and  became  a  resi- 
dent, and  soon,  by  his  marriage  with  Mrs.  Carteret,  and  other- 
wise, an  influential  citizen  of  this  town,  where  his  posterity 
still  continue  to  reside.  Mr.  Townley  was  made  Captain  of 
the  Train  bands  of  this  town,  Dec.  10,  1686.^^ 

James  II.,  having  tried  to  the  fullest  extent  the  policy  of 
persecution,  was  now  gravitating  towards  toleration,  in  order 
to  the  restoration  of  Popery.  Lord  I^eill  must  have  become 
aware  of  it,  many  months  before  the  Declaration  of  Indulg- 
ence, Ap,  4,  1687.  He  liad  not  sought  the  post  to  Avhich  he 
had  been  appointed,  and  so  relinquished  it  as  soon  as  it  was 

♦  Woodrow's  Chh.  of  ScoUand,  IV.  43,  311,  320.  Wliitcheail's  E  J.,  p.  117,  aiul  Aniboy, 
pp.  21-8.    K.  J.  Records,  C,  115. 


234  THE    HISTORY    OF 

possible  for  liiin  iu  safety  to  rejoin  liis  loved  ones  at  home, 
Capt.  Andrew  Hamilton,  of  Amboj,  who  had  conic  over  in 
the  antnnin  of  1684  (having  previously  been  a  merchant  in 
Edinburgh),  and  had  been  one  of  Lord  Weill's  Council,  was 
left  in  charge  of  the  government,  in  March,  1087,  and  Gov. 
Campbell  returned  from  exile  to  his  home  and  estates  in 
Scotland." 

The  invasion  of  the  country  of  the  Five  Nations  by  the 
French  iVom  Canada,  about  this  time,  was  tilling  the  land  with 
alarm.  It  gave  occasion  to  a  call  of  the  General  Assembly, 
to  meet  May  14,  1688,  at  Amboy,  and  for  an  assessment  of  a 
penny  on  the  pound,  for  the  service  of  his  Majesty  against 
the  French  ;  to  be  paid  in  Wheat,  at  4s.  and  Indian  Corn,  2s. 
a  bushel ;  Butter,  6d. ;  Pork,  2|-d. ;  Beef,  2d.,  and  Tobacco,  2|-d. 
a  pound  ;  Land  to  be  rated  at  £10.  a  hundred  acres ;  Oxen  of 
4  year  old  or  more,  £4 ;  Cows  of  3  years  old  or  more,  £3 ; 
Cattle  of  3  years  old  £3,  of  two  years  old,  £2,  and  yearlings, 
£1 ;  Horses,  of  3  years  old  or  more,  £3,  two  years  old,  £2, 
of  one  year,  £1 ;  and  swine  of  one  year  old  or  more,  10s.  a 
head.  Benjamin  Trice,  who,  after  the  decease  of  John  Og- 
den,  seems  to  have  been  the  leading  man  of  the  town,  was 
appointed  Assessor  for  this  place.f 

Dongan,  the  Governor  of  New  York,  in  almost  every  dis- 
patch to  the  authorities  at  home,  was  insisting  on  the  neces- 
sity of  including  the  Jerseys  under  the  jurisdiction  of  New 
York:  "There  is  an  absolute  necessity,"  he  said,  Feb.  22, 
1687, "  those  Provinces  and  that  of  Connecticutt  bee  annexed." 
The  Mayor  and  Council  of  New  York,  also,  in  an  Address  to 
the  King,  March  2, 1687,  insisted  on  "  the  absolute  necessity 
there  is  that  those  adjacent  parts  of  Connecticut,  East  and 
AVest  Jersey,  Pensilvania,  should  be  united  to  the  Province 
of  New  York."  James  required  no  urging.  He  was  de- 
termined to  reduce  his  American  Provinces  to  his  sovereign 
will,  and  to  consolidate  them  under  one  rule.  Sir  Edmund 
Andros  had  already  been  commissioned,  and  sent  over,  as 
Capt.  General  of  all  New  England,  and  was  eagerlj^  prosQ- 
cutin;]:  the  work  of  subverting:  the  liberties  of  the  elder  com- 

*  Whitohoad's  E.  J.,  pp.  US,  0,  12J.  t  Learning  and  Spicor,  pp.80C-T. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  235 

monwealtlis  in  tlie  land  of  tlio  Puritans— filling  those  orderly 
commnnities  with  apprehension  and  terror. 

At  length,  the  decree  went  forth,  Ap.  7,  1688,  and  the 
two  Jerseys  and  New  York  were  united  with  New  England, 
nnder  the  rule  of  Andros,  to  be  governed  by  the  same  royal 
pleasure,  that  for  three  years  had  been  grinding  the  liberties 
of  Britain  to  powder,  the  whole  to  be  henceforth  known  as 
"  New  England."  Writing  from  N.  York,  Oct.  4,  1688, 
Andros  says,  "  I  arrived  here  the  eleventh  of  August  past, 
wlicn  His  Majesties  Letters  Pattents  being  published,  received 
this  place,  as  alsoe  East  New  Jersey  the  fifteenth,  and  West 
New  Jersey  the  eighteenth  following."  "I  have  since  settled 
all  officers  Civill  and  Military  ; — to  their  great  satisfaction," 
says  Capt.  Francis  Nicholson,  whom  he  had  appointed 
Lieut,  (xovernor.  The  E.  Jersey  Proprietors  in  Great 
Britain  had  been  compelled,  immediately  after  the  decree 
of  consolidation,  in  April,  1G8S,  to  surrender  their  right  of 
jurisdiction."^"' 

Secretary  Eandolph  -writes  from  New  York,  Oct.  8,  1688, 
(after  giving  an  account  of  the  transactions  there),  as  follows  : 

From  tlience  His  Excellence  with  severall  of  the  Councill  set  forwiird 
for  East  Jarsey  and  arrivmg  at  Elizabeth  Town  belonging  to  that  Province, 
on  Wednesday  following  [15tli]  His  Ma''"  Commission -was  thor  puMishcd 
and  also  the  proclamation  for  continuing  the  revennuo  and  civill  and  mili- 
tary officers  till  further  order.  Tbey  all  shewed  their  great  satisfaction 
in  being  under  His  Ma'""  immediate  Gov'. 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  this  town  was  still  regarded  as 
the  capital  of  the  Province.  The  "  satisfaction,"  to  which 
both  Nicholson  and  Randolph  allude,  so  difierent  from  what 
was  witnessed  at  Boston,  Hartford,  and  elsewhere,  and  from 
the  manifestations  here  in  1680,  when  Andros  arrested  Car- 
teret, and  usurped  the  government  of  the  town,  may  have 
been  entirely  superficial,  and  limited  to  the  few  recent  comers, 
who  gloried  in  the  measures  of  James  XL  But  it  is  quite 
probable,  that  it  was  a  real  and  general  satisfaction,  to  be  rid, 
at  lengtli,  of  the  Proprietary  government,  of  which  they  liad 
liad  such  an  unhappy  exiierience  ;  hoping,  as  they  did,  that 

*  N.  Y.  Col.  Docints.,  11 1.  332, 425,  53G-I9,  53,  4.    Graliamc's  U.  States,  I.  25C-G4. 


236  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tlioir  ri<,^hts  would  be  mucli  better  maintained  "  under  his 
Ma"'^'  immediate  Gov*."  * 

Col.  Hamilton,  as  well  as  the  other  officers,  was  retained 
in  power  as  the  deputy  of  Andros,  administering  the  gov- 
ernment as  before,  but  without  respect  to  the  instructions  of 
Barclay  or  the  Council  of  Proprietors.  Personally  he  seems 
not  to  have  been  objectionable  to  the  people,  but  quite  other- 
wise, lie  was  intelligent,  judicious,  resolute,  and  courteous, 
possessing  qualities  both  of  mind  and  heart  that  had  secured 
for  him  the  confidence  of  all  classes. 

Early  in  the  following  year,  Feb,  16S|,  information  was 
received  of  the  landing  of  William,  the  Prince  of  Orange,  on 
the  British  Coast;  and,  in  rapid  succession,  of  the  fi'ght  and 
dethronement  of  James,  the  triumphant  progress  of  William, 
and  the  grant  of  the  crown  to  him  and  the  Lady  Mary,  his 
wife.  The  agitation  here,  as  well  as  everywhere  in  the  Colo- 
nies, was  intense  and  profound.  Andros,  it  was  soon  learned, 
had  been  degraded  and  imprisoned  by  the  outraged  Puritans 
of  Massachusetts  Bay.  Capt.  Leisler,  backed  by  the  rougher 
elements  of  the  populace,  had  seized  the  fort,  and  ousted  the 
authorities,  at  New  York.  So  closely  was  this  town,  even  then, 
connected,  socially  and  commercially  with  the  neighboring 
city,  that  these  events  deeply  affected  the  peace  of  the  com- 
munity. Some  few  openly  sided  with  Leisler.  Of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety,  to  whom,  June  28,  1689,  Avas  intrusted  the 
sole  jurisdiction  of  the  Province  of  N.  York,  two  were  of  the 
County  of  Essex,  N.  J.  Tlie  utmost  efforts  were  put  forth, 
by  the  faction  in  power,  to  obtain  the  support  of  the  towns  in 
E.  Jersey — to  overthrow  the  old  governments,  and  set  u]> 
their  own,  but  without  success  ;  the  people  here  resolving  to 
maintain  the  existing  government,  until  they  received  orders 
from  the'  new  authorities  at  home.  A  messenger  M'as  sent, 
by  the  Leisler  party,  to  proclaim  AVilliam  and  Mary  at  Am- 
br)y,  who  was  drowned  on  his  return  at  Stateii  Island,  and 
was  buried  at  N.  York,  in  great  state.  Col.  Hamilton,  whose 
wife  was  extremely  sick  of  a  fever,  was  prevented  from* 
taking  her  to  JM.  York,  for  fear  of  violence  to  his  person,  be 

*  N.  T.  Col.  DocinU.,  III.  507. 


ELIZABETH,    NEAV    JERSEY.  937 

cause  lie  had  arrested  some  of  Leisler's  agents.  Armed  men 
were  sent  hither,  from  N.  York,  to  hunt  for  so-called  popish 
refugees.  For  many  months  the  town  ^^as  thus  kept  in  a 
state  of  much  disturbance  and  anxiety.* 

Some  of  the  inhabitants  adhered  tenaciously  to  the  fallen 
dynasty,  and  resisted  all  innovation.  Many,  also,  of  the  same 
party  fled  hither  from  New  York,  where  their  liv^es  were  no 
longer  safe.  They  were  mostly  men  of  high  social  standing, 
and  great  personal  influence.  A  Jacobite  party  was  thus 
formed  in  the  town,  which  served,  of  course,  greatly  to  in- 
crease the  ferment.  The  Quakers,  in  sympathy  with  William 
Penn  (between  whom  and  James  II.  a  peculiar  intimacy  had 
grown  up),  were  classed  with  this  party.  Leisler  and  his 
Council,  writing,  Jan.  7,  1G80-90,  to  Burnet,  the  Bishop  of 
Salisbury,  use  this  language  : — 

Many  resort  to  our  iSTeighbours  of  East  Jersey  and  Pensilvania  being 
many  Quakers  in  these  parts,  who  (:  without  abusing  them :)  encourage 
if  not  outdo  the  Roman  Catholiques  and  most  of  our  Calamities  and  divi- 
sions are  truly  indebted  to  them,  covering  tlieir  pernicious  practices  by 
their  blind  scruples,  and  impudent  interpretations,  depending  still  upon 
and  asserting  Mi'.  Pen  to  be  a  person  of  undoubted  sincerity :  in  the  mean 
time  they  advance  the  Interest  of  K.  James  and  say  that  all  commissions 
are  good  to  this  day  Colonel  Townly  with  others  committing  riot  upon 
our  Justices  bordering  nest  to  them,  owning  none  save  King  James, 
openly  drinking  his  health  ettc  which  we  hope  in  due  time  to  subdue. 
Most  of  the  suspected  are  fled  into  the  next  colony  amongst  the  Quakers. 

Leisler  writes  again.  Mar.  31,  1G90,  to  the  Bishop,  as  fol- 
lows : — 

The  raging  spirit  of  malice  obstructs  us  much  in  the  neighboring  Colony 
of  East  Jersey,  whither  our  Chief  adversarys  fly  for  sanctuary  and  are 
embraced — C(j11  :  Townly  one  M''  Emott  an  Attorney  and  some  more  of 
their  principall  members  asserting  that  the  Throne  of  England  is  not 
vacant,  for  that  whilst  King  James  was  in  France  he  remained  in  his  owne 
dominions  being  annexed  to  the  Crownc,  with  many  other  wicked,  petu- 
lant and  rebellious  Notions  and  Assertions. 

Mayor  Van  Cortlandt,  writing,  ]\[ay  19,  1C90,  to  Sir  Ed- 
mund Andros,  says  : — 

Cull :  Hamilton,  Townly,  Capt"  Bourne,  Pinhornc  and  others  off  Xew 

♦  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  597,  609,  13, 17,  43,  8,  60. 


238  TeE    niSTORY    OF 

Jar-:ay  Gentlemen,  dare  not  come  in  town  ;  Gov'  Dongan  was  confined  in 
his  house  p.tt  Ileinstede,  but  is  gone  to  New  Yersay.  Mr.  Plowman 
[Collector  of  N.  York,  and  a  papist]  had  about  sixty  barrels  of  porke  and 
beefo  in  Elizabeth  townc  for  which  Capt"  Leisler  sent  about  100  men  and 
tooke  it  by  force.* 

Among  the  depositions  respecting  tlie  Iliots,  sworn  before 
'•Peter  D.  Lanoj"  [Delancj],  Mayor,  Feb.  27,  IG^A  was 
one  by  Thomas  Masters,  bricklayer,  aged  about  50  years, 
who  declared, — 

That  he  was  in  East  Jersey  at  the  house  of  James  Eraott  coming  from 
New  York  was  saluted  by  his  wife  and  asked  him  from  whence  he  came  : 
"whereupon  the  said  Emott  replyed,  he  came  from  New  Yorke,  had  been 
on  board  the  ship  the  Beaver,  and  had  taken  before  Father  Smith  the 
oath  of  Allegiance  to  be  true  to  the  King;  his  wife  asked  what  King; 
he  the  said  Emott  answered  King  James,  w'^''  the  Depou'  declared  was 
past  in  March  last.f 

Gov.  Hamilton  left  the  country  for  England,  late  in  May, 
1G90.  He  presided  over  the  Council  of  Proprietors  at  Am- 
boy.  May  20th,  and  signed  a  warrant  for  a  survej^,  May  22. 
"  I  understand,"  says  Cortlandt,  May  19, 1690,  "  Coll :  Hamil- 
ton intends  to  goe  for  England."  It  would  seem  that  he  left 
no  substitute  ;  and  no  other  dignitary  ventured  to  assume  the 
direction  of  provincial  affairs.  An  interregnum,  consequently 
ensued,  during  which  the  people  of  the  respective  towns  were 
left  to  manage  their  own  aftairs  by  their  local  officers.  In  a 
memorial  of  a  subseqitent  date,  complaint  is  made  to  the 
king,  by  those  holding  under  the  Nicolls'  Grants,  that  "from 
the  latter  end  of  June,  16S9,  till  about  the  latter  end  of  Au- 
gust, 1692,"  they  were  left  "  without  any  government."  This 
would  indicate  that,  from  the  transpiring  of  the  accession  of 
William  and  Mary  to  the  throne,  Col.  Hamilton  had  ceased 
to  be  regarded,  except  by  the  Jacobite  part}^,  as  the  Governor 
of  the  Province.  He  was  really  nothing  more  than  Presi- 
dent of  the  Proprietary  Board,  his  authoritj'  as  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor having  lapsed  with  the  fall  of  Andros  and  his  royal 
master.:}: 

*  N.  Y.  Co).  Docmts.,  III.  CSC,  T,  701.  IC,  IT.  t  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  747. 

t  !■:.  J.  r.ocor<l-s  O.,  ;34-40.  N.  Y.  Ci.l.  Docmts.,  III.  713.  Smith's  llistory  of  N.  Jersey, 
p.  558.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  124.    Bancroft's  U.  States,  III.  47. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  239 

Hobert  Barclay,  for  the 'last  eight  years  of  his  life  the 
nominal  Governor  of  East  Jersey,  died,  October. 3',  1G90. 
Hamilton,  having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  French,  (with 
whom  the  English  were  then  at  war),  and  been  detained  a 
captive,  had  now  arrived  out,  and  laid  before  his  fellow-Pro- 
prietors abroad  the  state  of  affairs  in  East  Jersey.  Taking 
advantage  of  the  anarchy  abroad  and  the  confusion  at  home, 
they  determined  to  re-assume  the  jurisdiction,  wrested  from 
them,  and  yielded  by  nominal  cession,  in  April,  1688;  and, 
therefore,  proceeded  to  elect  a  governor  in  Barclay's  place. 
They  chose  John  Tathara  [Tatem],  a  West  Jerseyman,  who, 
about  the  same  time,  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Coxe,  of  West 
Jersey,  his  deputy;  but,  "being  a  Jacobite,  and  as  such  by 
principle  disqualified,  him  the  Assembly  rejected."  For  the 
same  reason,  doubtless,  the  people  of  East  Jersey  "  scrupled 
to  obey  "  him.  They  then  requested  Col.  Joseph  Dudley  to 
take  the  place.'- 

lie  had  been  sent  a  prisoner  to  England  in  February,  1690, 
and  returned  to  JST.  York,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  having 
previously  received  a  provisional  appointment  mentioned 
by  Gov.  Sloughter  of  N.  York.  It  is  possible,  that  Slougli- 
ter  took  some  oversight  of  the  Province  of  East  Jersey, 
inasmuch  as  among  the  "  persons  of  approved  Loyalty  and 
Integrity,"  whom  he  recommended,  March  27,  1691,  as  mem- 
bers of  his  Council,  was  Pichard  Townley  of  this  place,  an 
adherent,  as  has  been  seen,  of  the  Stuart  dynasty.  Slougliter 
died,  July  23,  1691. f 

At  length,  the  governorship  was  given,  March  25,  1692,  to 
Col.  Hamilton,  then  at  London,  who  arrived  with  Gov. 
Fletcher,  of  N.  York,  August  30,  and  was  peaceably  received 
by  the  people.  They  acquiesced  in  his  government,  by  send- 
ing deputies  to  an  Assembly  that  convened,  by  warrant  from 
Hamilton,  at  Amboy,  Sept.  28, 1692,  to  take  measures  to  aid 
the  Province  of  New  York  against  invasion  by  the  French. :j; 

•  WhitchofuVs  E.  J.,  pp.  120,  130.  Smith's  N.  J.,  pp.  291,  2.  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  121.  X.  Y.  Col. 
Docmts.,  III.  701. 

t  Moore's  Governors  of  N.  Plym.  and  Mass.  Bay,  pp.  890-402.  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  III. 
3C4,  5^.3,  7fi8.     Whitehe.id's  E.  J.,  p.  131.     Smith's  N.  York,  1. 105. 

$  Whitehead's  E.  J.,  pp.  133,  4.    N.  T.  Col.  Docmts..  III.  S3S-40,  7.    Learning  and  Spicer 

312. 


240  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Isaac  "Whitehead,  of  this  towir,  was  appointed,  Sept.  IG, 
1692,  Iligli  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Essex ;  Isaac  "Whitehead 
and  Benjamin  Price,  Jr.,  Oct.  10,  Justices  of  the  Peace  for 
E.  Town  ;  Henry  jSTorris  and  John  Lyon,  Kov.  2,  Deputies 
to  the  Assembly  ;  Georgj  Jewell,  Dec.  3,  County  Clerk ; 
Isaac  Whitehead,  Benjamin  Price,  Jr.,  and  Jolm  Lyon,  Jr., 
Jan.  20,  Judges  of  Small  Causes ;  and,  Feb.  21,  Isaac  WJiite- 
head.  Lieutenant,  and  Daniel  Price,  Ensign,  of  the  E.  Town 
Company  of  Foot.  Isaac  "Whitehead,  who  seems  to  have 
been  in  high  favor  with  Hamilton,  was,  also,  appointed,  Ap. 
1,  1693,  Coroner  for  Essex  Co.  ;  and,  Nov.  4,  1693,  Captain 
of  the  Foot  Company,  Daniel  Price  being  appointed,  at  the 
same  time,  Lieutenant,  and  John  Lyon,  Ensign.  Pichard 
Townley,  also,  had  been  appointed,  March  7,  169|-,  a  mem- 
ber of  Gov.  Fletcher's  Council,  of  the  Province  of  i!^ew 
York.     Mrs.  Townley  had  a  large  estate  on  Long  Island.'^ 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  in  October,  1693,  an  Act 
was  passed  defining  the  bounds  of  the  respective  townships 
of  the  Province,  in  which,  for  the  first  time,  the  territory  of 
this  town  is  described  by  legislative  authority  : 

'  The  Townsliip  of  Elizabeth-Town,  shall  include  all  the  Land  from  the 
mouth  of  Raway  River  "West  to  "Woodbridge-Stako,  and  from  theace 
"Westerly  along  the  Line  of  the  County  to  the  Partition  Line  of  the  Prov- 
ince, and  from  the  month  of  the  said  Raway  River,  np  the  Sound  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Bound-Creek,  and  from  thence  to  the  Bound-Hill,  from 
thence  North-west  to  the  Partition  Line  of  the  Province.! 

The  territory  thus  defined  embraced  the  whole  of  the 
present  Union  County,  and  considerable  portions  of  Somerset, 
Ilunterdon,  Morris,  AVarrcn  and  Sussex  Counties,  including 
Morristown,  Stanhope,  Schooley's  Mountain,  and  Newton, — 
according  to  Keith's  Partition  Line,  then  understood  to  be 
the  true  dividing  line  between  East  and  AVcst  Jersey.  The 
townsliip  was  thus  extended  beyond  tlie  western  bounds  of 
the  Indian  Purcluisc,  which  at  no  point  was  more  tlnin  34 
miles  from  Newark  Bay,  or  double  the  distance  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Paritan  to  the  mouth  of  the  Passaic  rivers.;}: 

*  E.  J.  Records,  C.  151-207.    K.  Y.  Col.  t  Lenmlng  and  Spiccr,  p.  320. 

Doemts.,  III.,  S18.  I  Gordon's  N.  J.  71-5. 


ELIZABETU,    NEW    JERSEY.  O-il 

Jolin  Ilarriman  [Rev.]  and  Jonas  Wood  were  appointed, 
Nov.  3,  1693,  Deputies,  and  again  in  1694.  Benjamin  Og- 
den  received,  Oct.  10,  169-1-,  the  appointment  of  Sheriff'; 
Ephraim  Price,  Jan.  15,  169 f.  Ensign  ;  and  John  Woodruff, 
Jan.  29,  Judge  of  Small  Causes.* 

A  period  of  great  suspense  and  anxiety  commenced  soon 
after  the  return  of  Gov.  Hamilton.  During  the  long  con- 
troversy respecting  the  land  titles  of  the  town,  no  regular 
judicial  investigation  of  the  points  at  issue  had  been  under- 
taken— no  decision  reached.  But  now  that  the  Proprietors 
have  resumed  their  jurisdiction,  and  seem  to  be  quietly  seat- 
ed in  the  government  of  the  Province,  they  determine  to 
bring  the  matter  into  the  courts ;  confident  that,  as  the 
courts  are  mostly  under  their  control,  judges  and  juries  both, 
the  case  will  be  decided  in  their  lavor,  and  the  planters  be 
compelled  to  pay  the  arrearages  of  Quit  Rents  from  1670,  or 
be  dispossessed  of  their  plantations  with  all  the  improve- 
ments put  upon  them.  The  Fullerton  brothers,  Thomas, 
Robert  and  James,  came  to  the  Province  in  1684,  and  settled 
on  Cedar  Brook,  on  the  plot,  bought  by  Gov.  Lawrie  of  the 
Indians,  but  previously  claimed  by  the  E.  Town  people  un- 
der the  Nicolls  Grar.t.  Jeffry  Jones,  one  of  the  E.  T.  Asso- 
ciates, had,  by  conveyance  from  Lawrie,  come  into  possession 
of  land  there,  on  which  James  Fullerton  (schoolmaster  at 
Woodbridge,  in  1689)  had  settled  ;  "  upon  -which  the  said 
Jeoffrey  Jones  did  enter  and  oust  him."  This  was  in  1693. 
Fullerton,  in  Sept.  of  that  year,  brought  an  action  of  trespass 
and  ejectment  against  Jones,  and  issue  was  joined.  The 
case  came  to  trial  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  at  Perth 
Amboy,  in  May  1695.  The  whole  merits  of  the  case  were 
brought  out  before  tlic  Judges  and  Jury,  on  both  sides.  The 
events  were  then  recent ;  the  documentary  evidence  was 
ample,  and  well  preserved ;  the  first  E.  Town  Book  was  in 
the  hands  of  Samuel  AVhitehead,  the  Town  Clerk,  and  was 
perfectly  accessible.  So  that  the  facts  were  fully  before  the 
Court,  or  within  their  reach. 

A  special  verdict  was  agreed  upon,  but  the  jur}--  gave  a 

•  E.  J.  Rccoras,  C.  212,  225,  231. 

16 


242  THEHISTORYOF 

general  verdict  for  Jones.  The  Court,  however,  pronounced 
judi^inent,  May  14,  on  the  special  verdict  against  Jones ; 
■who  thereupon  appealed  tlie  case  to  the  King  in  Council. 
In  the  Court  at  Kensington,  both  parties  again  were  fully 
heard,  Wm.  Nicoll,  Esq.,  being  Attorney  for  Jones.  The 
Committee  of  the  Privy  Council,  Lord  Chief  Justice  Holt, 
Sir  Philip  Williamson,  and  Sir  Henry  Goodrich,  offered  their 
Opinion  to  his  Majesty  in  Council,  that  the  judgment  be  re- 
versed ;  and  his  Majesty  in  Council,  February  25,  169^-,  re- 
versed and  repealed  the  said  judgment,  and,  also,  declared 
all  issues  thereupon  null  and  void.  Kicoll  afterwards  de- 
clared on  oath,  that,  in  the  Council, 

The  solo  dispute  was,  "Wliether  Col.  Richard  Nicliolls,  as  Governor  un- 
der the  King  of  England,  in  those  parts,  might  not  grant  Licence  to  any 
of  the  Subjects  of  England,  to  purchase  Lands  from  the  native  Pagans? 
and  if,  upon  such  Licence  and  Purchase,  the  English  Subjects  should  gain 
a  Property  in  the  Lands  so  bought?  all  which  was  resolved  in  the  Af- 
firmative, and  the  Judgment  given  to  the  Contraiy,  accQrdingly  reversed.* 

William  ]N"icoll,  Jones'  Attorney,  was  a  lawyer  of  great 
prominence  at  Xew  York,  the  son  of  Matthias,  lirst  Secretary 
under  Gov.  Nicolls.  In  16S7,  he  received  the  appointment 
of  Attorney  General  of  N.  York.  He  opposed  Leisler  in 
16S9,  and  was  severely  treated  as  a  Jacobite.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Council  under  Govs.  Sloughter  and  Fletcher, 
whose  policy  he  sustained.  Early  in  November,  1695,  he 
vpas  appointed  an  Agent  of  the  Province  to  ])roceed  to  Eng- 
land, to  present  an  Address  and  a  Memorial  to  the  King. 
On  the  voyage,  he  was  captured,  in  January  1691,  near  the 
Scilly  Islands,  and  kept  a  prisoner  at  Brest,  in  France,  till 
the  month  of  April.  Jones,  it  seems,  took  advr.ntage  of  this 
mission,  to  employ  him  to  manage  the  appeal  before  the 
King  in  Counoil.  As  Nicoll  was  shortly  after  admitted  an 
Associate  of  E.  Town,  with  a  third-lot  right,  and  as  lie  never 
became  a  resident,  but  retained  his  domicile,  first  in  Queens, 
and  then  in  Suffolk,  Counties  on  Long  Island,  it  is  thought 
that  this  third-lot  right  was  given  him  by  the  town  for  his 
services,  and  the  Associates  made  common  cause  with  Jones 

♦  E.  T.  Dill,  pp.  120,  2.    Ans.  to  do.,  pp.  30,  1.    Lcnaiing  and  Spiccr,  p.  690. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  243 

in  the  defence  of  his  title,  involving,  as  it  did,  the  title  of 
every  one  of  thetn  to  their  purchased  possessions.'-^ 

These  judicial  proceedings  served  to  kindle  anew  the  old 
animosity  between  the  town  and  the  Proprietors,  and  neces- 
sitated a  more  complete  organization  of  the  planters.  A  large 
proportion  of  the  original  settlers  had  either  died  or  left  the 
town.  A  new  generation  had  taken  their  place,  heirs  or 
assigns  of  the  old  pioneers,  and  fully  prepared  to  maintain 
their  inherited  rights.  It  was  determined  to  make  from 
these  a  considerable  addition  to  the  number  of  the  Asso- 
ciates. Of  this  transaction,  the  only  extant  record  is  found 
in  the  Town  Book,  under  date  of  June  7,  1735,  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Caleb  Jefferys,  Town  Clerk,  at  that  time,  as 
follows : — 

Be  it  always  Remembered  that  Those  whose  Names  are  underwritten 
were  admitted  associates  according  to  thire  Lot  Rights  anexed  to  Each  of 
there  names  and  ought  to  have  Been  Enteared  In  page  the  third  of  This 
Book  all  which  is  menifastly  known  By  Living  Testamony  amongst  us- 
and  Doth  allso  appear  By  an  Instrument  made  In  the  year  one  Thousand 
six  hundred  Ninety  .and  live 

The  Associates  admitted  as  aboues''  were  as  followeth  (viz)  Joseph 
willson  fi  e  Lott  Right  henry  Norris  foure  Lott  Right  and  to  Each  a 
third  Lott  Right  peter  Nue  Henry  Lyon  and  to  Each  a  second  Lott 
Right  in  the  same  premisses  Jeffery  Jones  John  Miles  Samuel  Barnet. 
John  Littel  Samuel  Winance  Joseph  meeker  Josepli  Sayers  Robert 
Morss  and  Moses  Thompson  and  to  Each  a  first  Lott  Right  in  the  same 
permiises-  Nathaniel  Bonell,  Sen''  Stephen  Crane  John  arskin  Joshua 
Clark  Thomas  Moore  Daniel  Deharfc  John  meeker  :  a  Loott  &  a  half 
Roger  Lambert  George  pack,  John  Ogden  Stephen  osborne  Joseph, 
osborn  George  Ross  Nathaniel  Tuttel  Isaac  hetfeild  Jonas  wood  a 
Lot  Right  and  a  half  and  to  a  first  Lot  Right  Samuel  Sayes  peter 
morfS  Benjamin  Bond  a  Lot  Right  and  a  half,  and  to  a  first  Lot  Right 
marry  Johnson,  Jolin  "Woodruff,  william  miller,  John  parkcr,  Josiah 
Stanbrough,  Henry  martain,  John  pope  Benjamin  meeker  a  half  Lot 
Right  one  Lot  Right  was  Entered  in  page  y"  3  of  this  Book,  and  to  a 
first  Lot  Right  Joseph  ffrazey  Richard  mattuk  and  Jonatlian  Ogden  a 
first  Lot  Right  and  one  Entered  In  page  the  3  of  This  Book  which  maks- 
two  in  the  Second  Taken  in  vf  the  associates  Richard  Clarke  Senor 
Deceased  a  sscond  Lott  Right  william  Cramer  Senor-a  Second  Lott 
Right. 

•N.  T.  Col.  DocmtJ.,  III.  709;  IV.  159,  171,  509. 


244  THE    HISTORY    OF 

On  pages  2d  and  3d  of  tlic  same  Book  is  the  following 
entry  :— 

"  In  the  Yeare  of  our  Lcird  one  tliousand  SixIIunclred  and  Ninty-Nine, 
At  a  Town-Meeting  (in  Elizabeth  Town)  of  the  s**  Associates  and  those 
Holding  under  them  or  Some  of  them  were  admitted  as  Associates  with 
them  in  the  affores''  Premisses,  all  those  Persons  whose  Names  are  here- 
inafter next  mentioned  (viz.)  William  Looker,  a  Second  Lott-liight, 
Benjamin  Wade  Ditto,  John  Harriman  Ditto,  William  Xicholls,  a  third 
Lot-Kight,  and  to  first  Lot-Rights,  William  Brown,  Ephraim  Clarke, 
Obediah  Sale,  Jonathan  Ogden,  Samuel  Carter,  Jeremiah  Crane,  Joseph 
Whitehead,  Samuel  Whitehead,  David  Woodruff,  Benjamin  Meeker, 
Mordecai  Burnet,  Nathanael  Whitehead,  William  Miller,  Joseph  Ljon, 
John  Thompson,  John  Harriman,  Ju"",  Ebenezer  Lyon,  John  Woodruff, 
Abraliam  Uctfiekl,  Robert  Woollcy,  William  Hill,  William  Cramer, 
Denis  Morris,  John  Megie,  Benjamin  Lyon,  John  Osborne,  Joseph  Wood- 
luff,  Thomas  Darling,  William  Stray hearne,  Andrew  Craig,  John  Johnson, 
Nathaniel  Lyon,  Joseph  Hallsy,  Benjamin  Ogden,  Jno.  Ailing,  Jacob 
Mitchell,  Samuel  Willis,  Andrew  Ilamton,  George  Thorp,  John  Pearce, 
Samuel  Oliver,  Samuel  Clarke,  John  Gould,  Richard  Clarke,  John  Clarke,  ' 
and  Cornelias  Hetfield.  And  since  Cap'  Ebenezer  Willson,  a  second  Lot- 
Right. 

In  these  lists,  several  of  the  original  Associates  are  named 
as  liaving  obtained  an  addition  to  their  lot-rights.  The 
children  of  the  old  planters  are  largely  represented ;  in  some 
cases,  two,  three,  four,  or  five  sons  taking  the  place  of  the 
father.  Ten  new-comers  arc  found  in  the  list  of  1695, 
and  twenty,  in  that  of  1699 ;  the  most  of  whom  became  per- 
manent residents  and  founders  of  families.  In  addition  to 
these,  were  found  among  the  residents  a  considerable  number 
of  persons,  who  had  attached  themseU^es  to  the  Proprietary 
party  or  w'cre  themselves  Proprietors,  whose  lauds  were 
located  chiefly  on  the  lower  Eahway  river  and  its  branches, 
that  section  being  then  included  within  the  territory  of  the 
town. 

Daniel  Price  was  appointed,  May  3,  1697,  Captain  of  the 
Train-Bands:  AVilliain  Brown  and.  Ephraim  Price,  Lieu- 
tenants ;  and  llichard  Baker  and  Samuel  Oliver,  Ensigns. 
John  Woodruft' (son  of  the  old  planter)  received,  May  30,  the 
appointment  of  High-Sheriff  of  Essex  Co. ;  John  Harriman 
[Rev.]   and  Andrew  Hampton,  Dec.  1,  169S,  were  chosen 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  245 

Deputies ;  Robert  Smith  (the  first  of  the  name  in  the  town) 
became,  Dec.  26,  1699,  High-Sheriff;  and,  Feb.  15,  1609- 
1700,  George  Jewell,  County  Clerk,* 

The  period,  immediately  subsequent  to  the  decision  of  the 
Jones'  case  in  1695,  was  one  of  much  confusion  and  excite- 
ment. Great  indignation,  of  course,  was  manifested  by  the 
town  party  against  the  Proprietors  and  their  anomalous 
government.  Restive  as  they  had  been  under  it  from  the 
first,  they  could  no  longer  restrain  the  expression  of  their 
dissatisfaction.  The  reversal  by  the  King  and  his  Council,  in 
1697,  of  the  adverse  judgment  of  1695,  confirming,  as  it  did, 
unquestionably,  the  validity  of  their  titles,  emboldened  them 
still  more  in  their  opposition  to  Proprietary  rule,  and  in 
the  determination  to  be  rid  of  it,  and  come  under  the 
immediate  government  of  the  King,  whom  they  had  learned 
to  trust. 

In  these  purposes  they  were  greatly  strengthened  by  the 
state  of  public  affairs  in  the  Province.  The  Proprietors,  as 
has  been  said,  relinquished  their  claim  of  jurisdiction  in 
April,  1688,  but  reasserted  it  in  1690.  Owing  to  the  perils 
by  which  the  Orange  dynasty  was  then  surrounded  at  home, 
but  little  notice  was  taken,  by  the  ministry,  of  this  colonial 
incident.  As  the  government,  however,  gained  strength  and 
a  firm  foothold  on  British  soil,  the  colonies  were  regarded 
with  more  interest.  The  pleadings  in  the  Jones'  case  had 
turned  attention  more  particularly  to  the  Jerseys.  The 
authorities  at  New  York,  also,  were  perpetually  pleading  for 
the  annexation  of  this  inviting  territory''  to  their  own. 

The  issue  must  have  been  clearly  foreseen.  It  could  not 
be  averted.  The  Proprietary  government  was  doomed.  The 
ministry  wisely  withheld  their  assent  from  the  appointments 
of  the  Board  at  London.  Acceptable,  personally,  as  their  ap- 
pointee. Gov.  Hamilton,  was,  his  authority  was  questioned^ 
and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  courts  denied.  "When  he  was  su- 
perseded in  A])ril,  1698,  by  Jeremiah  Basse,  in  conformity 
to  a  law  that  required  the  Colonial  Governors  to  be  natives 
of  England,  tlie  op])Osition  party  were  greatly  strengthened., 

•  E.  J.  RecordK,  C.  2Gt-7,  318,323. 


24:6  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The  American  Proprietors  took  ground  against  the  English 
Proprietors,  and  opposed  Basse  ;  while  he,  on  the  other  hand, 
sided  with  the  opposition,  and  so  lent  liis  influence  to  the 
subversion  of  the  power  to  Avhicli  he  owed  liis  advancement. 
The  people  soon  learned  to  hold  the  government  in  contempt, 
llevolt  ensued.  The  leadei's  were  imprisoned,  but  speedily 
rescued  by  the  populace. 

In  May,  1G99,  Basse  left  the  government  in  the  hands  of 
Andrew  Bowne,  (President  of  the  Council,  and  in  sympathy 
with  the  opposition),  and  sailed  for  England.  Bowne's  exer- 
cise of  authority  was  respected  no  more  than  ids  predeces- 
sor's ;  but  it  stirred  up  less  resistance,  as  he  sided  mainly 
with  the  people.  The  return  of  Gov.  Hamilton,  at  the  close 
of  1699,  with  a  new  Commission,  served  still  more  to  com- 
plicate matters.  In  the  course  of  the  following  spring  and 
summer  (1700),  the  op})osition  openly  revolted;  the  Assem- 
bly, called  to  meet  in  May,  1700,  demanded  of  Hamilton 
credentials  from  the  King,  and  were  dissolved  the  same  day. 
A  period  of  strife  and  violence  followed  ;  conrts  were  broken 
np  ;  slieriifs  and  others  were  obstructed  in  serving  processes; 
and,  as  during  Basse's  rule,  tliere  were  "  mutual  breaking  of 
Goals,  rescuing  of  Prisoners,  and  beating  and  abusing  of 
officers."* 

In  this  culmination  of  events,  toNvards  which  tlioy  had 
long  been  rushing,  tlie  peo})lo  of  this  town  took  a  deeply- 
interested  part.  The  Newark  people  openly  refused,  at  a 
town  meeting,  April  11,  1699,  to  be  taxed  for  the  raising  of 
money,  ordered  by  the  Assembly,  for  redressing  a  force  of 
the  Province  of  N.  York ;  and  in  this  they  were  fullj^  sec- 
onded by  this  town,  at  their  meeting,  on  the  21st.  At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  County  Court  in  this  town,  March  12,  1699-1700, 
the  Sheriff  having  been  ordered  to  arrest  Samuel  Carter  for 
•contempt  of  Court,  the  "  noise  and  howling  of  the  people," 
were  such  that  the  Court  was  obliged  to  adjourn.  A  similar 
scene  took  place  at  the  County  Court  in  Sept.  at  Newark, 

*  E.J.Kecords,  C,  278,811,828,831,4.  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  45, 124.  App.  to  Do.,  p.  33.  Ans.to 
Do.,  p.  82.  Smith's  N.  J.,  pp.  209-11,  558-60,  568-9.  Lenniing  and  Spiccr,  pp.  592,  8,  605. 
•Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  53.  Whitelicnd'B  E.  .T.,  pp.  13S-41,  147-60,  219-20,  223-T.  Mulford'sN.  J. 
pp.  257-01.    Analytical  Index  of  N.  J.  Col.  Uocniti.  pp.  19-81. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY. 


247 


several  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  taking  part  in  tlie  dis- 
turbance.* 

In  this  terrible  confusion  of  public  affairs,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  make  an  appeal  directly  to  the  King,  A  Petition 
was  prepared,  purporting  to  be  from  "  the  Freeholders,  In- 
habitants, and  owners  of  the  Land,  of  and  belonging  to 
Elizabeth-Town,  or  Township,  and  other  Lands  thereto  adja- 
cent, in  the  Province  of  East  New  Jersey  in  America, 
in  behalf  of  themselves  and  many  others.."  After  reciting 
their  title,  they  say, — 

The  said  Purchasers,  and  those  claiming  under  them,  still  continue  in 
the  possession  of  the  Lands  by  them  Purchased,  and  peaceably  enjoyed  the 
same,  imtil  about  September,  1693,  being  near  Thirty  Years,  and  during 
that  Time,  great  Labour  and  Expence,  built,  planted,  and  improved  the 
same ;  and  they  humbly  conceive  they  ought  according  to  Law,  Reason 
and  Justice,  still  to  enjoy  the  same. 

They  then  rehearse  the  troubles  to  which  the}^  had  been 
put  in  defending  their  title,  and  their  need  of  an  impartial 
tribunal. 

They  ask,  therefore,  either  to  be  placed  under  the  civil 
government  of  New  York,  or  to  have  indifferent  Judges  ap- 
pointed to  whom  all  these  matters  might  be  referred ;  and 
that  the  usurpers  be  admonished  no  more  to  usurp  tlie  royal 
authority  in  "constituting  courts"  and  "  commlssionating 
Judges."     The  i)aper  was  signed  as  follows: 


John  Lamb, 
John  Osborn, 
Abraham  Hill, 
Joseph  Ilallsy, 
John  Woodroof, 
Robert  Wooley, 
Joshuah  Chrke, 
Henry  Lyon, 
"William  Looker, 
Jeremiah  O shorn, 
Cornelius  Hatfield, 
Henry  Norris, 
John  Cory, 


John  Megie, 
Daniel  Deliart, 
Robert  Marsh, 
William  Strayhearn, 
Nathaniel  Boinel, 
Samuel  Clark, 
John  Willi's, 
Daniel  Crane, 
David  WoodrufT, 
Ebenezer  Lyon, 
Jonathan  Ogden,  jun., 
Obadiah  Sale, 
John  Little, 


Joseph  Woodroof, 
And.  Hampton, 
John  Thomas, 
Ephram  Clarke, 
Joseph  Williams, 
William  Miller, 
■  Samuel  Whitehead, 
Roger  Lambert, 
Benjamin  Lyon, 
Joseph  Meeker, 
E[>hraim  Price, 
Samuel  Carter, 
Jonathan  Ogden, 


*  Anal.  Index,  pp.  24,  5,  9,  31.    Newark  Town  Eecoids,  pp.  113,4. 
p.  145 


Whltebeatrs  E.  J 


248 


THE    HISTORY    OR 


Thomas  Thompson. 
Joseph  Lyon, 
AVilliam  Brown, 
John  Meeker, 
Jolin  Thomson, 
Daniel  Price, 
John  Ilarriman,  jun., 
Jolin  Ross, 
Abraham  Hatfield, 


Isaac  "Whitehead, 
John  Earsken, 
Thomas  Price, 
Benjamin  Hatter, 
John  Clarke, 
John  Miles, 
Jacob  Mitchel, 
Samuel  Williams.* 


Isaac  Boinell, 
Benjamin  Ogdin, 
Benjamin  Wade,  sen., 
Benjamin  Price,  jun., 
Benjamin  Meeker, 
John  Looker, 
Jeremiah  Crane, 
Daniel  Sayro, 
George  Eoss,  jun., 

A  small  proportion  only  of  the  large  ten-itory  belonging  to 
tlie  town  had  hitherto  been  occnpied.  The  new  generation 
and  the  new  comei's  were  eager  for  more  land.  It  was  deter- 
mined, therefore,  in  town-meeting,  in  the  autumn  of  1G99,  to 
proceed  to  an  orderly  distribution  of  the  back  country  lands, 
and  the  remaining  meadows  on  the  Town  Creek,  among  the 
Associates,  now  120  in  number.  For  this  purpose,  John 
Ilarriman,  J"".,  the  eldest  son  of  the  minister,  was  chosen  Sur- 
veyor, and  Messrs.  Jonathan  Ogden,  Benjamin  Lyon,  John 
Clarke,  Samuel  Carter,  and  Cornelius  Hatfield,  his  assistants, 
"  to  Lay  out.  Divide,  and  Equally  assise  all  the  Lands  and 
meadows  within  the  whole  Bounds  and  purcliase  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  to  every  one  Interested  therein  by  Right  of  purchase 
under  the  honourable  General  Richard  Nicholls,  their  Several 
and  Respective  parts  and  shares  of  the  whole.f 

They  entered  upon  their  work,  Dec.  26,  1699,  and  com- 
pleted it,  March  5,  -]^^-l~}.  The  ground  surveyed  was  watered 
by  the  Rah  way  river  in  its  southerly  course,  and  extended 
from  the  Newark  line  on  the  Korth,  to  the  Woodbridge  line 
on  the  South,  reaching  to  the  foot  of  "  the  mountain"  on  the 
West.  It  included  a  considerable  part  of  the  present  towns 
of  Union,  Westfield,  and  Rlainticld,  and  a  small  part  of  the 
town  of  Railway.  It  comprised  about  17,000  acres,  and  was 
divided  into  171  one-hundred  acre  lots,  mostly  40  by  26 
chains,  the  general  direction  of  the  length  being  from  East 
to  West,  and  of  the  breadth,  from  North  to  South.  The  first 
lot,  assigned  to  Isaac  Whitehead,  Sen'',  deceased,  bordered 
on  "the  North-west  line  between  Eliz**"  Town  and  Newark  ; " 
the  107th,  111th,  112th,  and  119th,  bordered  South  on  the 


•  Lcamii't;  and  i^jilcor,  pp.  CSS-92. 


t  E.  Town  Cook,  B.,  p.  ST. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  249 

Woodbridge  Line  ;  the  intervening  lots,  in  the  order  of  their 
enumeration  filling  up  the  interv'al ;  and  the  remaining  lots 
lying  to  the  West  of  the  others.  The  settlement  of  Connecti- 
cut Farms  and  Westfield  dates  from  this  allotment  ;  the 
staple  of  the  population  of  these  townships  being  the  descend- 
ants of  the  old  planters  among  whom  these  lands  were  ap- 
portioned.* 

In  these  lists,  and  other  documents  of  the  period,  several 
new  names  occur,  not  noticed  in  the  schedule  of  1(J6G,  and 
the  Dutch  Census  of  1673.  Of  some  of  them  but  little  is 
known  ;  the  origin  of  a  few  cannot  now  be  discovered  ;  and 
of  the  remainder  a  brief  account  only  can  be  given. 

John  Alling  [Allen]  was  in  humble  circumstances,  labor- 
ing by  the  day,  employed  by  Mr.  Ilarriman  in  "  bottoming 
chairs."  The  day  after  Mr.  Harriman's  death,  his  daughter, 
says  the  old  Ledger,  "  Abigail  Ailing  came  to  our  service." 
His  father,  John,  died,  intestate,  April,  1685.  He  himself 
was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1699-1700.  What  relation,  if 
any,  he  bore  to  Samuel  Ailing,  the  founder  of  the  Xewark 
famil}^,  from  New  Haven,  Ct.  is  not  known, — probably 
none.f 

Andrew  Alexander  was  one  of  Mr.  Harriman's  j)arishion- 
ers.  He  resided  here  as  early  as  Jan.,  169|.  He  was, 
doubtless,  of  the  same  family  with  George  and  John  Alex- 
ander, who  came  over  with  the  Scotch  emigration  about 
1685,  and  had  large  allotments  of  land  on  the  Rahway  river, 
and  at  the  Scotch  Plains,  on  Green  Brook.  Andrew  was  a 
schoolmaster,  and  had  among  his  pupils,  in  1697-8,  three  of 
Mr.  Harriman's  children,  who  credits  him,  in  his  Ledger 
thus:  "  for  schooling  my  3  children  at  5^  3<^ — 15  9."  He  was 
living  here  in  1705.:}: 

Margaret  Baker  was  here  as  early  as  1676.  She  obtained, 
Feb.  1,  167?-,  a  warrant  for  200  acres,  "in  right  of  Peter 
Wolverson,"  who  had  returned  to  New  York.  She  is  recorded 
as  Mrs.  Margaret  Baker,  but  her  deceased  husband's  name  is 
not  given, 

*  E.  Town  Book,  B.,  12-37.     n.irriman's  Lodger,  pp.  US-150. 
t  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  ll(i.     Mr.  Harriman's  Ledger,  p.  127. 
J  lb.,  p.  108.  E.  J.  Records,  L.,  00,  101, 170,  206. 


250  THE    HISTORY    OF 

She  ^va3  a  sister  of  Gov,  Peter  Stuyvcsant,  and  quite  a 
noted  character,  Jacob  Backer,  her  husband,  was  a  pros- 
perous merchant  in  New  York.  He  resided  on  the  E,  side 
of  Broad  st.  near  Beaver  st.,  and  adjoining  liis  store.  He 
was  Schepen  for  several  years,  and  held  in  high  esteem.  He 
went  over  to  Holland,  in  1G60,  and  left  his  business  here  in 
cliarge  of  his  wife,  Margaret,  returning  bn\j  occasionally. 
Their  eldest  cliild,  Nicholas,  Avas  baptized  in  the  Dutch 
Ciiurch,  N.  Y.,  Mar,  25,  1657  ;  their  2d  child,  Hillegond, 
Sep,  7,  1759  ;  Ilenricus,  Sep,  20,  1660;  and  Abraham,  Nov. 
23,  1661:.  After  the  English  conquest  he  returned  once  or 
twice  more  to  Holland,  and  seems,  after  1669,  not  to  have 
come  back.  It  was  reported  that  he  died  in  the  East  Indies. 
His  property  was  heavily  mortgaged,  to  Jean  Cousseau,  who 
foreclosed  in  1670.  Balthazar  dc  Ilaert,  a  wealthy  merchant, 
living  in  Pearl  St.  between  Broad  and  William  streets,  pur- 
chased the  property,  in  Oct.  1670,  at  public  sale.  As  the 
sequel  shows,  he  had  become  quite  intimate  with  widow 
Baker,  He  died  the  next  year  but  one,  1672,  and,  having 
never  married,  left  the  most  of  his  estate  to  his  tliree  brothers, 
Daniel,  Matthias  and  Jacob,  having  first  made  provision  for 
his  natural  son,  Matthias;  and  bequeathed  to  his  "Naturall 
son  Daniel  De  Haert,  procreated  by  Margarett  Stuyvesant," 
the  house  and  lot  then  occupied  by  him  and  Elias  Provost 
Smith,  and  "two  greate  stilling  kettles;"  also  600  guilders 
wampum  annually  ;  of  all  which  the  mother  was  to  have  the 
use  until  their  son,  Daniel  (who  had  been  baptized,  Sep.  1, 
1671),  should  come  of  age. 

Among  the  Albany  Records  is  a  Petition,  dated  Ap.  29, 
1676,  of  Margaret  Stuyvesant  "  for  an  examination  of  her 
account  against  the  estate  of  the  late  Balthazar  dc  Ilaart, 
with  M-hom  she  was  emjajred  to  be  married,  and  who  in  his 
lifetime  made  use  of  her  estate."  Oct.  2,  1676,  Daniel  de 
Ilaart  asks  for  a  subpoena  to  be  served  "  in  the  suit  between 
Daniel  de  Ilaart,  administrator,  etc.,  and  Margaret  Stu}'- 
vesant  alias  Bakers."  In  the  following  winter,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Baker  has  taken  up  her  residence  here,  induced  thereto, 
probably,  by  a  settlement  with  Daniel  dc  Haart,  his  brother 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  251 

Balthazar  having  acquired  considerable  land  here  before  his 
death.  Kot  many  years  after,  she  found  it  convenient  to 
change  her  condition  once  more.  A  very  singular  covenant 
of  marriage  is  on  record,  dated  March  11,  167},  between 
Ilendrick  Droogestradt  and  Mrs.  Margarita  Stuyvesant,  both 
of  Elizabeth  Town,  in  which,  Ilendricus,  Nicholas  and  Abra- 
ham Backer  are  mentioned  as  her  children.  The  witnesses  to 
the  covenant  are  John  Woodruff,  George  Jewell,  and  Rich- 
ard Pettinger.  The  identification  is  complete.  (Mr.  Drooge- 
stradt had  been  a  resident  of  New  York,  and,  Feb.  26,  1671, 
had  obtained  license  to  marry  Mary  Jansen.  They  were 
still  living,  in  Jan.,  1674,  at  New  York,  tenants  of  Eev. 
Jacob  Fabritius.)  According  to  the  Dutch  custom,  Mrs. 
Baker  retained  her  maiden  name,  Stuyvesant,  after  her 
marriage.  The  three  children  named  above  were  born  in 
wedlock.  Mrs.  Baker,  having  been  a  resident  of  New  York, 
was  doubtless  well  acquainted  with  Wolverson,  and  so  be- 
came a  purchaser  of  his  rights  here.  The  amount  surveyed 
for  her  was  224  acres,  already  described  in  connection  with 
the  notice  of  Wolverson.  The  larger  pait  of  it  adjoined 
Daniel  de  Hart's  land  on  the  West,  which  Daniel  was, 
doubtless,  her  own  son.* 

Shamgar  Barnes  was  one  of  Mr.  Harriman's  parishioners, 
in  humble  condition.  He  may  have  been  a  son  of  Thomas 
Barnes,  of  Shrewsbury,  N.  J. ;  but,  more  probably,  he  was 
from  Southampton,  L.  I.,  the  home  of  so  many  of  the  early 
settlers  of  this  town.  William  Barnes  was  there  as  soon  as 
1644,  and  Joshua  Barnes,  in  1653  and  onwards.  Thomas 
Barnes  was  at  New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  1643. f 

Samuel  Baknet  was  the  founder  of  a  large  family,  but  his 
origin  is  not  known.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  of  New 
London,  Ct.,  is  called  "Barnet,"  by  Cotton  Mather.  Such  a 
conversion  of  names  is  very  common  in  the  old  records.  He 
was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1695.:j: 

JouN  Blanchakd  is  called,  by  Mr,  Harriman,  "  gallicus" 
i.   e.    a   Frenchman.      In    one  place,   he   writes  the  name, 

■  *  Alb.  Records,  XXV.  105, 1S6.  N.  Y.  Wills,  I.3S5-392.    E.  J.  Records,  11.  50,  56  ;  III.  140 
N.  y.  Marrifigcs,  p.  117. 

t  Uowoll,  pp.  90, 151, 1T9,  206.        J  Savage,  I.  123.    Mathor'a  Magiialiiv.    E.  T.  Book,  B.  4S. 


252  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"  Blanksliard  ; "  in  another  "  BlankBliaw,"  in  accordance 
M'itli  the  French  pronunciation.  Tlie  name  first  occurs  in 
1700.  Several  Frencli  families  became  residents  of  the  town 
during  the  first  few  years  of  the  18th  century.  He  opened, 
as  early  as  1700,  a  country  store  here,  which  was  kept  by 
him,  or  some  member  of  his  family,  a  great  many  years. 
The  following  debit  appears  against  him  in  Mr,  Ilarriman's 
Ledger :  "  1703.  May  17th,  p  a  house  &c  sold  you  this  day  at 
80^^  is  £80,  00,  00."  In  1711,  he  was  one  of  the  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  and,  in  1720,  one  of  the  Town  Committee.  He 
was  a  man  of  much  distinction  and  influence,  and  the  founder 
of  a  numerous  and  respectable  family.* 

John  Boardman  first  appears  at  the  Town  Meeting,  Jan.  18, 
169f,  wJien  he  subscribed  6s.  per  annum  to  Mr.  Ilarriman's 
support.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  day-laborer,  and  may 
have  been  the  sexton  of  the  church,  an  entr}^  made  in  Mr. 
Harriman's  Ledger,  by  his  son,  John,  being  in  these  words : 
"  1705  August  21  by  Diging  fathers  grave — 0,  4,  0."  Mr. 
H.  died  on  the  20th.  Boardman  died  in  1707,  his  will 
bearing  date,  March  4,  170!j-.  His  wife,  Sarah,  to  whom  he 
left  all  his  property,  survived  him.f 

"William  Boyell  [should,  probably,  be  Boyle]  and  Jane 
Jansen,  both  of  E.  Town,  were  married,  Sep.  27,  1675,  at  E. 
Town,  by  Justice  Bollen.  Nothing  further  is  known  of  them. 
He  may  have  been  the  ancestor  of  Solomon  Boyle,  who 
owned  600  acres  on  the  Upper  Passaic,  adjoining  the  Berk- 
ley tract,  and  was  the  father  of  a  numerous  family.  Charles 
Boyle  was  at  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  a  few  years  later.:}: 

AVilliam  Broadwell  was  a  cordwainer,  who  married,  Aug. 
25,  1677,  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Morse,  tailor,  all  of 
this  town.  She  was  his  second  wife.  He  purchased,  Oct.  30, 
1078,  148  acres  of  land  in  E.  Town,  of  Luke  'Watson,  who 
had  removed  to  Delaware ;  also,  Sep.  26,  1681,  35  acres,  a 
part  of  his  father-in-law's  lands,  bordering  East  on  Eliz. 
Ptiver.  He  obtained,  Feb.  20,  1079-80,  a  warrant,  "  in  Ilight 
of  him  &  his  wife."     He  sold  a  part  of  his  lands,  July  4, 

•  Old  Ledger,  pp.  12S,  131, 145.     Records  Quarter  Sessions,  ITU,  12.     E.  T.  Book,  B.  1. 
t  Old  Ledger,  p.  114.  i  E.  J.  Records,  III.  US.    Alb.  Land  Papers,  X.  16L 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  253 

1682,  to  Joseph  Frazee ;  lie  bought,  Oct.  20,  1G84.  of  Joseph 
Kerr,  another  tract,  and  on  the  24:tb,  sold  to  Capt.  Andrew 
Bown,  of  Middletown,  N.  J.,  (Deputy  Go\^.,  in  1699),  27  acres 
adjoining  Leonard  Ileadley.  lie  applied,  June  11,  1685,  for 
500  acres  in  E.  T.,  and  obtained  "  250  at  2d.  per  Acre."  lie 
had  surveyed,  Nov.  6,  1685,  a  tract  of  267  acres,  at  E.  side 
of  Ash  Swamp,  adjoining  Wm.  Pardon,  Robert  Morse,  Wm. 
Trotter,  and  George  Pack ;  also  16  acres  more  on  the  E. 
of  the  above ;  and  38  acres  of  meadow  on  the  S.  side  of 
Bound  Creek :  in  all,  320  acres.  His  saw-mill  was  one  of 
the  landmarks  of  the  day.  He  died  early  in  April,  16S9. 
His  estate  was  valued  at  £67,  9,  1.* 

William  Browne  was  a  wheelwright  and  carpenter.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Southampton,  L.  I.,  and  Oct. 
7,  1648,  was  chosen  one  of  the  freemen  of  the  town.  He 
came  to  E.  Town,  jDrobablj'-,  about  1680.  He  was  commis- 
sioned Lieutenant  of  Capt.  Daniel  Price's  Company  of  Foot, 
May  3,  1697.  In  March,  1699-1700,  he  was  chosen  one  of 
the  Associates  of  the  Town.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of 
Capt.  Isaac  Whitehead.  Joseph  and  Isaac  Ogden  were  his 
sons-in-law.     He  died  in  Dec,  1702.f 

MoKDECAi  Burnet  was,  also,  from  Southampton,  L.  I.  His 
father,  Thomas,  came  thither  from  Lynn,  Mass.,  as  early  as 
1643.  He  had  7  sons  :  John,  Aaron,  Lot,  Joel,  Dan,  Mor- 
decai,  and  Matthias.  Mordccai  was  the  son  of  his  second 
wife,  Mary  Pierson,  whom  he  married  in  1663,  at  Lynn. 
He  was  admitted  one  of  the  Associates  in  March  1699-1700. 
No  record  of  his  residence  here  at  an  earlier  date  has  been 
found.  He  Avas  born,  probably,  about  1670,  and  may  have 
come  here  about  1690.  Dr.  Ichabod  Burnet,  who  came  here 
later,  and  was  one  of  the  Associates  in  1729,  was  the  son  of 
his  brother  Dan,  and  the  father  of  the  Burnet  family  of  this 
town.:}: 

RicuARD  Clarke,  shipwright,  also,  was  from  the  East  End 
of  Long  Island.  In  a  deposition  made,  March  22,  1741,  his 
son,  Richard,  then    "  aged   about  fourscore  Years,"'  states 

*  E.  J.  Records,  114;  o.  e.  150  ;  II.  12S;  o.  e.  830  ;  IV.  19,  20;  A.  1S2,  3,  SST);  L.  84. 
t  Howell,  pp.  29,  90.    K.  J.  Records,  0.  2G4.    Old  Ledger,  p.  7. 
i  IIowcll,  pp.  92,  203,  9.     E.  T.  Book,  B.,  p.  3. 


254  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"  that  lie  was  born,  as  lie  hath  heard,  at  Soutli-IIampton  on 
Long  Island  ;  and  that  he  was  brought  to  Eliz.  Town  by  his 
Father,  named  Richard  Clarke,  when  he  was  between  six- 
teen and  seventeen  years  of  Age."  The  father's  name  is  not 
found  among  the  early  inhabitants  of  Southampton.  lie  was 
living  at  Southold  in  1G75.  Mr.  Clarke,  with  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth, daughter,  Elizabeth,  and  five  sons,  Richard,  John, 
Joshua,  Samuel  and  Ephraim,  came  here,  about  1678.  Two 
sons,  Thomas  and  Benjamin,  were  born  to  him  after  his  arri- 
val. The  first  five  were  all  admitted  as  Associates  in  1699- 
1700.  He  obtained,  Feb.  25,  1679-80,  a  warrant  for  300 
acres  "in  Right  of  himself  his  Wife  his  Sons  Richard,  John 
and  his  Daughter  Elizabeth  Clarke."  These  three  were  of 
sufficient  a-ge  [14  years]  at  the  time  to  have  an  allotment  of 
land  granted  their  father  for  them.  The  survey  of  this  land, 
located  near  Railway,  is  not  on  reoord.  lie  had  purchased, 
in  1678,  Caleb  Carwithy's  land,  at  Luke  Watson's  Point. 
He  was  admitted  an  Associate,  in  1695.  His  Will  is  dated, 
Kew  York,  April  1,  1697,  where  he  may  have  been  taken 
ill,  and  where,  probably,  he  died,  a  day  or  two  later.  His 
son,  Thomas,  was  the  grandfatJier  of  Abraham  Clark,  the 
"Signer."     His  estate  was  valued  at  £159,  5,  IJ.* 

Jonathan  Clement  was  one  of  Mr.  Ilarriman's  parishion- 
ers from  1691  (and  probably  earlier)  to  1705.  But  little  is 
known  of  him.  The  Clement  family  were  numerous  at  Hav- 
erhill, Mass.,  and  Jonathan  may  have  originated  there.  One 
of  the  entries  in  the  old  Ledger,  against  Mr.  Clement,  is  in 
these  words  :  "  1705  May  26  your  negro  came  to  board."  f 

John  Corey  first  appears  hei-e  as  one  of  the  Memorialists 
of  1700.  He  came  from  iSouthold,  L.  I.  Abraham  was  a 
resident  of  that  town,  as  early  as  1662,  where  he  married 
Margaret,  a  daughter  of  Jeffry  Christophers.  John  Cory,  in 
1675,  was  assessed,  at  Southold,  for  £-J-l ;  and  Jacob  Cory, 
for  £93.  It  is  likely  that  tlie  three  were  brothers.  He  died, 
in  Dec.  1722,  and  his  widow,  Briscilla,  in  Dec,  1723. :{: 

Andrew   Craig   [Craig e,   Ckage,    Crag,    Cragg],    it    is 

•E.  T.  Bin,  p.  115.  E.  J.  Records,  II.  103, 117.      t  Ledger,  p.  67.  Snvago,  I.  407,  8. 
t  Savago,  I.  459,  60.  N.  T.  Doc.  His.,  II.  419-52. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  255 

thought,  came  -u-ith  the  Scotch  emigration,  in  Gov.  Lawrie's 
time.  John  and  James  Craige  came  with  Lord  Campbell  in 
1685.  As  related,  on  a  subsequent  page,  the  Rev.  George 
Keith,  Episcopal  Missionary,  was  entertained  at  his  house,  in 
Nov.  1703,  preached  there  the  first  Episcopal  sermon  ever 
delivered  in  the  town,  and  baptized  Mr.  Craig's  four  children. 
He  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  March,  1699-1700,  and 
drew  Ko.  162  of  the  100-acre  lots,  on  the  S.  W.  side  of  the 
Railway  river,  and  on  the  lower  side  of  the  "Noramaheo-on 
branch,"  in  the  bounds  of  the  present  township  of  Westfield, 
being  its  easternmost  point.  A  part  of  the  family  became  at- 
tached, subsequently,  to  the  Westfield  Church.  His  auto- 
graph appears  among  the  Associates,  Nov.  28,  1729,  in  the 
Town  Book.     He  died,  about  Oct.  1,  1738."'^ 

James  Ckighton  is  known  only  as  one  of  Mr.  Harriman's 
parishioners.  A  John  Crichton  was  one  of  the  banished 
Scots  who  arrived  in  Dec.  lG85.f 

William  Dakbie  was  a  resident  of  the  town  in  IGSS.  Ap. 
IG,  of  that  year,  tlie  widow  Agatha  White  sells  all  the  lands 
of  Richard  Beach  in  E.  Town,  bought  of  him,  March  31 
1688,  to  William  Darbie  of  E.  Town.  Nothing  further  is 
known  of  him.  A  William  Darby  was  one  of  the  respond- 
ents in  1752,  to  the  E.  Town  Bill  in  Chancery.:}: 

Thomas  Darling  was  admitted  one  of  the  Associates  in 
1699-1700,  and  drew  No.  150  of  the  100-acre  lots,  near  the 
Rahway  river  and  N.  E.  of  it,  between  Joseph  Woodruff 
and  Hurr  Thompson.  A  Thomas  Darling  was  at  Salem 
Mass.,  in  1690  ;  George,  at  Lynn,  1650  ;  and  John  Darling, 
who  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  James  Beers,  was  one  of  tlie 
early  settlers  of  Fairfield,  Ct.  § 

Daniel  De  IIaut  was  erroneously  numbered  by  Jeremiah 
Osborn,  in  his  affidavit,  as  one  of  the  original  80  associates. 
He  is  not  included  in  the  Town  list,  as  recorded  in  their 
book.  He  was  a  physician  and  a  resident  of  New  York. 
Four  brothers,   Balthazar,   Daniel,   Matthias,  and  Jacobus, 

•  r.  Kp.  His.  Soc.  Coll.,  p.  41.  Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.  of  E.  T.,  p.  15.  E.  T.  Rook,  B.  3,  S5. 
"Whitehead's  P.  Amboy,  p.  22.  t  Lodger,  p.  77.     Whitehead's  T.  Aniboy,  p.  2S. 

1:E.  J.  llecords,  B.  3Si,  4.     E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  106,  7.     Ans.  to  do. 
§  6aTago,  II.  10.     E.  T.  Book,  B.  3,  88. 


256  THE    HISTORY    OF 

De  Ilaerdt  wcve  early  citizens  of  Xew  Amsterdam,  the 
former  having  engaged  in  the  shipping  business,  about  1658, 
and  liaving  been  greatly  ])rospered.  Baltliazar  resided,  at  the 
English  Conquest,  on  the  S.  side  of  Wall  st.  He  purchased, 
Ap.  3,  1671,  of  Eichard  Painter,  one  of  the  original  Asso- 
ciates of  this  town,  who  had  removed  to  N.  York,  his  house 
and  plantation  here.  At  his  death,  early  the  next  year,  his 
executors  sold,  for  £48,  July  4, 1672,  the  property  to  Itichard 
Skinner,  "Joyner"  of  this  town,  who  had  been  a  servant 
both  to  Painter  and  to  De  Hart.  Skinner,  however,  being 
unable,  probably,  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  purchase,  relin- 
quished the  possession.  Whereupon  Daniel  De  Haert,  as 
"Executor  of  Baltaz  De  Haert,"  obtained,  March  30, 1675,  a 
warrant  for  120  acres,  "  in  Right  of  Ilichard  Painter,"  and, 
Ap.  1,  1678,  obtained  a  survey  of  134J^  acres,  including  a 
house-lot  of  3  acres,  already  described  in  the  notice  of  Painter 
on  a  previous  page.  Two  years  later,  Mar.  28, 1680,  he  sold, 
in  behalf  of  the  heirs  of  his  brother,  all  their  estate  in  the 
town,  to  George  Jewell  of  Piscataway. 

After  his  brother's  death,  Daniel  succeeded  to  his  business, 
and  died  without  issue,  late  in  1689,  or  early  in  1690.  His 
brother,  Jacob,  married  Cornelia  Beeck,  and  resided  on  the 
AV.  side  of  Pearl,  below  Wall  st.  Their  children  were — Wil- 
liam, Peter,  Elizabeth,  and  Balthus,  1673-80,  and  another, 
1684,  not  named.  Matthias  married,  in  1670,  Jannctio,  the 
widow  of  Joannes  De  Witt,  a  wealthy  flour-merchant  of  New 
York,  and  had  a  daughter,  Catalina,  bap.  Jan.  21,  1673.  He 
had  died  in  1675.  Since  Dr.  Daniel  De  Hart  died  as  early 
as  1690,  he  could  not  have  been  the  Daniel,  who  was  admit- 
ted one  of  the  Associates  in  1695,  and  who  signed  the  memo- 
rial to  the  King  in  1700.  This  Daniel  was,  undoubtedly,  the 
son  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Baker  and  Balthazar  De  Hart — the 
first  one  of  tlic  name  who  took  up  his  residence  here.  Capt. 
Matthias  De  Hart,  born  1667,  must  have  been  the  son,  Mat- 
thias, mentioned  in  the  will  of  Balthazar.  He  was  the  an- 
cestor of  the  E.  Town  family.-' 

*  E.  J.  Rccoras,  I.  25  ;  11.18.  73;  A.  113.  Valentine's  N.  York,  pp.  64,  7.  N.  Y.  Wills,  I. 
3S5-392;  V.  123. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  257 

Anthony  Elcock  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  early 
Associates  of  the  town,,  as  a  meadow-lot,  in  1699-1700,  was 
drawn  in  his  right.  His  name  occurs  nowhere  else  in  the 
town  records.  He  was  at  New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  1G57 ;  had 
four  children,  Mary,  John,  Thomas,  and  Sarah  born  to  him, 
1661-9,  and  had  died  in  1672.  His  early  death,  probably, 
prevented  his  intended,  removal."^^ 

James  Emott  came  from  England  to  this  town,  as  early  as 
1682.  As  a  lawyer,  he  attached  himself  to  Gov.  Carteret, 
and  was  one  of  the  witnesses  to  his  will,  Dec.  10,  1682.  He 
was  appointed  County  Clerk,  March  28,  1683,  and  Chief 
Ranger  of  the  town,  Dec.  3,  1683.  Soon  after,  he  removed 
to  Perth  Amboy,  the  new  capital  of  the  Province,  and,  in 
1685,  kept  the  ordinary  there.  The  next  year,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Provincial  Secretary.  None,  who  have  occasion  to 
consult  the  original  Records  at  Trenton,  pertaining  to  this 
period,  will  soon  forget  his  peculiar  chirography,  so  difficult 
to  decipher.  He  had  married,  1682,  or' 3,  Mary  Lawrence, 
of  this  town,  the  step-daughter  of  Governor  Carteret,  who  was 
born  1665,  and  was  about  16  years  old,  when,  at  her  mother's 
marriage,  in  1681,  she  came  with  her  six  brotliers  and  sisters 
to  reside  here.  He  removed  from  Amboy  to  New  York,  and 
resided  on  the  E.  side  of  Broadway,  just  above  Wall  st.  He 
received,  Feb.  5,  168-|,  a  warrant  for  300  acres  in  E.  Tov/n, 
bordering  on  liahway  river,  and  "Eniott's  Creek."  He  was 
a  zealous  Jacobite,  and,  in  1G9S,  was  charged  with  being  one 
of  the  brokers  for  the  pirate  Every.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
vestrymen  of  Trinity  Church,  N.  Y.,  and  contributed  liber- 
ally to  its  funds.  In  1699,  he  visited  Boston  to  intercede 
with  the  Earl  of  Bellemont  (the  Governor)  for  the  pirate 
Capt.  Kidd.  In  1701,  he  was  recommended  to  be  one  of  the 
Gov.'s  Council.  He  died,  April,  1713,  at  New  York,  leaving 
four  sons,  George,  William,  James  and  John.f 

John  Euskine  [Eakskens,  Auskin,  Akskixs]  was  a  Scotch- 

*  Lcflgcr,  p.  140.    Savage,  II.  lOT.    The  name  is  identical,  doubtless,  with  "  Alcoek." 
t  N.  Y.  Wills,  VIII.  227-9.      E.  J.  llecords,  A.  17;  C.  13,  "C;  O.  04,  70.      WhitehcaU's  P. 

Amboy,  pp.  22,  41,  201.      Valentino's  N.  Y.,  pp.  234,  350.     N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  III.  701,  747; 

IV.  SOS,  52S,  5S3,  703,  S19.    Bcrrlan's  Trinity  Chh.j  pp.  15,  17,  20.    Ilia  widow,  soon  aftor, 

became  the  wife  of  the  Ucv.  Edward  Vaughan,  of  this  town. 

17 


258  THE    HISTORY    OF 

man,  as  his  name  imports.  lie  was  admitted  an  Associate  in 
1695,  and  drew  No.  143  of  the  100-acre  lots,  in  the  town  of 
TVestfield,  recently  owned  by  the  late  Gideon  Ross.  His  sub- 
scription in  town-meeting,  Jan.  18,  1C9^,  to  Mr.  Ilarriman's 
support,  was  5s.  per  annum,  who  credits  him  Avith  making  a 
pair  of  leather  breeches  for  each  of  two  of  his  sons,  Richard 
and  Joseph,  3s.  and  Gd.  each  ;  also  with  "  3  dayes  work  of  his 
negro  Robbin  in  threshing  wheat  at  3  bits  p  day — 6s.  9d." 
He  was,  therefore,  a  tailor,  and,  in  common  with  his  pastor 
and  most  of  the  planters,  a  slaveholder.  He  was  one  of 
the  Memorialists  of  1609.  St.  John's  Church,  in  ^1738, 
or  9,  received  a  glebe  of  9  acres,  "  by  tlie  Piety  and  favor 
of  a  very  worthy  widow,  Mrs.  Anne  Arskins  of  Elizabeth 
Town." '' 

Natuaniel  Forbes  was  a  shoemaker,  and  is  known  only  as 
a  subscriber,  in  1694,  of  6s.  a  year  to  Mr.  Ilarriman's  support, 
and  the  maker  of  a  pair  of  shoes  for  the  pastor,  in  full  of  the 
subscription. f 

"William  Gartiiwaite,  the  father  of  a  numerous  family,  was 
born,  1677,  in  England ;  married,  as  early  as  1702,  Ann,  the 
daughter  of  Maximilian  Laulon,  of  France.  He  came  here 
as  early  as  1703,  his  son,  Henry,  having  then  been  born  in 
this  town.  The  family  tradition  brings  him  here  as  early  as 
1695.  The  earliest  date,  at  which  his  name  appears  in  any 
town  document,  is  1706.  He,  or  his  son,  located  on  what  has 
since  been  known  as  the  Roberts'  property,  on  the  "West  side 
of  the  town.  He  died,  Dec.  11,  1738,  leaving,  at  least,  tAvo 
sons,  Henry  and  James.ij: 

Edward  Gay  was  a  physician.  Letters  of  Administration 
were  granted,  Aug.  3,  1687,  to  ''Edward  Gay,  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  Doct'  of  Pliysick,"  for  the  Estate  of  John  "Wren,  of  E. 
Town,  dec^.  This  is  the  first  mention  of  him.  No  hint  is 
given  of  his  previous  history.  He  frequently  a])pears  as  a 
witness  to  the  "Wills  of  the  early  settlers, — his  patients,  most 
likely.  He  obtained  a  warrant,  Ang.  15,  1693,  for  50  acres 
of  unappropriated  land  in  E.  Town.     No  other  trace  of  him 

♦  E.  T.  Book,  B.,  82,  48.    Ledger,  p.  109.    Clark's  St.  .Tolin's,  p.  55. 
t  Ledger,  p.  8S.  t  lb.  p.  3. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  259 

remain?.  John  Gay  was  at  Watertown,  in  1G35,  and  Detl- 
liam,  Mass.,  1G39.-^- 

JoHN  Gould  [Gold]  was  admitted  one  of  the  Associates  in 
1699-1700.  In  June,  169J:,  lie  subscribed  12s.  a  year  to  Mr. 
Harriman's  support.  A  Jolm  Gould  was  at  Southampton, 
L.  I.,  in  1G83,  and  was,  doubtless,  the  same  man.  John 
Gould,  who  was  at  Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  1G3G,  had  a  son, 
John,  born,  Aug.  5,  1G48.  The  latter  may  liave  been  the 
E.  Town'  Gould,  A  Daniel  Goulde  was  at  Shrewsbury,  N.  J., 
previous  to  IGTY.f 

■Joseph  Halsey  came  from  Southampton  where,  and  in  its 
vicinity,  the  fiimily  is  largely  represented  at  the  present  day. 
Joseph  was  the  son  of  Isaac,  and  the  grandson  of  Thomas, 
who  was  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  in  1G37,  and  was  the  wealthiest 
founder  of  Southam])ton,  in  1640.  Joseph  was  born  about 
1668,  and  bred  a  weaver.  He  was  here  in  169-1.  He  lived 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Wheatsheaf  tavern  on  the  Wood- 
bridge  road.  He  purchased  of  Derick,  the  son  of  Capt.  John 
Baker,  "  all  the  Divisions  accruing  to  a  second  Lot  Right  in 
Elizabeth  Town."  He  was  one  of  the  Memorialists,  and  one 
of  the  Associates,  in  1700.     He  died,  April,  1725.:}; 

Andrew  Hampton  [Hamton]  was  here  Ap.  12, 1688,  when 
he  administered  on  an  estate  ;  perhaps  earlier.  Tradition 
(not  very  good  authority)  says,  that  he  was  a  tailor,  and 
eloped,  from  Scotland,  with  Lady  Margaret  Cummin.  Xo- 
where  in  the  Records  has  she  this  honorable  prefix.  It  is 
much  more  probable,  that  he  came  here  from  the  old  hive — 
Southampton,  L.  I.  James  Hampton,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  re- 
moved to  Southampton,  as  early  as  1652,  living  at  the  jS". 
end  of  Main  st.,  near  the  Bridgehampton  road,  next  to  Robert 
Woolley  (afterwards  of  E.  Town),  and  near  Thomas  Sayre,  in 
a  house  bought  of  Wm.  Barnes.  Andrew  was,  probably,  his 
son,  and,  therefore,  named  one  of  his  own  sons,  James.  The 
Rev.  George  Keith,  being  here  in  1703,  says :  "  jSTovember 
4.     I  Baptized  the  Children  of  Andrew  Ilemton,  eight  in 

•  E.  J.  Kceords,  B.  133  ;  O.  103.    Sava-e,  II.  237. 
t  E.  T.  Book,  B.  3.    Ledger,  p.  7G.     Savage,  II.  2S.'). 

J  Uowell,  pp.  15,  227-83.  LittoUB  Passaic  Valley,  p.  16C.  N.  Y.  "Wills,  L  33).  E.  T.  Bill, 
p.  49. 


260  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Number ;  He  and  his  Wife  are  conic  over  from  Qiialcerism 
to  tlic  Church."  His  tenets  would  not  allow  him  to  aid  in 
the  support  of  a  "hireling"  minister;  yet,  as  he  had  con- 
siderable dealings  with  Mr.  Ilarriman,  he  allowed  the  latter 
to  charge  him  in  the  old  Ledger,  "169^  S^""  1.  p  gift  in 
ord'  to  my  maintenance  26  «  [£]  1.  6.  0."  In  1G9G,  he  is 
charged  wdtli  "  mending  glass  for  y®  brick  house  ...  3.  4|-." 
In  that  year  he  built  his  "  brick  house "  on  the  site  of 
the  present  parsonage  of  St.  John's  Church.  A  portion 
of  the  old  house  still  remains,  in  which  is  still 
seen  the  old  corner-stone  with  this  inscription  : 
A   smaller   stone  is  inscribed      n_ 


A    169C    M 


1697 
ANDREW 
UAMTQN 

and 
MAKGEET 


as  follows : 
He  was  appointed,  Dec.  1, 1G98, 
with  Mr.  Harriman,  a  Deputy  to  the  Legisla- 
ture. His  name  is  found  among  the  Memorialists  of  ITOO, 
and  among  the  Associates  of  that  year,  but  not  among  those 
of  1729.     He  died,  Jan.  173 1.- 

John  Harriman,  1687,  is  noticed  at  length  on  a  subsequent 
page. 

Henry  Harris  was  one  of  Mr.  Ilarriman's  parishioners, 
employed  by  him,  at  times,  in  "  fetching  shells,  mowing  salt- 
grass,  killing  liogs,  pitching  hay,"  and  the  like.  His  sub- 
scription was  6s.  George  Harris  was  at  Northampton,  L.  L, 
in  1657,  and  this  Henry  may  have  been  of  his  family. 
George,  of  the  next  generation,  in  this  town,  M'as,  probably, 
Henry's  son.  A  George  Harris  was  at  Salem,  Mass.,  with  a 
family,  in  1636.  Daniel  and  Arthur  were  in  1640  at  Dux- 
bury.f 

Capt.  John  Harrison  was  a  merchant  here,  as  early  as 
June  6,  1701,  at  which  date  he  obtained  license  from  Gov. 
Hamilton  to  "purchase  of  the  Indians  or  Natives  a  tract  of 
land  at  or  Near  Milton  Eiver,"  in  W.  Jersey.  No  connec- 
tion has  been  traced  between  him  and  the  Harrison  family  of 
Newark.  His  father,  John,  was  an  early  settler  in  Monmouth 
Co.,  N.   J.  (having  four  sons,  John,  William,  Henry,  Ed- 

•  Howell,  pp.  151,  C,  305,  7.  E.  J.  Kecords,  C.  CG7.  P.  Ep.  His.  Soc.  Coll.,  I.  U.  Ledger, 
p.  102.    Clark's  St.  John's,  p.  CI.  t  Savage,  II,  300,  1.    UowcU,  231.    Ledger,  p.  104. 


^fl^mllllllllllfr  I' 'fifl'f 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  261 

ward),  and  was,  probably,  that  son  of  Edward  Harrison,  who 
was  baptized  at  Boston,  May  21,  1648.  Or  he  may  have 
been  the  son  of  John,  of  Boston,  whose  son,  John,  was  born 
there,  Ap.  2,  1052.  John  Harrison,  in  1G95,  was  the  Sheriff 
of  Qneens  County,  L.  I.,  and,  July  22,  1697,  applied  for  a 
patent  for  a  tract  of  land  at  Oyster  Bay.  Soon  after,  he  re- 
moved to  this  town,  and  engaged  in  trade.  He  purchased, 
Jan.  23,  170f,  one-fifth  of  Robert  Barclay's  Propriety  in  the 
E.  Jersey  lands,  which  was  ^-J-ths  of  ^V^^^  '^'^^  consequently 
became  an  advocate  of  the  Proprietary  Claims.  In  1709  ho 
served  as  Captain  on  the  frontiers,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  acting, 
also,  as  Commissary.  He  purchased,  Sept.  19,  1713,  of 
Thomas  Barker's  widow,  ^  of  ^^jth  of  his  propriety.  In  1718, 
he  was  emplo3''ed,  occasionally,  as  a  surveyor,  having  pre- 
viously removed  to  Amboy,  where,  the  same  year,  he  served 
as  Sheriff.     He  died  in  1721.* 

Benjamin  Hatter  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of  1700, 
but  has  left  no  other  record. 

John  Heeon  died,  July,  1687,  and  Jonathan  Ogden,  with 
Roger  Lambert  administered  on  his  estate,  valued  at  £26. 
13.  l.f 

John  Herrick  is  known  first  as  an  8s  subscriber  to  Mr. 
Harriman's  support,  in  1691.  He  was,  probabl}^,  a  member 
of  the  Southampton  family.  He  was  a  witness.  May  28, 
1695,  to  the  Will  of  Thomas  Lee.:}: 

Zerah  Higgins  was  from  Piscatawav.  Mrs.  Mary  Higgins 
of  Piseataway  obtained,  Ap.  2,  1677,  a  warrant  for  ISO  acres, 
in  right  of  herself,  her  deceased  husband,  Richard,  and  her  son 
Eliakim,  "  &  another  Riglit  for  Zera  Higgins."  Richard 
was  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  1633,  married,  Nov.  23,  1631, 
Lydia  Chandler,  and  had  Jonathan  and  Benjamin  ;  removed, 
1644,  to  Eastham,  Mass.,  and  was  Representative  of  the  town, 
1647-51  ;  married,  Oct.  1651,  Mary  Yates,  and  had  Mary 
(b.  Sep.  27,  1652),  Eliakim  (b.  Oct.  20,  1654),  William  (b. 
Dec.   15,  1655),  Judah  (b.  Mar.  5,  1657),  Zeruiah   (b.  June, 

*  Sav&sc,  ir.  3()6.  Alb.  Kocords,  XXXIII.  C2,  303,  3t2  ;  XL.  SO.  K.  .T  Korords.  II.  140-51, 
153-5,  S,  130,  '209.  2Zr,;  O.  227.  E.  T.nvn  UiU,  pp.  SI,  C.  7.  ir..vve!l,  pp.  47,  202.  Whitehciiil's 
P.  Amboy,  pp.  53,  S6-9. 

t  Inventorios.  J  Ledger,  p.  S7.    IIow.ll,  p.  239.    E.  J.  Records. 


262  THE    ni STORY    OF 

1C5S),  Thomas  (b.  Jan.  IGGl),  and  Lydia  (b.  July,  1(JG4). 
They  emigrated  to  N.  Jersey,  about  1670.  Zeruiah  [Zerah], 
after  his  I'atlier's  death,  came  to  tliis  town,  "wliere  he  died, 
intestate,  Dec,  1695,  in  liis  38th  year.  Hichard  Baker  and 
Andrew  Hampton  administered  on  liis  estate,  valued  at 
£134.  15.  10|^.* 

John  Hume  was  a  mason,  and  came  over  witii  the  Scotch 
immigration  in  1685,  and  soon  after  had  a  tract  of  150  acres 
snrvej^ed  for  him,  for  which  he  obtained  a  patent,  Ap.  28, 
16S6.  The  land  adjoined  John  Pearcc,  on  the  S.  side  of  E. 
Town  Brook.  At  his  death,  the  property  ])assed  to  his  three 
daughters :  Catharine,  the  wife  of  John  Matthies,  of  Perth 
Amboy  ;  Jane,  tlie  wife  of  John  BroAvn ;  and  Hannah,  the 
wife  of  Andrew  Rcdford.  The  title  Avas  contested,  at  a  later 
date,  by  claimants  under  the  Town  Associates.f 

John  Indes  was  a  poor  parishioner  of  Mr,  Harriman,  sub- 
scribing 3s.  per  annum  only  to  his  support,  from  1G94-  to 
1699.  He  was  living  in  1717,  near  AVinans'  Landing,  on 
the  Creek,  and  just  beyond  Isaac  Hatfield,  dec*^.:}: 

George  Jewell  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Piscataway, 
N.  J.,  having  previously  resided  at]N^ewtown,  L.  I.,  of  which 
he  was,  in  1665,  one  of  the  Overseers.  He  was,  probabh',  of 
the  lineage  of  Thomas  Jewell,  who  was  at  Braintree,  Mass., 
in  1639.  He  purchased,  Mar,  21,  168|-,  of  Daniel  De  Hart, 
acting  for  the  heirs  of  Balthazar,  all  tlieir  estate  in  E.  Town. 
Four  pieces  of  land,  in  all,  200  acres,  were  surveyed  for 
him  ;  one,  adjoining  land  of  Hendrick  Baker  and  Nathaniel 
Bonnell  ;  another,  on  the  N.  side  of  tlie  Woodbridge  road, 
adjoining  Ilobert  "White,  Roger  Lambert,  and  John  Toe  ; 
and  two,  of  meadow,  one  of  them  on  tlie  S.  side  of  E.  Town 
Creek.  He  was  appointed.  Mar.  28,  1683,  Clerk  and  Mes- 
senger of  the  Court ;  also,  Dec.  3,  1692,  County  Clerk,  and 
again,  Feb.  15, 1699-1700.     His  death  occurred,  Aug.  1734.§ 

Alexander  Keenee  [Kinney]  was  a  parishioner  of  Mr. 
Harriman   as   early  as   1694,   and   was  still  here  in   1709. 

*  E.  J.  Records,  IL  63.    Savnge,  IL  412.    Inventories. 

t  E.  J.  Kec,  A.  83<>.    E.  T.  Bill,  p.  44,  5.  J  Linlttcr,  p.  91. 

5  SavBge.  11.  54?.  RiUer,  p.  41S.  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  102, 7.  E.  J.  KccorJe,  II.  O,  73 ;  A.J13  ; 
0.13,176,328;  E.  103;  O.  SS. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  263 

At  a  town  mectinf^,  March  11,  ITOJ-,  Thomas  Keenee,  also, 
subscribed  5s.  a;year.  They  were  sons  of  Alexander  Keenej, 
of  Wethersfield,  Ct.,  of  which  he  was  a  freeman  in  1C67,  and 
died  there  in  1G80,  leaving  Jiis  wife,  Alice  (who  died,  in 
1G83),  and  seven  children.  Alexander  was  born  in  1662, 
and  Thomas  in  1664.  They  were  neither  of  them  admitted 
as  Associates.* 

John  Lamb  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of  lYOO,  and  Sam- 
uel Lamb  was  here  in  1708.  They  were,  probably,  of  the 
lineage  of  Thomas  Lamb,  who  came  in  the  Winthrop  fleet, 
1630,  and  settled  at  Roxbury,  Mass.  The  names  of  John 
and  Samuel  occur  frequently  among  the  children  and  grand- 
child re  n.f 

Petek  Laueensen  was  licensed,  Aug.  30,  1676,  to  nuirry 
Sophia  Mannard,  both  of  this  town.  He  must  have  been  a 
Dutchman,  and  has  left  no  otlier  memorial.  The  name  was 
a  familiar  one  at  Xew  York.;}: 

Abraham  Lawrence  was  numbered  among  the  80  Asso- 
ciates ;  but  no  mention  is  made  of  him  as  a  settler  at  that 
early  day.  He  was,  doubtless,  from  I^ewtown,  L.  L,  and,  it 
may  be,  a  cousin  of  Mr.  Carteret's  children,  with  whom  he 
may  have  come  here.  In  the  drawing  of  the  100-acre  lots, 
No.  42  fell  to  his  share — the  same  that  was  afterwards  owned 
and  occupied  b}'^  Elder  Andrew  Hatfield,  of  Westfield.§ 

William  Leagry,  of  E.  Town,  carpenter,  made  his  will  (to 
which  Benjamin  Wade  and  George  Jewell  were  the  wit- 
nesses), November  3,  1683,  appointing  Thomas  Johnson,  of 
Newark,  his  Executor,  and  giving  all  that  he  had  to  Benja- 
min Wade.  The  name  was,  probably,  Legare,  found  at  Bos- 
ton as  early  as  1611,  and  sometimes  written.  Longer,  and 
Leger.II 

Thomas  Lee  married,  March  14,  1C7JJ,  Ann,  a  daughter  of 
JRobert  White,  Justice  Bollen  officiating.  Of  which  of  the 
numerous  families  of  the  name,  found  at  the  time  in  N.  Eufj- 
land,  he  sprang,  cannot  be  told.  He  was  one  of  Mr.  Harri- 
man's  subscribers  from  the  beginning,  and  died,  June,  1695.^ 

•Savngo,  TIL  3.    Ledger,  pp.  27,  lU.  t  lb.,  p  10.    SnvaM.  III.   IT. 

I  E.  J.  R.,  III.  126.  5  E.  T.  Hook,  B.  8,  17. 

0  Savage,  III.  OS.    E.  J.  Records.  n  lb.  III.  121. 


264  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Samuel  Leveridge  was  owner  of  land  here  at  an  early  day. 
Wm,  Broadwell  sold,  Oct.  24, 1684,  to  Capt.  Andrew  Bowne, 
a  tract  of  land,  joining  Leonard  Ileadley's,  formerly  Samuel 
Leveridge's.  If  he  ever  lived  here,  it  was  but  for  a  short 
time  ;  as  aj^pears  from  the  above  record.  In  1703  He  was 
living,  with  a  considerable  famil}'  in  New  York  City.  Thongli 
not  mentioned  bj^  Rikcr,  he  Avas,  doubtless  a  son  of  Rev. 
William  Leverich,  of  Newtown,  L.  I.* 

IIenky  Martain  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1695,  but 
his  name  nowhere  else  occurs.  He  may  have  been  a  son  of 
John  Martin,  previously  of  Dover,  N.  II.,  one  of  the  founders 
of  Piscataway,  IST.  J.  James  Martin,  in  1726,  was,  ])robabl3'-, 
his  son,  of  whom  the  following  record  is  made  by  John  Ilar- 
riraan,  Jr. :  "  1726  May  the  3'  Day  James  Martin  came  To 
Bord  at  my  House.  1727  August  the  19  Leaft  my  House 
and  wee  never  made  no  agreement  how  mucli  a  AVeek  I 
promist  him  to  be  Low  In  price  will  take  vp  withl;  p  weeke 
which  acount  makes  67  weeks  and  4  Dayes  makes  £13.  10.  0 
Since  I  concluded  to  Take  but  3'  6"  £11.  16.  6."t 

Samuel  Matthews,  of  this  town,  died  in  1695,  leaving  a 
small  property,  which  was  appraised,  Dec.  17,  1695,  at  £15. 
4.  3,  by  Richard  Baker  and  Andrew  Hampton.  He  may 
have  been  the  son  of  that  Samuel  Matthews,  who  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  and  was  living  there  in  1694.:}: 

Richard  Mattock  [Mattuck,  Mattakk,  ^Iattucks]  was 
admitted  an  Associate  in  1695.  in  1669,  Richard  Mattocks, 
of  New  Haven,  married  Grace,  a  daughter  of  Christopher 
and  Grace  Todd,  but  soon  deserted  her.  This  was,  doubtless, 
the  same  man.  He  was  here  in  1677,  and  purchased,  Dec. 
9,  40  acres  of  John  Winans,  on  the  S.  side  of  E.  Town  Creek  ; 
also,  Mar.  21,  1689-90,  of  ^Mary,  the  widow  of  Matthias  Hat- 
Held,  and  Cornelius,  her  son,  the  40  acre  lot  on  the  AV.  bi-anch 
of  the  creek,  North  of  the  Plain.  Nothing  further  is  known 
of  him.  June  21,  1680,  Edmund  Loftis  of  Chester  river, 
Md.,  assigns  3  years' services  of  William  Madox  to  John  Lit- 
tle of  this  town.     Sept.  14, 1680,  John  Little,  of  E.  Town,  so- 

*  K.  T.  Bill,  p.  102.     Kikcr,  pp.  850-4.     Talcntine's  N,  T.,  p  854. 
t  Savage,  IIL  162.     E.  T.  Book,  B.4S.    Ledger,  p.  20. 
X  E.  J.  Records.    Macdonald's  Jamaica,  pp.  27,  86. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  2G5 

licits  a  "  liue  and  cry  "  for  the  recovering  of  AVilliam  Mat- 
tuke,  a  runaway  servant.  A  John  Mattocks  was  living,  at 
the  time,  in  Salem,  N.  J.,  and  a  Lewis  Mattix,  at  Middle- 
town,  N.  J.* 

John  Megie  [Mc  Gie,  Magik,  Maggee]  was  a  blacksmith, 
and  came  over  from  Scotland,  during  the  period  of  persecu- 
tion, 1GS5-7.  He  became  a  parishioner  of  Mr.  Ilarriman,  in 
1700,  subscribing  10s.  a  year  towards  his  support.  He  pur- 
chased land  just  W.  of  the  town-plot,  which,  in  great  part, 
his  descendants  have  occupied  until  now.  He  was  admitted 
an  Associate  in  1099-1700,  and  drew  a  hundred-acre  lot,  be- 
tween Joseph  Say  re  and  Benjamin  Lyon,  near  the  foot  of  the 
mountain.  His  autograph  is  found  among  those  of  the  Asso- 
ciates in  1729.     He  died,  in  173G.t 

John  Miles  was  a  blacksmith,  and  came  from  "New  Ha- 
ven, Ct.  His  grandfather,  Kichard,  was  at  Milford  in  1639, 
and  settled  at  New  Haven  in  1642,  where  he  died,  Jan.  7, 
1667;  his  son,  Capt.  John,  born,  Oct.,  1611,  married,  Ap. 
11,  1665,  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  John  Harriman,  Scnr.,  and 
a  sister  of  the  Rev.  John  Harriman,  afterwards  of  this  town. 
Their  eldest  son,  John,  was  born,  Jan.  9,  1668.  The  mother 
died,  Dec.  3,  1674,  and  the  father,  Nov.  7,  1704.  The  son 
followed  his  uncle  Harriman  to  this  town,  either  in  1687,  or 
soon  after.  He  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1695.  His 
uncle  credits  him,  Jan.  28,  169|,  with  "^  the  purchase  of 
John  Brockets  right  in  Elizabeth  Towne  15'."  He  charges 
him,  in  1694,  with  "  J-  an  acre  land  yo'  house  stands  on. 
005.  00.  00  ;  "  and  credits  him.  May  24,  1703,  with  "  his 
dwelling  house  &c  sould  to  me  at  65".  00'.  00*."  Either  this 
or  his  own  "  house,  &c,,"  he  had  sold,  for  £80,  just  one  week 
before,  to  Mr.  John  Blanchard,  through  wliom  the  ])ayments 
were  made  to  Miles.  Tiie  latter  was  one  of  the  ]\[emoiialists 
of  1700.  His  will  was  made.  Mar.  22,  170-^- ;  and  was  proved, 
June  15,  1708.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  his  sons  Leonard  and 
John,  and  his  daughters,  Sarah,  Elizabeth  and  Mar}^,  out- 
lived him.  His  son,  Leonard  (a  common  name  in  tlie  Har- 
riman family),  was  one  of  tlie  Associates  of  1729.  j^ 

*  Sftvdiro,  III.  177;  IV.  309.    E.  J.  Records,  t).  TOT.    Alb.  Kecords,  XXIX.  135,  21,5. 
t  Ledger,  p  139.     E.  T,  Book,  B.  5,  24.  t  Ledger,  pp.  C4.  lO.").     Savage,  III.  2C6. 


266  THE    HISTORY    OF 

William  Miller  [Millaij]  was  a  weavci',  and  is  tliouglit  to 
Lave  been  from  East  Hampton,  L.  I.  John  Miller  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  that  town,  and  William  Miller  was  residing 
there  in  1G75  and  1G83.  He  was  here  in  1687,  and  his  annual 
subscription  to  Mr.  Harriman's  support,  in  1694,  was  30*, — 
njore  than  the  average.  He  was  admitted  an  Associate  here 
in  1699-1700,  and  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of  1700.  He 
drew  No.  62  of  the  100-acre  lots,  at "  the  Edg  or  foot  of  y« 
mountain,"  adjoining  Joseph  Lyon,  at  Scotch  Plains.  It  is 
reported,  that  when  he  went  to  reside  on  this  lot,  so  far  away 
from  the  town-plot,  "  the  parting  was  rendered  very  solemn  by 
the  expectation,  that  they  should  seldom  if  ever  see  him  again, 
the  difticulty  of  passing  and  repassing  seemed  so  great.  But 
to  their  surprise,  as  they  went  to  the  church  on  the  next 
Sabbath  morning,  they  found  him  standing  on  the  steps." 
His  M-ill  bears  date,  Sep.  22,  1711,  and  was  proved,  Oct.  4, 
1712.  His  wife,  Hannah,  his  live  sons,  Samuel,  Hichard, 
Jonathan,  William,  and  Andrew,  and  his  two  daughters, 
Sarah  (the  wife  of  Peter  Elstone,  of  Woodbridge),  and 
Hannah  (the  wife  of  Daniel  Ciane),  outlived  him.  The 
family  have  been  mostly  connected  with  the  Westfield 
people.'" 

James  Mitchell  was  an  early  resident  of  the  town,  but 
was  soon  removed  by  death.  His  wife,  Mary,  had  become 
a  widow,  previous  to  Mar.  31,  1684,  when  she  purchased  of 
Kichard  Beach,  his  house-lot  and  improvements.  She  re- 
ceived, Ap.  12,  1686,  an  allotment  of  125  acres,  which  tract 
was  located  on  Westbrook  near  Pa  way  Piver,  and  a  swamp 
or  brook  head.  She  died  in  the  early  part  of  1688,  and 
Andrew  Hampton  administered  on  her  estate.  Her  son, 
Jacob,  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1699-1700,  and  drew 
No.  107  of  the  100-acre  lots,  on  the  Woodbridge  line,  adjoin- 
ing Francis  Barber  and  Benjamin  Price.  He  was  a  tailor, 
and  married  Mary  a  daughter  of  Pobert  JMorse,  Jr.  The 
father  was,  ])robably,  the  son  of  Matthew  Mitchell,  who  came 
over  in  1635,  was  successively  at  Charlestown,  Concord,  and 

•  E.  T.  Hook,  n.  60.  Hedge's  E.  Hampton,  pp.  4,  C.  X.  Y.  Doc.  Hist.,  II.  411,  511.  Hunt- 
ting's  Wcstflold,  pp.  8-11. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  267 

Springfield,  Mass.,  Saybrook,  and   Stamford,  of  Ct.  and  at 
Hempstead  ;  dying  at  Stamford,  in  IGiS.'-^ 

William  Nicholls  [Nicoll]  was  admitted  an  Associate  in 
1699,  but  never  became  a  resident.  He  had  a  third  lot-right. 
As  elsewhere  stated,  he  was  the  well-known  lawyer  of  that 
name  in  New  York. 

Peter  Noe  [Nue]  was  a  Ilnguenot  refugee.  The  name  was 
originally,  it  is  thought,  "  Neau."  Elias  JSTeau  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  French  Church  in  New  York,  and  em- 
ployed as  a  catechist  by  the  Propagation  Society,  "  that  good 
man."  Peter  Noe  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1695,  with 
a  third  lot-right.  His  son,  John,  in  169-4,  was  a  subscriber 
to  Mr.  Ilarri man's  support,  but  resided  in  Middlesex.  His 
daughter,  Mary,  became  the  wife  of  Jean  Tranbles  [John 
Trembly],  of  this  town,  also  a  Huguenot.  The  father  died  in 
Dec.  1709.  In  his  Will  dated,  Dec.  16,  1709,  he  conveys  to 
his  daughter,  a  dwelling  house,  on  the  corner  of  New  and 
Broad  streets.  New  York.  He  may  have  been  a  son  of  Elias 
Neau,  and  obtained  this  j)roperty  by  inheritance. f 

Parde  [Pardey]  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  original  As- 
sociates, and  of  one  of  those  for  whom  a  meadow  lot  was 
drawn  ;  but  not  the  slightest  clue  has  been  found  to  his 
identity.  His  rights  were  transferred  to  Henry  Norris.  It 
may  be  that  George  Pardee,  of  New  Haven,  who  married, 
in  1650,  Martha  Miles  (the  sister  of  that  John  Miles  who 
man-ied  the  Rev,  John  Ilarriman's  sister),  designed  coming 
to  this  place  among  the  New  Haven  Colonists,  and  purchased 
a  first  lot-right,  but  afterwards  concluded  to  remain  at  New 
Haven.:}: 

William  Parent  subscribed,  at  the  town  meeting,  Jan. 
IS,  169^,  6^  annually  for  Mr.  Harriman.  His  name  appears 
in  no  other  connection.  John  Parent  was  at  Iladdum,  Ct., 
1662-86.§ 

John  Pp:arce  had  land  here  as  early  as  16S5.  He  had 
surveyed  for  him,  Ap.  14,  16S6,  a  tract  of  50  acres  on  the  S. 

♦  E.  J.  Records,  B.  158,  355,  L,  71,  3.     E.  T.  Book,  B.  26.     Sava-e,  III.  221. 

t  S.'ivagc,  HI.  208,  7,  344,     E.  Town  Book,  B.  2.    Loilgor,  p.  149, 

J  Lwl^er,  p.  92.  N.  Y.  Doc.  IIU..  IIL  US,  125,  9,  42S.  Borrian's  Trinity  Chli,.  pp  34-S, 

$  Lcdjor,  p.  113.    Savago,  III.  845. 


268  THE    UISTORY    OF 

side  of  E.  Town  brook,  and  adjoining  John  Hume  and  Wil- 
liam Redford.  He  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1G99,  and 
drew^  No.  130  of  the  100-acre  lots.  He  is  styled,  May  4, 
1GS6,  "a  planter  of  E.  Town,"  and  yet  the  same  name  is  con- 
nected wdth  a  survey  at  Middletown  in  1685,  and  in  1689,  a 
warrant  for  60  acres  is  given  to  ''  John  Pearce  of  Middle- 
town."     He  settled,  doubtless,  at  the  latter  place."-' 

Benja^hn  Pierson  "was  the  son  of  Henry  Pierson,  of  South- 
ampton, L.  I.  Henry  must  have  been  of  the  lineage  of  Rev. 
Abraham  Pierson,  the  first  minister,  both  of  Southampton 
and  Newark.  He  came  to  S.,  either  with  or  a  few  months 
after  the  pastor.  He  was  town  clerk  for  many  years,  and  a 
devout  Christian.  He  died  in  the  autumn  of  1680,  and  his 
widow,  Mary,  administered  on  his  estate  (Nov.  8),  which  was 
appraised  at  £1256.  1.  2.  The  next  summer  she  became,  as 
previously  stated,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Seth  Fletcher,  of  this 
toM'n.  Her  son,  Benjamin,  accompanied  his  mother  ;  possibly, 
other  children,  also.  He  was  then  about  26  years  old,  and 
lived  until  1731. f 

Samukl  Potter  was  a  grandson  of  John  Potter,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  New  Haven,  Ct.,  1639,  wh©  had  two  sons 
John  and  Sanmel.  The  latter  was  baptized,  Oct.  17,  IG-ll, 
and  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Newark,  N.  J.  John 
remained  at  New  Haven,  married,  1661,  Hannah,  a  daughter 
of  John  Cooper,  and  had  a  son  Samuel,  born,  Jan.  2,  1675. 
This  may  have  been  the  Samuel  Potter  of  this  town.  But, 
more  probably,  it  was  the  son  of  Samuel  of  Newark,  that 
settled  here,  locating  at  Connecticut  Farms.  He  appears  to 
have  been  born  in  1672  or  3,  being  in  his  81th  year  when  he 
died,  Feb.  5,  1756.  He  became  a  subscriber  to  Mr.  Harri- 
man's  support  in  1700.  A  tract  of  60  acres  was  "  laid  out  " 
for  him.  May  8,  1701,  by  John  Ilarriman,  Jr.,  Town  Sur- 
veyor, adjoining  John  Littell,  Jeremiah  Osborn,  Thomas 
Iveeney,  Robert  TVoolley  and  Samuel  Clarke.  In  1720  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  Town  Committee.  His  autograph  appears 
in  the  List  of  Associates  in  1729.  A  tract  of  414]  acres,  at 
the  foot  of  the  second  mountain,  by  the  side  of  an  old  mine, 

*  E.  J.  Records,  L.  72,  IIC.  O.  2i.  t  HowcU,  p  200.     X.  York  Wills,  II.  Cl-4. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  2G9 

and  on  the  E,  side  of  Green  River,  between  tlie  two  moun- 
tains, was  laid  out  for  him,  Feb.  26,  173f .  lie  was  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  one  of  the  first  Elders  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Connecticut  Farms.* 

Andrise  Peicegaek  bought,  Jane  29, 1687,  of  Jonas  Wood, 
a  tract  of  100  acres.  The  name  nowhere  else  occurs,  either 
in  the  Records  of  this  town,  or  in  any  other  American  docu- 
ments as  far  as  known.f 

JouN  Radley  was  a  6s  subscriber  to  Mr.  Ilarriman  in  1694. 
John  RatlifFe  was  married,  Aug.  6,  1681,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Nicholas  Carter;  probably  the  same  person,  and 
possibly  the  son  of  AVilliam,  of  Stamford,  Ct.  Among  the 
soldiers  in  the  Fort  at  Albany,  who  took  the  oath,  'Nov.  10, 
1689,  to  William  and  Mary,  was  John  Radecbffe.  In  the 
Borough  Charter,  Feb.  8,  17f|,  John  Radley,  Sen'".,  was 
named  as  one  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  John  Radley, 
Jr.,  one  of  the  Assessors  of  the  Town.;}; 

Nathaniel  Raulins,  was  residing  here,  Oct.  10,  1691, 
w'hen  he  made  his  Will  (witnessed  by  Thomas  Mulliner  and 
his  son-in-law,  AVilliam  Chamberlain),  in  which  mention  is 
made  of  his  eldest  son,  wife,  and  daughter,  but  their  names 
are  not  given.  The  Will  was  entered,  June  11,  1707.  He 
was,  probably,  of  the  lineage  of  Nathaniel,  of  Roxbury, 
Mass.§ 

William  Redford  obtained  a  patent,  Jan.  1-1,  169|,  for  150 
acres  of  land  on  E.  Town  brook,  adjoining  Benjamin  Wade, 
John  Hume  and  John  Pearce,  "in  Right  of  Head  Land,  for 
himself,  his  Wife,  and  seven  Children."  They,  probably, 
came  over  directl}'  from  England  to  this  place.  The  plot  was 
occupied  by  himself  and  his  son  Andrew ;  but  the  title  was 
contested,  as  against  the  grandson  John,  claiming  by  Proprie- 
tary grant,  on  the  part  of  John  Maxfield  and  Joseph  Willis, 
claiming  under  the  Indian  Title.| 

William  Riciiakuson  was  a  man  in  humble  condition, 
who  had  died  before  Aug.  6,  1696,  when   his  goods  were  ap- 

•  Savage,  III.  400.    Newark  Eiccntcnary,  p.  149.  Ledger,  p.  123.    t.  T.  Book,  13.  SS,  40. 

t  E.  J.  Records,  B.  132. 

i  E.  J.  Records,  III.  170.    Murray's  Notes,  p.  82.  Ledger,  p.  85.    Savage,  III.  509. 

§  lb.,  III.  309.    E.  J.  Records.  H  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  44. 


270  THE    HISTORY    OF 

praised  by  Isaac  Whitehead  and  Joliii  Hinds,  at  £o.  18.  9, 
His  annual  subscription  in  1G94,  to  Mr.  Harriman,  was  3s.* 

WiLLiAisi  IloBTNSON  Avas  a  phjsiciau,  residing  in  tlie  Tlah- 
way  neighborhood.  He  came  here  as  early  as  1G85,  pur- 
chased land  of  John  Toe,  and  had  surveyed  for  him,  Ap.  1, 
1686,  a  tract  of  700  acres,  on  the  N,  side  of  the  Woodbridge 
line,  and  "  on  tlie  Branch  of  Ilaway  Kiver  called  Robinson's 
Branch,"  adjoining  Joseph  Frazee,  Richard  and  John  Clarke, 
George  and  John  Alexander,  William  Piles,  Simon  Rouse 
and  Thomas  Rudyard.  He  bought  of  John  Toe,  Sep.  12, 
1688,  another  plot  of  40  acres  on  the  W.  branch  of  Rahway 
River.  In  1692,  he  obtained  a  survey  of  550  acres  in  Mon- 
mouth Co.,  "in  full  of  his  Share  of  the  first  Division."  lie 
had  purchased,  Feb.  T,  168f,  of  Robert  Burnet,  one  of  the 
so  called  Proprietors,  one-fourth  of  one  forty-eighth  of  a  Pro- 
priety, lie  was  one  of  tlie  witnesses  to  the  AVill  of  Mrs. 
Rouse,  Jan.  17,  169^^,  when  his  name  appears  as  "William 
Rob(?r^son,  Doctor  of  Medicine."  But  his  own  Will,  dated 
May  18, 1693,  has  it  "  William  Robmson,  Doctor  of  Physick." 
His  death  occurred  soon  after.  His  estate  was  appraised, 
June  2,  1693,  by  Andrew  Hampton  and  John  Winans  (whose 
son  married  his  daughter,  Ann),  at  £250.  15.  3.  He  was, 
doubtless,  of  the  Scotch  immigration. f 

Robert  Rogers  and  the  widow  Anna  Ailward,  both  of  E. 
Town,  were  married,  Nov.  26,  1675,  by  Justice  Bollen.  He 
was  the  son  of  Robert,  of  Newbury,  Mass.,  was  born  there, 
Ap.  20,  1650,  came,  at  20  years  of  age,  or  before,  to  Wood- 
bridge,  N.  J.,  and  obtained,  Dec.  30,  1670,  a  patent  for  91 
acres  of  land  there.  He  had  died,  probably,  in  1682,  and  his 
widow  was  married,  Aug.  1685,  to  Peter  Dessigny,  "  Chirur- 
geon"  of  Woodbridge,  who  had,  a  few  months  before,  Feb. 
11,  168f ,  purchased  of  Samuel  Marsh,  his  saw-mill  at  Rah- 
way. It  is  quite  likely  that  both  Rogers  and  Dessigny  lived 
along  the  line  between  the  two  towns.:}; 

Obadiaii  Sale  was  a  cooper,  and  resided  at  Southampton, 

*  LedRcr,  p.  89.    E.  .T.  Kecortls. 

t  E.  J.  Records,  B.  ;  L.  6S,  S2 ;  O.  93,  90.     E.  Town  Rill,  p.  85. 

♦lb.,  p.  101.  E.J.  Records,  III.  120;  A.  413.-  Savage,  III.  C6S.  Whiteheads  P.  Amboj-, 
pp.  35C,  7,  C6T. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  271 

L.  I.,  in  1GT8,  at  wliicli  time  lie  bought,  of  William  Russell, 
the  lot  now  used  as  a  burying-ground  at  the  N.  end  of  the 
town.  He  sold  it  soon  afterwards  and  removed  to  Boston, 
liis  former  home,  of  which  he  became  a  freeman  in  1681,  and 
M'liere  (1G81-4),  he  had  four  children  born.  He  was,  doubt- 
less, the  son  of  Edward  (born  IGll),  who  came  from  London 
in  1635,  and  resided  at  Salem.  Ephraim,  of  Boston,  for 
whom  his  own  son  was  named,  was  his  brother.  He  was 
admitted  an  Associate  in  1699-1700,  and  drew  No.  6,  of  the 
100-acre  lots,  between  Deacon  George  Ross  and  Ephraim 
Clarke.  He  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of  1700.  His  an- 
nual subscription  to  Mr.  Harriman  was  15s.,  commencing 
about  1690,  or  before.  He  probably  removed  from  Boston, 
soon  after  his  4th  child  was  born,  1684." 

Alexander  Scott,  of  this  town,  made  his  Will,  July  8, 
1700,  to  which  Thomas  Akin  and  Samuel  Whitehead  were 
witnesses.  He  had  died  before  Sep.  17,  when  the  Will  was 
entered  for  Probate.  He  was,  probably,  the  son  of  John 
Scott,  who  came  from  Hartford,  Ct,,  about  1660,  to  JSTorth- 
ampton,  L.  I. ;  and  spoke  so  disrespectfully  of  Chas.  II.,  in 
Ap.  or  May,  1664,  that  he  was  carried  a  prisoner  to  Hart- 
ford, Ct.,  heavily  fined  and  disfranchised. f 

RoBERT  Smith  was  the  first  of  that  common  name  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  town.  He,  too,  was  probably  from 
Northampton,  the  old  home  of  John  Ogden.  Richard  Smith 
was  chosen  a  freeman  of  Southampton  in  1648.  Robert  was 
a  resident,  in  1675,  of  Brookhaven,  L.  I.  He  was  here  as 
early  as  1687,  and  subscribed,  at  that  time,  £1.  0.  0.  to 
Mr.  Harriman's  support.  He  was  a  merchant  and  planter. 
Dec.  26,  1699,  he  was  appointed  High  Sheriff  of  the  County. 
Mention  is  made  of  his  "  negro  man."  Mr.  Harriman  credits 
him,  Nov.  7, 1695,  with  "  killing  a  hogge  &  cutting  it  out.  Is.," 
and,  "  Ap.  23,  1699  p  plowing  my  garden  him  self  &  horse, 
Is.  6."  He  .died  intestate,  and  his  widow,  Sarali,  Avas  quali- 
fied, May  10,  1705,  as  Administratrix.:]: 

•  Savnge,  IV.  5.  Howell,  pp.  15S,  9,  190,  807.  E.  T.  Book,  B.  13.  •' M' D»nicl  Salo, 
MrchV  a  Bon  of  Obndiah,  is  cbargod,  by  Mr.  narriman,  in  Oct.  1704,  with  "my  feo  alowcdby 
him  for  marrying  him  ;  n.  G.  9."    Lodger,  pp.  53. 106. 

t  E.  J.  Records.     Howell,  pp.  270-800.     Savage,  IV.  33. 

$  Howell,  pp.  32,  90.     N.  Y.  Doc.  History,  II.  4C9. 


272  THE    HISTORY    OF 

JOSIAII  SxANBOROUGn  [STANSBROCJGn,  StANBERRY,  StANBURy] 

was  from  Southampton,  L.  I.  His  father,  Josiah,  was  at  Ljnn, 
Mass.,  ill  1637,  and  soon  removed  to  Southampton,  of  the 
founding  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  original  "  undertakers." 
He  died  in  1659.  His  son,  Josiah,  married,  July  24:,  1670, 
Admali,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Chatfield,  of  E.  Hampton,  had 
7  children  born  at  Soutliampton  (1670-87),  and  soon  after 
removed  to  this  town.  He  was  admitted  anAssociate  in  1695, 
but  his  name  is  not  found  in  Mr.  Ilarriman's  Ledger,  begin- 
ning with  169i.  His  death  must,  therefore,  have  occurred, 
soon  after  this  date.  Mention  is  made,  in  1711,  of  the  "  widow 
Sarah  Stanbrow."     The  family  located  at  Haliway.* 

William  Strayiiearn  [Strahern]  as  his  name  indicates, 
came  with  the  Scotch  immigrants.  He  was  here  in  1694, 
and  was  admitted  an  Associate  in  1699-1700,  and  was  one  of 
the  Memorialists  of  1700.  He  drew  No.  152  of  the  100-acre 
lots,  in  1700,  near  the  Rahway  river,  and  adjoining  Henry 
Norris.  He  was  appointed  a  Constable,  Feb.  12,  171f  ;  and 
again,  the  next  two  j^ears.  He  died  in  1733.  His  house  was 
near  Morse's  Landing.f 

Samuel  Sturridge  [Sterkidge]  was  here  before  1678,  and 
had  a  house-lot  E.  of  Mrs.  Hopkins,  not  particularly  described. 
He  resided  at  the  time  of  making  his  Will,  Ap.  10,  1683,  at 
Railway,  but  had  land  on  the  Mill  river.  The  witnesses  to 
his  Will  were  James  Emott  and  J.  Thwinton.  He  was 
l^robably  unmarried,  as  he  gave  all  his  property  to  Joseph 
Hart  of  Railway.  William  Sterridge,  who  died  intestate, 
Dec,  1705,  was,  probably,  his  brother.;}: 

Thomas  Terrill  M'as  a  blacksmith,  and  came  here  from 
Southold,  L.  I.,  where,  in  1675,  he  had  a  considerable  estate. 
He  was,  ])robably,  the  son  of  Roger  Terrill  [Tyrrel],  one  of 
the  founders  of  Milford,  Ct.,  in  1639.  He  bought  of  William 
Cramer,  Aug.  19,  1696,  a  plot  of  laud  in  this  town,  to  which 
he  then,  or  soon  after,  removed.  His  name  is  not  found 
among  Mr.  Harriman's  parishioners.     He  died  in  1725. § 

•  Lr\wls'  Lynn,  pp.  C4,  f.,  103.     Howell,  pp.  15,  27,  89,  2S0.     Ct.  Col  Rcc,  I.  369. 
t  E.  T.  Book,  B.  84.     LedRcr,  p.  03.     E.  J.  Records.  *  U>..  H-  105. 

§  X.  Y.  Doc.  ins.,  II.  454.  Savage,  IV.  20S.  Barber's  Ct.,  p.  231.  Lambert's  N.  Ilavon, 
p.  90.    E.  T.  Book,  B.  07. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  273 

John  Thomas,  a  tailor,  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of 
1700.  It  was  he,  probably,  who,  iu  1G75,  and  1683,  was 
living  at  Brookhaven,  L.  I.,  and  may  have  been  the  son  of 
John  of  New  Haven,  Ct.  His  name  occm-s  among  those  of 
the  N.  Y.  people  who  accompanied  Capt.  Milburn's  expedi- 
tion to  Albany,  April,  1690.  His  land  adjoined  William 
Brown,  near  Samuel  Scott.  He  died  in  December,  1712, 
leaving  his  wife,  "  Fiftie,"  and  live  children,  Ellas,  Edward, 
Margaret,  David,  and  Esther.* 

George  Tuorp  was  a  son-in-law  of  George  Pack  of  this 
town,  having  married  his  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  had  died 
in  1704.  He  was  a  parishioner  of  Mr.  Harriman  from  1694 
to  1697,  subscribing  5s.  yearly.  He  was.  doubtless,  a  son  of 
Thomas  Thorpe,  Senr.,  of  "Woodbridge,  whither,  probably, 
after  his  wife's  death,  he  returned.f 

John  Toe  was  a  weaver,  and  came  here  from  Newtown, 
L.  I.,  as  early  as  1677.  Samuel  Toe  was  one  of  the  founders 
and  principal  men  of  that  town.  The  name  (erroneously 
thought,  by  Savage,  to  be  a  mistake  for  Coe)  appears  origi- 
nally to  have  been  "Tew," — Lawrence's  Neck  having  for- 
merly been  called  "  Tew's  Neck,''  where  Mrs.  Gov.  Carteret 
resided  with  her  first  husband.  It  is  likely,  therefore,  that 
John  Toe,  of  this  town,  was  the  grandson  of  Eichard  Tew,  of 
Newport,  R.  L,  who  came  over  from  Warwick  Co.,  Eng.,  in 
1640.  He  married,  Oct.  9, 1679,  Lydia,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Morse.  He  purchased,  Sep.  1,  1677,  of  AVm,  Cramer,  115 
acres  including  his  house-lot  ;  also,  Feb.  6,  168f,  of  Joseph 
Frazee,  40  acres;  Aug.  25,  1686,  other  lands  of  Jonas  Wood. 
He  sold,  Ap.  27,  1683,  a  plot  of  ground  to  Samuel  Groome; 
also,  Jan.  27,  168|,  two  house-lots  in  the  town  to  Dennis 
Morris ;  also,  Sep.  12,  1688,  to  Dr.  Wm.  Robinson,  the  40 
acres  bought  of  Jonas  Wood.  He  died,  in  1689,  and  his 
widow,  the  following  year,  her  estate  having  been  appraised, 
Jan.  25,  16 §^,  by  Deacon  George  Ross  and  John  Littell,  at 
£84.  10.  04 

*  N.  T.  Doc.  His,  II.  216,  4GS,  632.    Savage,  IV.  280. 
+  Ledger,  p.  83.    AVliitehead's  P.  Amboy.  p.  357. 

X  Savage,  IV.  270,  309.    Eikor,   pp.  33,  43,  2S3.    E.J.  Records,  I.  109;    III.  159;  A.  27; 
B.  22,  40,  132,  890. 

18 


274  THE    HISTORY    OF 

RiCHAKD  TowNLEY  took  up  liis  abode  here  as  early  as  1681. 
He  was  the  8th  son  of  Nicholas  Townley,  of  Littleton,  Eng., 
and  of  Joanna  White,  of  Northain,  Sussex  Co.,  Eng.  He 
was  one  of  the  very  few  whose  lineage  can  be  traced  back  in 
their  old-world  home.  He  was  descended,  through  Nicholas, 
Kichard,  Nicholas,  Erancis,  and  Nicholas,  from  John  Town- 
ley,  A.  D,  1400.  The  pedigree  extends  back  to  the  days  of 
William  the  Conqueror.  No  other  family  in  the  town  had  a 
higher  social  position.  Col.  Richard,  of  this  town,  came  over 
in  the  suite  of  Francis  Howard,  Lord  Effingham,  Governor  of 
Virginia,  in  1683,  and,  soon  after,  coming  to  New  York,  he 
concluded  to  try  his  fortunes  in  this  town.  His  father,  it  is 
said,  had  squandered  his  estate.  But  the  son  had  not  been 
long  here,  before  he  had  made  himself  so  agreeable  to  Mrs. 
Gov.  Carteret,  as  to  receive  herself  and  fortune,  in  1685,  by 
marriage.  He  had,  probably,  been  married  in  early  life ; 
and  Mary  Townley,  who  married  Mrs.  Carteret's  eldest  son, 
Joseph  Lawrence,  is  thought  to  have  been  his  daughter.  It 
is  not  certain,  but  quite  likely,  that  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Shackmaple,  was  also,  by  a  former  marriage.  As  Mrs.  Car- 
teret's first  marriage  took  place  in  166-i,  she  must  have  been 
•  about  40  years  of  age,  at  the  time  of  her  third  marriage. 

Col.  Townley  received  his  military  title  after  coming 
hither,  having  been  appointed  "  Captain  of  the  Train  Bands," 
Dec.  10, 1686,  and  Col.  before  1691.  He  was  made  one  of  Lord 
Neill  CampbelFs  Council  in  Oct.  1686.  He  adhered  to  the 
Stuart  dynasty  in  the  Revolution  of  1688-9,  and  became  so 
obnoxious  to  the  ruling  powers,  that  Leislcr  of  New  York, 
Feb.  21, 16||^,  ordered  his  arrest.  When  the  change  of  admin- 
istration took  place,  Townley  was  requested,  March  14, 169^-, 
to  march  his  company  to  the  city,  for  the  subjugation  of 
Leisler  and  his  forces.  In  1692,  though  a  resident  of  New 
Jersey,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Council  of  Fletcher, 
Governor  of  New  York  ;  and,  in  1697,  one  of  the  Earl  of  Bel- 
lomont's  Council.  The  next  year,  however,  he  was  suspend- 
ed, Sep,  28,  1698,  for  non-residence;  for,  says  the  Earl,  "he 
formerly  refused  to  be  of  the  Councill,  and  never  has  come 
near  the  Councill  in  Colonel  Fletcher's  time  or  mine,  besides 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  275 

Ills  constant  residence  in  East  Jersey."  Almost  wholly  by 
his  means,  St.  John's  Church  was  gathered  soon  after  the 
beginning  of  the  18th  century;  his  own  house  having  been 
the  home  of  the  Urst  Episcopal  missionaries,  and  the  place 
for  their  Sabbath  services.  The  Church-lot  was  his  gift,  and 
his  M'as  the  principal  contribution  towards  the  building  of 
the  house  of  worship.  lie  was  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  April,  1711,  he  was 
Presiding  Judge  of  the  Quarter  Sessions.* 

IIenky  Walvin  subscribed  3s.  a  year,  in  1G9-1,  for  Mr. 
Ilarriman,  and  was  here  in  July,  1696.  Nothing  more  is 
known  of  him.f 

JouN  Wakren,  of  this  town,  married,  Jan.  21,  16}^-,  by  the 
help  of  Justice  Bollen,  Miss  Grace  Whitehead,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Whitehead,  Sen^  lie  died  childless,  between  March 
12,  169^,  and  March  2Sth  following.  Geokge  Wakren,  of 
whom  nothing  further  is  known,  probably  a  brother  of 
John,  died  here  in  Sept.  1697,  and  his  property  was  apprais- 
ed, Oct.  1,  1697,  by  Richard  Townley  and  Andrew  llampton, 
at  £143.  10.  04 

Samuel  Williams  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of  1700, 
together  with  his  son,  Joseph.  lie  was  then  a  new  comer, 
as  his  name  is  found  in  no  earlier  document.  He  was  the 
son  of  Matthew  Williams,  of  Wethersfield,  Ct.,  and  the 
brother  of  Matthew,  who  settled  at  Newark,  N.  J.  He  was 
born  in  1653,  and  married  Esther,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Wheeler,  of  Newark.  He  died  in  1706,  leaving  five  sons, 
Joseph,  Samuel,  Nathaniel,  David,  and  Josiah ;  and  three 
daughters  Susannah,  Sarah,  and  Hester.     His  wife  is  not 

*  Littell,  p.  432.  N.  Y.  Doc.  His.,  II.  74,  G3G.  N.  T.  Col.  Docmt.'.,  III.  053,  701,  IG,  5r, 
81S;  IV.  2S4,  20s,  399,  020;  V.  204,  335,  8,  355.  Cl.irk's  St.John's  Chli.,  pp.  ]G,  19,  2G,  3'>,  3J>. 
E.  J.  llecords,  II.  2,  p.  348.  Lawrence  Genonlofry,  pp.  139,  149.  Depositions  arc  on  file, 
(l.atcd  Oct.  5,  1691,  in  one  of  wliicli,  Serjeant  Isaac  Whilehead  testifies,  "  that  hesaw,in  April, 
1G90,  John  Tunison  and  Segar  Garrison  rol!  several  barrels  of  beef  and  pork  out  of  the  goose 
house  belonging  to  Mr.  Townley,  and  6ell  some  of  it  to  old  Mr.  Whitehead  for  drink."  In 
another,  Joseph  Whitehead  testifies,  "  that  he  saw  John  Tunison,  Jaqiies  PuUion,  John  Geriia- 
dick,  Lawrence  Jansen,  Derick  Cruise,  Thomas  Morgan,  and  Scgar  Garrison  roll  out  of  the 
goose  house  of  Mr.  Townley  several  barrels  of  beef  and  pork  as  above."  Three  other  deposi- 
tions, by  Benjamin  Meeker,  Richard  Townley,  and  Benjamin  Wnde,  in  relation  to  the  same 
transaction,  follow.  These  men  were  either  servants  or  soldiers.  Alb.  Bocords,  XXXVIIL 
80-40.  t  Ledger,  p.  90.  I  K.  J.  Hccords.'.III.  157. 


276  THE    HISTORY    OF 

named  in  his  Will,  and  had,  probably,  died  before.  The 
faniil}'  located  on  the  Westfield  road,  and  gave  the  name  of 
"  AVilliams'  Farms,"  to  the  locality,  several  of  the  name  still 
occupying  portions  of  the  old  plantation.* 

Samuel  AVillis  came  here  from  Kewark,  where  he  was 
living  as  early  as  Feb.  16S-i,  when  he  obtained  a  warrant  for 
land.  At  the  time  of  his  decease,  in  1G9G,  he  was  residing 
in  this  town.  II is  estate  was  appraised,  July  21,  1696,  by 
William  Looker,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Carter,  at  £96.  17.  0.  His 
son,  John,  was  one  of  the  Memorialists  of  ITOO.  The  f*ather's 
name  appears  among  the  xlssociates  of  1699-1700,  and  No. 
114  of  the  100-acre  lots  was  drawn  in  his  right,  '•  at  the 
Edg  of  the  ash  Swamp,"  latterly  the  property  of  Jonathan 
Littell.f 

Joseph  Wilson  was  the  son  of  Samuel,  a  wealth}-  merchant 
of  New  York.  The  father  came  to  New  York,  soon  after  the 
English  conquest  in  1661.  He  resided  on  the  S.  side  of  Wall, 
near  Pearl  sts.,  where  he  owned  considerable  property.  He 
may  have  been  at  New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  16I:4,  and  removed  in 
1649  to  Fairfield,  where  a  Samuel  Wilson  is  found  in  1654. 
The  Kev.  Mr.  Peck,  of  this  town,  formerly  of  New  Haven, 
was,  probably,  an  old  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Wilson,  the  latter 
having  purchased,  for  £30.,  of  Mr,  Peck,  June  17,  1676,  his 
property  and  rights  in  Newark,  and  receiving,  in  his  right, 
the  next  day,  a  warrant  for  ISO  acres.  The  mother  of  his 
children  having  been  removed  by  death,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth North,  of  N.  York,  the  ceremony  having  been  per- 
formed, Ap.  29,  1679,  by  Justice  Pollen,  at  the  Governor's 
house  in  this  town. 

Mr.  Peck  having,  in  the  autumn  of  1678,  removed  to 
Greenwich,  Ct.,  induced  Mr.  Wilson  to  purchase,  Oct.  23, 
1679,  his  property  here  also.  Thus  it  was,  that  his  son,  Jo- 
seph, became  a  resident  of  this  town,  Mr.  Peck's  house 
having  come  into  his  father's  possession.  Joseph  appears  to 
have  established  here  a  bj-anch  of  the  N.  York  house,  as  may 
readily  be  gathered  from  the  Ledger  of  his  ])astor,  Mr.  Ilar- 

*  Savage,  IV.  499,  564.    Newtirk  Blccntenarj-,  pp.  133,  152.    Newark  Records,  pp.  80,6. 
fE.  J.  Kecords,  L.  71, 1S7. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  277 

riman.  lie  is  tlicro  particularized  as  Mr,  Joseph  Wilson, 
and,  next  to  Mr.  Henry  Lyon's,  his  is  the  honor  shared  with 
John  and  Jonathan  Ogden,  of  the  largest  annual  contribu- 
tion (£3),  to  the  minister's  support.  Tlie  father,  Samuel, 
made  large  purchases.  May  18,  1681,  also,  of  Nicholas  Car- 
ter, in  this  town.  Having  served,  as  Alderman  of  the  City, 
1G79,  '80,  '82,  and,  as  Assistant,  1681,  '86,  he  died  in  1689, 
leaving  his  property  mostly  to  his  two  sons,  Joseph  and  Eb- 
enezer. 

Joseph  continued  to  add  to  his  possessions  here,  purchas- 
ing, Oct.  13,  1689,  (soon  after  his  father's  death),  of  Stephen 
Osborn,  two  house-lots,  12  acres,  in  the  town  plat.  He  was 
admitted  an  Associate  in  1695,  with  o^Jive  right  lot,  the  only 
one  of  whom  as  much  is  recorded.  He  disappears  from  the 
Records  after  1699,  either  by  death,  or  removal  to  New 
York.  Capt.  Ebenezer,  his  brother,  came  into  possession,  as 
early  as  1693,  of  John  Ogden's  Mill,  already  noticed,  possi- 
bly by  foreclosure  of  Ogden's  mortgage  to  Mr.  Steenwyck, 
of  svhich  Mr.  Ogden's  son  Denjamin  and  Rev.  Mr.  Harriman 
became  Joint  Lessees,  at  the  annual  rate  of  about  £24,  for 
seven  years.  Capt.  Ebenezer  succeeded  to  his  father's  busi- 
ness in  N.  York,  was  Assistant  Alderman  from  1690  to  1694, 
was  one  of  the  first  Vestrymen,  in  1697,  of  Trinity  Church, 
and  Mayor  of  the  City,  in  Cornbury's  time,  from  1707  to  1709. 
Sometime  subsequent  to  the  allotment  of  1700,  he  was  ad- 
mitted an  Associate  of  this  town  with  a  second-lot  right-.* 

Robert  Woolley  was  from  Southampton,  L.  I.  He  was 
at  Fairfield,  Ct.,  in  1619  ;  but  in  1653  removed  to  Southamp- 
ton, where,  from  1657  to  1683,  he  was  living  on  Main  st,, 
next  to  Mr.  James  Hampton.  Possibly  it  may  have  been  a 
son  of  this  Robert,  that  removed  to  this  town,  wliere  his  name 
first  appears  as  an  Associate  in  1699,  and  a  Memorialist  in 
1700.  He  drew  No.  69  of  the  100-acrc  lots,  between  Wil- 
liam Hill  and  Abraham  Hatfield,  not  far  from  the  foot  of^tho 
mountain.  John,  William,  and  Edward  Woolley,  the  sons, 
doubtless,  of  Emanuel  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  were  at  Shrews- 

•  Savago,  IV.  5SS.  E.  J.  Records,  I.  47;  II.  3, 114;  III.  15T;  IV.  84.  D.  178,  195.  E.  T. 
Book,  I?.  4S.  Ledger,  pp.  47,  120.  Valentino's  N.  Y.  Manual  for  JS53,  p.  402.  Berrian's 
Trinity  Clih.,  pp.  15,  17,22. 


278  THE    HISTORY    OF 

burj,  N.  J.,  as  early  as  1685.     It  is  not  known  liow,  if  at  all, 
the  two  families  were  related  to  each  other.* 

John  "Wren  is  known  only  by  his  death.  Letters  of  Ad- 
ministration were  granted,  Aug.  3,  1687,  to  "  Edward  Gay, 
Doct'  of  Physick,"  on  the  Estate  of  "  John  Wren  of  Eliza- 
beth Town,  Deceased."  f 

These  w^ere  all  the  new  comers  since  the  period  of  the 
Dutch  rule,  of  Avhich  any  mention  has  been  found.  Many 
of  these  would  have  escaped  detection,  but  for  the  old  Ledger 
of  the  worthy  pastor,  Mr.  Ilarriman ;  whence,  also,  many 
particulars  have  been  gleaned  touching  individual  pursuits, 
and  domestic  relations,  together  with  a  variety  of  minor  mat- 
ters, such  as  prices  current,  shedding  much  light  on  that  re- 
mote period  of  the  town's  history.  Doubtless  a  complete 
record  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  during  its  first  forty 
years  would  include  some,  who  came  hither  and  remained 
for  a  season,  but  soon  passed  away,  leaving  no  memorial  of 
their  residence.  Others  were  day-laborers,  aiding  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  soil ;  or  craftsmen  serving  as  apprentices  or 
journeymen  ;  or  boatmen,  occupied  in  navigating  the  numer- 
ous small  craft,  which  even  at  that  early  day  were  found  in 
these  waters.  Of  negroes  there  were  not  a  few — some  in  al- 
most every  family ;  while  here  and  there,  a  "  poor  Indian  " 
also,  was  held  in  bondage  and  served  as  a  menial. 

The  following  Record,  from  the  lost  Town  Book,  appears 
in  Book  B. : 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  froeholdors  of  Elizabeth  To\vn,  October  y'  20tli 
Anno  1699.     The  following  Concliisions  were  Made  (viz.) 

Imp"  By  a  Unanimous  Vote  of  the  freeholders  afores"*  it  was  and  is 
Agreed  and  Concluded  that  if  any  have  been  at  Charges  in  the  Clearing 
and  fencing  of  Lnnd  which  no  Particular  Purchases  in  the  whole  of  this 
Township  Can  Justly  Claim  a  Mile  or  More  out  of  the  Town  plott  Shall 
have  So  much  there  where  he  has  So  fenced  and  Cleared  as  is  Sufficient  to 
make  a  plantation  (Provided  always  that  the  Possor,  or  Setler  of  all  Such 
Lands  have  a  Real  Right  in  the  whole  of  this  Township  by  Purchase  and 
also  that  Such  liave  not  Taken  up  more  then  there  proportion  of  the 
whole  or  if  nearer  shall  have  a  Sufficient  field." 

♦  Pnvftfre,  IV.  64S.  E.  J.  Records,  L.  26,  1S6;  0.  96,  14T.  Howell,  pp.  30.  301.  N.  Y.  Doa 
His.,  II.  537.  .      t  E.  J.  Kccords,  B.  138. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  279 

This  minute  was  recorded  in  the  original  Elizabeth  Town 
book  of  Records,  pp.  14,  15,  out  of  wliich  it  was  copied, 
Aug.  24,  1711,  and  ordered  to  be  entered  in  the  New  Book, 
June  2,  1747.* 

The  conflict  between  the  Basse  and  Hamilton  factions,  and 
the  anarchy  consequent,  were  terminated,  at  length,  by  the 
final  and  unconditional  surrender,  Ap.  15,  1702,  on  the  part 
of  the  so-called  Proprietors,  of  all  claim  and  right  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Province.  Then,  in  reality,  New  Jersey, 
for  the  first  time,  became  a  Royal  Province,  governed  no 
longer  by  a  Company  of  Land  Speculators,  but  directly  by 
the  Crown.  King  William  died,  Mar.  8,  170f,  and  Anne, 
Princess  of  Denmark,  ascended  the  throne.  A  royal  Gover- 
nor of  the  combined  Provinces,  New  York  and  New  Jersey, 
was  appointed,  Dec.  5,  1702,  in  the  person  of  Edward  Hyde, 
Lord  Viscount  Cornbury,  cousin  to  her  Majesty.  In  May, 
1703,  on  the  arrival  of  the  royal  commission,  the  Proprietary 
Government  of  East  Jersey  was  brought  to  a  perpetual  end. 

•  E.  Town  Book,  B.,  24,  o.  e. 


280  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

A.  D.  1682-1707. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Harriman  —  Introduction  of  Episcopacy 
by  Rev.  Geo.  Keith  —  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Samuel  Melyen  —  First  Episcopal 
Missionary,  Rev.  John  Brooke  —  Erection  of  St.  John's  Church. 

At  tlie  decease  of  the  Eev.  Seth  Fletcher,  in  August,  16S2, 
the  people  of  this  town  were  left  without  the  stated  ministra- 
tions of  the  sanctuary.  Nor  was  it  easy  to  obtain  a  com- 
petent person  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  Quaker  administra- 
tion came  into  power,  three  months  after  Mr.  Fletcher's 
decease,  and  the  tide  of  immigration  from  Scotland  began  to 
set  in.  In  the  letters  written  home  by  the  exiles,  as  has  been 
seen,  one  of  the  chief,  and  almost  the  only  one  of  the,  com- 
plaints made,  is  the  dearth  of  ministers.  It  became  necessary 
to  resort  to  *'  Deacon  Meetings,"  as  referred  to  in  1G84  by 
Watson  :  "  And  now  the  people  they  meet  together  every 
Sabbath  day,  and  Read  and  Pray,  and  sing  Psalms  in  their 
Meeting-houses."  At  that  time,  there  was  no  settled  preacher 
"  within  all  the  Province  of  East  Jersey,  except  one  who  " 
was  "  Preacher  in  Newark,"  Abraham  Pierson.  John  Allen 
was  at  Woodbridge,  but  had  ceased  to  supply  the  pulpit.* 

Possibly  Mr.  Allen,  of  whose  "  good  abilities,"  after  more 
"experience,"  the  Woodbridge  people  were  not  as  confident 
as  at  first,  may  have  been  occasionally  employed  here.  Put 
nowliere,  in  any  accessible  document,  has  any  intimation 
been  found,  by  which  it  can  be  determined,  how  or  by  whom 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  during  the  five  years  next  succeed- 
ing Mr.  Fletcher's  death.  At  length,  in  1687,  they  united 
in  a  call  to  the 

*  Scot's  Model  of  E.  J.,  pp.  199,  200.    Whitohcid's  V.  Amboj-,  pp.  883,  4. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  281 

REV.  JOHN  HAimiMAN. 

This  worthy  minister  of  the  gospel  was  a  native  of  New 
Haven,  Ct.,  the  associate,  in  his  boyhood,  of  many  of  the 
more  youthful  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  town.  His  father, 
John,  was  at  New  Haven,  in  1646,  and  soon  after  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth ,  and  had  two  children : — John,  bap- 
tised, January  24,  164-^- ;  and  Elizabeth,  baptized,  July  23, 
1648.  He  was  put  in  charge  of  the  town-ordinary,  of  which 
he  was  the  keeper  many  years.  He  was,  also,  a  respected 
member  of  the  Church. 

His  only  son,  -John,  was  trained  from  childhood  under  the 
eye  of  that  rigid  old  Puritan,  the  Rev.  John  Davenport,  by 
whom  he  had  been  baptized.  The  old  pastor,  finding  him 
apt  to  learn,  encouraged  him  to  seek,  and  his  father  to  give 
him,  a  liberal  education.  In  his  13th  year,  he  came  under 
the  instruction  of  his  townsman,  Mr,  Jeremiah  Peck,  at  that 
time,  principal  of  the  grammar-school  at  New  Haven,  and 
afterwards  the  first  pastor  of  this  town.  At  the  age  of  fifteen, 
he  was  sent  to  the  college  at  Cambridge,  Ms.,  to  be  educated 
under  the  supervision  of  tlie  Rev.  Charles  Chauncy.  He 
graduated  in  1667,  in  the  same  class  with  Gershom  Ilobart, 
and  one  year  in  advance  of  Abraham  Pierson,  Jr.,  and  John 
Pruddcn. 

After  his  graduation,  he  returned  to  New  Haven,  and 
taught  the  Hopkins  grammar  school,  several  years,  being 
occasionally  employed  as  a  preacher  at  New  Haven,  East 
Haven,  and  "Wallingford,  Ct.  Dui'ing  the  life-time  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Street,  he  had  probably  preached  for  him  occasion- 
ally at  New  Haven ;  and  at  his  death,  Ap.  22,  1674,  he  was 
frequently  called  upon  to  supply  the  vacant  ])ulpit.  In  the 
latter  part  of  that  year,  or  the  early  part  of  the  next,  he  went 
over  to  Southampton  to  preach  as  a  candidate  for  the  pulpit, 
made  vacant  by  the  decease,  in  1674,  of  the  Rev.  Robert 
Fordham.  He  accepted  their  call,  and  was  put  in  possession 
of  the  parsonage,  "  upon  termes  y*  towne  and  he  hath  agreed 
on,"  April  12,  1675.  Early  in  1676,  he  returned  to  New 
Haven,  and,  in  July  of  that  year,  became  the  stated  supply 


282  THE  HISTORY  or 

of  the  pulpit  in  his  native  town.  He  continued  there  until 
1682,  preaching  most  of  the  time  ;  but  the  people  were 
divided  between  him  and  Mr.  Joseph  Taylor,  who  preached 
a  part  of  the  time,  from  1G7G  to  1679,  and  was  then  settled 
at  Southampton. 

In  1682,  the  East  Haven  people  appointed  a  Committee  to 
"goe  to  Mr,  Ilarriman,  and  treat  with  him,  and  desire  his 
help  in  the  Ministry  amongst"  them,  "  and  further,  to  give 
him  an  invitation  to  a  settlement  in  the  work  of  the  ministry." 
They  agreed  to  give  him  £50,  for  his  support — "  current 
money  with  the  merchant."  In  November  1683,  they  gave 
him  a  formal  call,  and  resolved  to  build  at  once  a  house  for 
the  minister,  36  ft.  long,  of  2  stories;  for  which  they  sub- 
scribed £104.  10.  0.  The  house,  however,  was  not  built,  and 
Mr.  Harriman  remained  with  them  but  a  short  time  longer. 

In  October  1684,  he  was  associated  with  Robert  Vauquel- 
lin,  ["  Yorklain "],  in  running  the  boundary  line  between 
New  York  and  Connecticut,  having  been  appointed  Surveyor, 
for  this  purpose,  by  the  General  Court,  at  Hartford,  May  8th, 
1684.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  lie  had  been  previously 
emploj'^ed,  and  perhaps,  for  years,  occasionally,  as  a  Practical 
Surveyor.  Vauquellin  had  long  been  so  employed  in  East 
Jersey,  and  it  is  not  likely,  that  in  an  affair  of  so  much  im- 
portance, any  but  the  most  skillful  surveyor  would  be  ap- 
pointed on  the  part  of  Connecticut.  In  occupations  of  this 
kind,  he  was,  probably,  employed  for  a  year  or  two,  when 
his  steps  were  directed  hither — possibly  by  Yauquellin  him- 
self. He  had  many  old  friends  here,  as  also  had  the  South- 
ampton people.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  his  name 
should  have  been  suggested,  and  a  desire  expressed  to  hear 
him.  He  was  installed  the  pastor  of  this  Church,  most 
probably,  September  30th,  1687,  as  appears  from  the  follow- 
ing memorandum  in  his  Ledger,  under  date  of  Nov.  1, 1694: 
"  we  Keckoned  &  my  7***  year  payd  w*^^  ended  7  b""  30"*  last 
pceeding  this  date."  All  his  reckonings  with  his  parishioners 
are  from  the  same  date.  Gov.  Lawrie  lived  a  few  days  only 
after  his  coming.  The  Quaker  rule  had  ceased  a  year  before, 
and  tlic  Scotch  were  now  in  power.     Lord  Campbell  had 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  283 

returned  home,  but  Hamilton,  his  deputy,  was  also  Scotch, 
and,  doubtless,  a  Presbyterian. 

Mr.  Ilarriman  married,  as  early  as  1G73,  Hannah,  a 
daughter  of  Richard  Bryan,  of  Milford,  Ct.  She  was  born 
in  1654,  and  her  twin  sister,  Mary,  was  married  (1.)  to  John 
Maltby,  of  New  Haven,  and  (2.)  to  a  Mr.  Howell,  of  Long 
Island,  probably  Edward  of  Southampton.  Another  sister, 
Frances,  was  married  to  Joseph  Treat  of  Milford ;  and  yet 
anotlier,  Sarah,  married  (1.)  Samuel  Fitch,  and  (2.)  Mungo 
Nisbett,  whose  name  appears  in  his  old  Ledger.  Mr.  Bryan, 
as  his  father  had  been  before  him,  was  the  richest  man  in 
Milford.  Six  children  had  been  born  to  Mr.  Harriman,  when 
he  came,  in  his  40th  year,  to  this  town.  John  Avas  his  eldest 
son,  (born  1674),  and,  like  his  father,  became  eminent  as  a 
land  surveyor.  Samuel  was  born,  June  25,  1676  ;  Ann, 
July  5, 1678  ;  Mary,  in  16S0 ;  Leonard,  in  1683 ;  and  Richard, 
in  1685.  Three  sons  were  born  to  him  here.  His  family 
having  increased  since  his  settlement,  and  his  salary  being 
only  £60  a  year,  he  applied,  in  1692,  to  the  Proprietors,  for 
a  grant  of  land,  in  consideration,  also,  of  his  having  "  ex- 
pended large  sums  in  purchasing  and  improving."  He  re- 
ceived a  grant  of  one  hundred  acres.* 

He  was  evidently  a  man  of  great  exactness,  a  trait  of  char- 
acter greatly  promoted  by  his  occasional  practice  of  the  art 
of  surveying.  Soon  after  his  entering  on  the  pastoral  work 
here,  he  opened  an  account  with  every  one  of  the  subscri- 
bers to  his  support ;  noting  carefully  the  amount  of  the  sub- 
scription, and  the  times  of  payment  ;  specifying  by  whom 
and  to  whom  (in  many  cases)  the  sum  was  paid  ;  whether  in 
cash,  or  otherwise  ;  whether  in  merchandise  or  services  ren- 
dered. These  accounts  were  kept  in  two  books;  the  first 
covering  the  period  from  1687  to  1693  ;  the  second,  from 
1694  to  1705.  The  first  of  these  books  is  lost ;  the  second  is 
preserved,  having  been  presented  to  Rev.  John  McDowell, 
some  sixty  years  since,  by  Mr,  AVilliam  Harriman,  the  grand- 
son of  the  old  pastor.     Several  particulars  of  much  interest, 

*  Savnce,  I.  2Sl-'2 ;  11.358.  Bacon's  New  Haven,  pp.  l.')8-60,  810.  Howell's  Southampton, 
pp.  104-5, 132.  Whitehead's  E.  J.,  p.  1G3.  E.  J.  Kccords.  Dodd's  E.  Haven  Register,  pp. 
CO-1.     N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  lY.  630-2. 


284 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


illustrative  of  the  town-liistoiy,  liave  been  gathered  from 
this  venerable  and  well-preserved  folio.  A  list  of  subscri- 
bers to  liis  support  in  the  year  1694,  is  given  in  the  margin, 
in  the  order  in  which  their  accounts  are  entered.* 


« 

£.    s.  d. 

£.  8.  d. 

Mr.  Henry  Lyon, 

3.  10.  0 

Nicholas  Baker, 

0.  10.  0 

Deacon  George  Ross, 

1.  10.  0 

Abraham  Baker, 

0.    5.  0 

Daniel  Uoss, 

0.  10.  0 

Obadiah  Sales, 

0.  15.  0 

James  Iliiid^, 

0.  15.  0 

John  Ross, 

0.  10.  0 

David  Woodruff, 

0.  10.  0 

Capt.  John  Baker, 

0.  15.  0 

John  Parker, 

1.     0.  0 

John  Meaker, 

0.  12.  0 

William  Browne, 

1.  10.  0 

Richard  Clarke,  Jr., 

0.    6.  0 

Deacon  Jonathan  Ogden, 

8.    0.  0 

Ebenezor  Lyon, 

0.  10.  0 

Mr.  John  Ogden, 

8.    0.  0 

John  Clarke, 

0.    6.  0 

Widow  Ilann.ih  Lyon, 

1.  10.  0 

John  Hinds, 

0.  12.  0 

Joseph  Lyon, 

0.  18.  0 

Nathaniel  Tuttle, 

1.    0    0 

Benjamin  Lyon, 

0.  15.  0 

Thomas  Thompson, 

0.    6.  0 

Mr.  Isaac  AVliitehcad, 

0.  10.  0 

George  Pack, 

0.  10.  0 

Josepli  Osborne, 

1.    0.  0 

John  Miles, 

0.  15.  0 

Nathaniel  Bunnell, 

1.  10.  0 

John  Pope, 

0.     8.  0 

Nathaniel  Bunnell,  Jr., 

0.    6.  0 

Jonas  Wood, 

0.  12.  0 

Nathaniel  Lyon, 

0.  15.  0 

Jonathan  Clement, 

0.  10.  0 

Moses  Thompson, 

1      0.  0 

John  Looker, 

0.    1.  6 

Mr.  John  Woodruff, 

2.     0,  0 

Jeremiah  Crane, 

0.    6.  0 

Henry  Nurris, 

2.    0.  0 

Stephen  Crane, 

0.  15.  0 

Mr.  Benjamin  Ogden, 

1.  10.  0 

William  Hill, 

0.  10.  0 

Benjamin  Meeker, 

1.  10.  0 

^Roger  Lambert, 

0.    6.  0 

Mr.  Benjamin  Price,  Jr., 

1.  10.  0 

Ebenezer  Spinning, 

0.    6.  0 

Robert  i>mlth, 

1.     0.  0 

Joseph  Halscy, 

0.    6.  0 

Robert  Moss, 

1.     0.  0 

John  Lambert, 

0.    6.  0 

Benjamin  Pierson, 

0.  IS.  0 

John  Gold, 

0.  12.  0 

Alexander  Keenee, 

0.  10.  0 

James  Crighton, 



Joseph  Woodruff,  ■^ 

0.  12.  0 

George  Jewell, 

1.    0.  0 

Benjamin  Trotter, 

0.    C.  0 

Jeremiah  Osborn, 

0.    6.  0 

Joseph  Sayer, 

1.    0.  0 

Edward  Frazee, 

0.    8.  0 

Thomas  Price, 

0.  1.5.  0 

William  Looker,  Jr., 

0.    4.  0 

Ephraim  Price, 

0.  10.  0 

Joseph  Ffrazee, 

1.    0.  0 

Capt.  Daniel  Price, 

0.  15.  0 

George  Thorp, 

0.    5.  0 

John  Prioe, 

0.     6.  0 

Charles  Tooker,  Jr., 

0.    1.  0 

Mr.  Bcnjiimin  Price, 

1.     0.  0 

John  Radlcy, 

0.    6.  0 

Aaron  Thompson, 

0.  15.  0 

Sliamgar  B.arnes, 

0.    8.  0 

Mary  <fe  John  Thompson, 

1.     5.  0 

John  Uerrick, 

0.    8.  0 

John  Winans, 

1.  10.  0 

William  Richardson, 

0.  .8.  0 

Widow  Mary  Bond, 

0.    5.  0 

Henry  Walvin, 

0.    8.  0 

Joseph  Whitehead, 

0.  10.  0 

John  Indes, 

0.    8.  0 

Richard  Clarke, 

1.     0.  0 

John  Nuee, 

0.    8.  0 

Cornelius  A.  Mary  Hatfield, 

1.  10.  0 

William  Strahern,    • 

0.    6.  0 

Nathaniel  Whitehead, 

0.     6.  0 

William  Oliver, 

0.    5.  0 

Thomas  Lee, 

0.     C.  0 

Samuel  Oliver, 

0.     6.  0 

William  Millar, 

1.  10.  0 

William  Oliver,  Jr., 

0.     6.  0 

Jeoffrey  Jones, 

0.  10.  0 

Joshua  Clarke, 

0.    6.  0 

Mr.  Joseph  Wilson, 

3.    0.  0 

John  Osborne, 

0.    6.  0 

Bamuel  Trotter, 

0.    5.  0 

Richard  Baker, 

0.    6.  0 

Joseph  Meaker, 

2.    0.  0 

Derrick  Baker, 

0.    0.  9 

Ucndrick  Baker, 

0.  15.  0 

Henry  Harriss, 

0.    6.  0 

The  number  of  the  names 

Is  ninety-nine. 

not  Including  Widow  Mary  Hatfield, 

mentioned 

ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  285 

The  whole  number  of  actual  subscribers  was  one  hundred 
and  twenty-four;  and  the  subscriptions  amount  to  £83.  11.  0. 
The  names  of  several  prominent  inhabitants  are  wanting  in 
these  lists.  Mr.  Harriman  had  large  dealings  with  the  Qua- 
ker, Andrew  Hampton,  whose  principles  would  not  allow 
him  to  subscribe.  Mr.  Hampton  is  credited,  however,  Oc- 
tober 1st,  1698,  with  "  gift  in  order  to  my  maintenance  26s." 
The  names  of  Col.  Eichard  Townley,  Thomas  Terrill,  Andrew 
Craig,  afterwards  identified  with  St.  John's  Church,  do  not 
appear ;  nor  of  any  w4io  came  over  with  Gov.  Carteret,  ex- 
cept William  Hill,  who  had  early  been  admitted  as  one  of 
the  Associates  of  the  town.  The  Governor's  party  had  al- 
most wholly  died  out. 

A  very  small  part  only  of  the  subscriptions  were  paid  in 
cash.  The  most  of  them  are  credited  with  produce,  meat, 
grain,  and  vegetables.  Many  of  them,  with  labor  by  the 
day,  on  the  farm,  at  the  mill,  in  the  garden,  in  building  his 
house  or  barn,  in  repairing  ;  in  shoemaking,  tailoring,  weav- 
ing ;  in  dry  goods  and  groceries.  A  list  of  the  prices  current 
from  169i  to  1705  is  subjoiiTed  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
curious.* 

■witli  hor  son  Cornelius,  and  "Widow  Mary  Tlioinpson,  with  her  son  John.    Of  tho  three  sons 
of  Mrs.  Hatfield,  Cornelius  subscribed  IDs.   Abraham,  lOs.,  and  Isaac,  los. 

At  the  town  meeting,  held  January  IS,  1G9?-,  the  following  additional  subscribers  were  en 
rolled : 


£ 

8.  d. 

£ 

8.  d. 

Samuel  Sayer, 

0. 

6.  0 

Francis  8.ayer, 

0. 

3.  0 

John  lirskin. 

0. 

6.  0 

William  I'arent, 

,    0. 

6.  0 

Samuel  Whitehead, 

0. 

9.  0 

John  Hoardman, 

0. 

6.  0 

Benjamin  Bond, 

0. 

6.  0 

Samuel  Millar, 

0. 

C.  0 

The  following  were 

added  (all  but  the  last  tw 

o)  at  the  town  meeting, 

March  11, 

ITOJ 

John  Ailing, 

0. 

6.  0 

Samuel  Clarke, 

0. 

C.  0 

Isaac  Bunnell, 

0. 

15.  0 

Benjamin  Woodruff, 

0. 

G.  0 

Thomas  Clarke, 

0. 

6.  0 

John  Mngie, 

0. 

6.  0 

Jonathan  Hinds, 

0. 

6.  0 

Thom.is  Sfiyer, 

0. 

6.  0 

Samuel  Little, 

0. 

C.  0 

Thomas  Keenee, 

0. 

5.  0 

Joseph  Ogden, 

0. 

6.  0 

George  Boss,  Jr., 

0. 

10.  0 

Samuel  Wood, 

• 

0. 

9.  0 

Thomas  Moore, 

0. 

10.  0 

Ephraim  Clarke, 

0. 

C.  0 

*  Veal,  li  to  2d. 

lb. 

Hens,  9d.           ca. 

Beef,     do.    do.    do. 

Oxen,  £4.  10.      " 

fork,  2i  to  3d. 

" 

Colts,  143.           " 

Venison,  Id. 

" 

Ewe  Sheep,  10s.  ti 

0  lis.  ca. 

Turkeys,  15d. , 

en. 

Ileifern,  £:?. 

" 

Capens,  Is.  Cd. 

ca. 

Beef,  £1.  ir).  0.,  barrel. 

Ducks,  13Jd. 

" 

Salt  6b.^d,  3d.  ca. 

286 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


Mr.  IlaiTiinan  was  a  man  of  large  business.  His  100  acre 
lot  "  ill  the  plains"  he  cleared  and  cultivated.  He  charges 
"  my  lot  in  y®  plaines,"  June  6,  1701,  with  cost  of  "beer,  cake 
<fe  rum  to  y*^  volunteers  at  y®  clearing  s'^  lott — £1.  7.  1|^." 
He  rented  ot  Capt.  Ebenezer  Wilson,  of  New  York,  the  mill 
on  the  creek,  (the  same  that  "  old  John  Ogden  "  built  at  the 
bridge,  and  mortgaged  Oct.  9,  1668,  to  Cornelius  Steenwyck 
of  New  York),  for  which  he  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Ogden,  his 
partner,  paid  £25,  per  year.  Nathaniel  Whitehead  had 
charge  of  the  mill.  In  1698,  he  built  a  new  house  in  Meadow 
St.,  north  of  Jersey  st.,  finishing  it,  however,  in  1701,  and 
moving  into  it  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Where  he  lived  pre- 
viously does  not  appear  ;  probably,  on  the  parsonage  ground, 
south  of  the  creek,  near  the  present  Kail  Road  crossing.     His 


Oysters,  9(1.  to  14d.,  hun. ;  2s.  9d.  gal. 

Wheat,  4b.  to  6s.  bush. 

Buckwheat,  2s.        " 

Rye,  3s.  4id.  " 

Meslin,  33.  9J.  " 

Indian  corn.  Is.  6d.  to  38.  bueh. 

Turnips,  Is.  " 

Oats,  22id.  " 

Feae,  4b.  " 

Apples,  23.  to  38.  " 

Salt,  48.  4d.  to  5j.  " 

Cider,  13b.  bbL 

Butter,  6d.  lb. 

Cheese,  4id.  lb. 

Sugar,  6d.      " 

Flax,  9d.  to  iB.  6d.  lb. 

Hops,  Is,  " 

Pepper,  Cs.  " 

Tobacco,  41d.  to  lOd.  lb. 

Hides,  2d.  " 

AUum,  9d.  " 

Indigo,  4id.  to  8d.'  oz. 

Eggs,  3d.  to  4d.  doz. 

Hay,  10s.  to  208.  load. 

Stones,  3b.  " 

Wool,  13 Jd.  lb. 

Rum,  1b.  6d.  qt. 

Cider,  3d.        " 

MolassPB,  29.  9d.  gal. 

Whale  Oil,  28.  lOd.  jar. 

Raccoon  ekins,  1p.  6d.  ca. 

Making  cider,  4Jd.  bbl. 

Killing  a  cow,    28.  3d 

"       "  calf.     Is.  6d. 

"        "  hog,     l8. 

"        "  pig,      8d. 


Killing  a  aheep,  9J. 
Shearing       "       2d. 
Weaving,  8d.  yd. 
Day's  work,  2s.  3d.  man. 

"    ■      "       la.  woman. 
Is.  boy. 

"         "       33.  man  and  osen. 

"         "       58.  man  and  team. 
Pasturing  ox.  Is.  week. 
Fanning,  2d.  bueh. 
ShingU-s,  38.  6d.  hun. 
Rails,  6s.  to  14s.       " 
Clapboards,  5s.       " 
Shoes  for  chil.,  Ss.  pr. 

M        "   women,  os.  pr. 

"        "   men.       6s.  9d.  pr. 
Barrels,  Ss.  ea. 
PaUB,2s.3d.  " 
Buckets,  2s.  " 

HatB  for  men,  228.  to  338.  ca. 
Paper,  Is.  Gd.  to  Is.  lOd.  qo. 
Powder,  3s.  6d.  lb. 
Shot,  4§d.  " 

Brooms,  4id.  ea. 
Pins,  13Jd.  paper. 
Ozenbriggs,  le.  Sd.  yd. 
Kersey,  5s.  6d.  to  "b.  yd. 
Holland,  Ss.  6d  to  48.  3d.  yd. 
Fustian,  2s.  3i  " 

Linsey  wolscy,  4s.  " 

Linen  (blue),  le.  4d.  to  2e.  yd. 
Serge,  4s.  6d.  to  68.  " 

Buttons,  6d.  to  9d.  doz. 
Stockings,  4b.  6d.  pr. 
GlovcB,  48.  6d.         " 
Silk  (black),  4e.  6d.  oz. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  287 

"  new  barne  "  lie  built  in  1702  "  length  24  feet :  breadth  22, 
height  11  feet,"  It  was  built  •'  by  Bcnj"  Meaker  &  Benj° 
Trottar,"  Benjamin  Pierson,  Joseph  "Woodruff,  Alexander 
Keeney,  Joseph  Osborn,  Daniel  Ross,  and  Bichard  Ilarri- 
man  have  each  the  credit  of  carting  for  it  one  load.  The 
builders  received  £7.  In  addition,  he  says,  "  the  cost  of  my 
barne,  built  this  summer,  £7.  14.  0." — the  "  timber  getting 
&  framing  given  me  except  18s  To  y®  carpenters." 

Not  content  with  preaching,  pastoral  visitation,  farming, 
and  carrying  on  a  flour  mill,  he  had,  also,  a  cider  press  ;  he 
had  an  agency  for  furnishing  glass  to  his  neighbors ;  he  sur- 
veyed lands  now  and  then ;  he  attended  the  Legislature,  as 
a  Deputy,  having  been  thus  elected,  in  1693,  1694, 1695,  and 
1698.  Like  the  most  of  his  profession,  he  kept  a  boarding 
school,  also.  His  Ledger  shows,  that,  from  1695  to  1702,  he 
had  the  following  pupils  under  his  care,  most  if  not  all  of 
whom  boarded  with  him  :  David  Selleck,  Bichard  Lawrence, 
John  Potter,  John  Thelwell,  John  "Wessels,  John  Banselere, 
Wm.  Cooley,  Andrew  Wandler,  (his  son)  Bichard,  Jeremiah 
Floyd,  Wm,,  son  of  John  Crooke,  of  New  York,  John  Man- 
verte,  Joshua  Swaine,  James  Bobeson,  Joseph  Tapping, 
Joseph  Meaker,  Jonathan  Sayer,  John  Harrison,  John 
Le  Boax,  Edward  Taylor,  and  Peter  Jewey.  His  price  for 
board  was  5s.  a  week  ;  and  for  teaching  "  the  art  of  Naviga- 
tion," £3. 

He  dealt  considerably  in  real  estate,  also.  In  1694,  he  sold 
to  John  Miles,  his  nephew,  half  an  acre  of  land,  on  which  to 
build  his  house,  for  £5.  In  1703,  he  bought  of  Miles  "  his 
dwelling-house,  &c."  for  £65.  The  date  of  this  transaction  is 
May  24.  But  under  date  of  May  17, 1703,  "  John  Blanchard, 
gallicus,"  [Frenchman],  is  charged  with  "  a  house  &c  sold  you 
to  day  at  £80."  Could  this  be  the  same,  or  was  it  his  own 
new  house  ?  Still  earlier,  March  25, 1703,  Aaron  Thompson 
is  credited  with  "  his  4  acre  home  lott  at  £20,"  tlie  payment 
of  which  was  com])leted.  May  12,  1704. 

He  dealt,  also,  in  slaves,  at  least,  for  his  own  nsc  :  "  "We 
bought  the  Negro  Toney  Aug*  14*'^  1697  of  Chai-lcs  Tooker 
jun'  for  48'^"    It  is  probable  that  Cai)t.  Ben.  Ogden  was  one 


288  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  the  "  we  "  and  tliat  Toncy  was  principallj  employed  at 
the  mill.  Or  the  "  we  "  may  include  his  son  John.  Again, 
Oct.  28,  1701,  he  bought  of  "  Mr.  James  Einot,  an  Indian 
girle  named  Hagar,"  for  £19.  10.  0. 

Occasionally  he  records  the  hire  of  a  horse,  or  of  a  man 
and  liorse,  for  a  journey  to  New  England.  On  one  occasion, 
Jan.,  1G9|,  Joseph  Woodruflf  accompanied  him  to  Milford,  Ct., 
where  they  had  a  conference  with  Gov.  Treat,  as  appears  from 
Mr.  WoodruflF's  affidavit  in  the  answer  to  the  E.  T.  Bill  in 
Chancery,  p.  47. 

It  appears,  also,  that  it  was  customary'  to  take  a  contribu- 
tion in  the  church  every  Lord's  Day,  of  the  proceeds  of  which 
an  account  is  preserved,  only  for  a  part  of  1699.  A  speci- 
men of  these  entries  is  here  given  :  "  Feb^  19 — cash  19s.  lO^d. 
wampom  lid.— £1.  00.  9^" 

Feb.  1st,  169|,  John  Woodruff,  carpenter,  is  credited  with 
"  making  a  coffin  for  my  dear  Leonard  ;  "  and  in  September, 
"  w"'  a  coffin  for  my  son  Alexander."  Two  sons  taken  from 
him  in  one  year !  Leonard  was  13  years  old  ;  Alexander 
was  at  least  5  or  six  years  younger,  having  been  born  in  this 
town. 

Of  tlie  preaching  of  Mr.  Ilarrlman  no  written  memorials 
remain,  and  scarcely  any  thing  traditional.  It  is  greatly  to 
his  credit,  that,  in  the  midst  of  the  excitements  of  1688,  of  the 
anarcliy  of  1690-2,  and  of  the  revolutionary  period  from 
1699  to  1702,  he  should  have  succeeded  in  retaining  not  only 
his  place,  but  also  the  affection  and  confidence  of  his  people. 
His  sympatliies  were  altogether  on  the  side  of  popular  rights. 
His  manly  words  of  cheer  on  the  Sabbath  greatly  encouraged 
the  town  in  their  long  protracted  struggle  against  oppression. 
Like  his  predecessor,  he,  doubtless,  had  to  contend  with 
opposers.  The  Quakers,  under  the  influence  of  Rudyard  and 
Lawrie,  had  increased  in  number  and  influence,  and  probably 
had  formed  themselves,  as  in  other  settlements,  into  a  reli- 
gious society,  in  the  southern  part  of  tlie  town.  The  Scotch, 
of  course,  with  their  national  preference  for  Presbyterian 
doctrine  and  worship,  adhered  to  him  and  his  Puritan 
Church,     Col.  IMorris  wrote,  in  1700,  as  follows  : 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  289 

Elizabeth  Town  and  Newark  were  peopled  from  New  England ;  are 
generally  Independents ;  they  have  a  meeting-house  in  each  town  for 
their  public  worship.  There  are  some  few  Churchmen,  Presbiterians, 
Anabaptists,  and  Quakers,  settled  among  them.* 

"  Some  few  Churcliinen,"  there  had  been  from  the  begin- 
ning. Gov.  Carteret,  of  course,  was  a  Churchman ;  and 
such  were,  doubtless,  the  most  of  those  who  sided  with  him 
in  his  conflicts  with  the  people.  Emott  and  Townley,  and 
the  men  that  associated  with  them  in  adhering  to  the  fortunes 
of  the  Jacobite  government,  were  either  Churchmen  or 
Papists.  It  seems  somewhat  strange,  that,  in  these  circum- 
stances, no  attempts  should  have  been  made,  for  a  whole 
generation  and  more,  to  introduce  Episcopacy  into  the  town  ; 
that  the  Episcopal  portion  of  the  community  should,  so  long, 
have  been  content  to  worship  with  their  Puritan  neighbors. 
That  so'  long  a  period  should  have  elapsed,  before  any  at- 
tempt was  made  to  gather  a  separate  Society,  argues  the 
fewness  of  their  number,  and  the  vast  preponderance  of  the 
Puritan  element. 

The  first  efforts,  so  far  as  known,  to  perform  Episcopal 
services  in  the  town,  were  made  shortly  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  royal  rule,  under  Lord  Cornbury,  in  1703.  Corn- 
bury  had  been  charged  with  a  special  mission  in  behalf  of 
the  Church  of  England  : — 

You  shall  take  especial  care,  that  God  Almighty  be  devoutly  and 
duly  served  throughout  your  Government,  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
as  by  Law  established,  read  each  Sunday,  and  Holy-day,  and  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  administered  according  to  the  Eites  of  tbe  Church 
of  England."  t 

Opportunely  for  the  fulfillment  of  these  Instructions,  "  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  tlie  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  " 
had  just  been  chartered,  and  their  first  missionaries  to  Amer- 
ica, George  Keith  and  John  Talbot,  appointed,  Keith  had 
been  a  Quaker,  though  a  native  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  (born 
in  1638),  and  a  Presbyterian.  He  had  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1GS2,  and  had  been  Surveyor  General  of  East  Jersey 

*  Proceedings  of  N".  J.  His.  Soc,  IV.  118. 
t  LeamiiiK  and  Spicer,  p.  CSS.    Smiili's  N.  J.,  p.  252. 
1  0 


290  THE    HISTORY    OF 

from  1CS5  to  1688,  wlicn  lie  became  a  preacher.  His  com- 
manding abilities  and  scientific  attainments  (bred  as  he  was 
at  the  University  of  Aberdeen)  gave  him  great  influence 
among  the  Quakers,  and  made  him  the  leader  of  the  ortho- 
dox party  among  them.  In  1700,  he  left  them,  and  was  or- 
dained a  priest  by  the  Bishop  of  London.  He  returned  to 
America  in  June  1702,  and  traveled  extensively  for  nearly 
two  years,  principally  among  his  old  friends.  Here,  in  this 
town,  and  its  vicinity,  he  had  numerous  acquaintances,  and, 
of  course,  it  was  not  difficult  to  gather  for  him  an  audience 
among  his  old  neighbors  and  friends.  At  the  house  of  An- 
drew Craig,  a  fellow-Scotchman  (with  whom,  probably,  he 
had  been  acquainted  at  home  before  they  came  to  America 
in  1G82),  he  was  hospitably  entertained  ;  and  there,  Friday, 
Nov.  3, 1703,  he  preached,  from  2  Pet.  1 :  5,  on  the  Christian 
Graces.  On  the  same  occasion,  he  baptized  the  four  children 
of  Mr.  Craig.  The  next  day,  he  says,  "  I  Baptized  the 
children  of  Andrew  Hemton,  [Hampton],  eight  in  Number  ; 
He  and  his  "Wife  are  come  over  from  Quakerism  to  the 
Church.  And  November  3  I  Baptized  Seven  children  of  a 
"Widow  "Woman  there."  At  the  end  of  six  weeks,  he  re- 
turned, and,  at  the  invitation  of  Col.  Townley,  performed  di- 
vine service  at  his  house,  twice  on  the  Lord's  Day,  December 
19;  of  which  the  following  record  is  preserved  : 

December  19,  Sunday. — I  preached  at  tlie  House  of  Cul.  Townly,  in 
Elizabeth-Town,  both  Forenoon  and  Afternoon,  on  1  Pet.  2 :  9.  Many 
of  that  Town  having  been  formerly  a  sort  of  Independent?,  are  become 
well  aftectcd  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  desire  to  have  a  Minister  of 
the  Church  of  England  sent  to  them.  There  I  baptized  a  Child  of  Mr. 
Shakraaple, — (tlie  son-in-law  of  Col.  Townley). 

This  was  the  first  occasion,  doubtless,  of  a  separate  service 
of  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  since  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  a  period  of  39  years.  (Gov.  Carteret,  as  Dankers  in- 
forms ns,  went  "  often  to  New  York  and  generally  to 
Church."  Others  may  have  done  the  same.)  It  must  have 
been  quite  a  trial  to  Mv.  Harriman  and  his  people  to  have  a 
rival  interest  in  the  town.  But  the  establishment  of  an  Epis- 
copal Clnirch  in  the   town  was  a  foregone  conclusion.     The 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  291 

Governor,  Lord  Cornbury,  had  just  Lccn  lioldhig  his  first 
General  Assembly,  for  four  weeks,  at  Ainboy,  and  had  cer- 
tainly prepared  the  way  for  such  a  movement  in  the  several 
towns  of  the  Province.  On  tlie  previous  Sunday,  12th,  and 
on  Christmas  day  following,  Keith  preached  at  Amboy ;  on 
the  12th,  "  at  my  Lord  Cornbury's  lodgings,  where  he  was 
present."  - 

Mr.  Harriman  was  removed  by  death,  Aug.  20,  1705,  in 
the  5Sth  year  of  his  ago.  The  only  particular  notice  of  this 
event  is  found  in  the  "  Boston  News  Letter,"  of  Sept.  10, 

1705,  as  follows  : 

Elizabeth  Toicn  in  Jersey,  Aug.  30.  On  Monday  the  20  Currant,  Dyed 
here  in  the  Afternoon  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Harriman,  Pastor  of  the 
Church  in  this  place,  Aged  about  60  Years :  Who  the  same  day  at  a 
Church  Meeting  told  liis  people,  that  his  time  of  departure  drew  near, 
and  exhorted  them  to  Peace  and  Unity  one  with  another,  and  to  stand 
fast  in  the  Covenant  that  they  had  engaged  themselves  to. 

Some  light  may  be  cast  on  this  sad  event,  and  on  the  state 
of  the  people  consequent  upon  it,  by  reference  to  a  commu- 
nication from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  John  Brooke,  the  first 
Minister  of  St.  John's  Church  in  this  town,  dated  Oct.   11, 

1706,  in  which  he  says : 

Col.  Townley's  house  (wherein  I  preacht  at  first),  in  lialf  a  year's  time 
grew  too  little  for  my  congregation,  and  the  best  place  we  could  get  to 
meet  in  was  a  barn,  which,  in  Harvest,  we  were  obliged  to  relinquish, 
whereupon  the  Dissenters,  who,  presently  after  I  came,  were  destitute  of 
their  old  Teachers  (one  of  them  being  struck  with  death,  in  their  meet- 
ing-house, as  he  was  railing  against  the  Church,  and  the  other  being  at 
Boston),  would  not  suffer  mc  upon  my  request  to  officiate  in  their  meet- 
ing-house unless  I  would  promise  not  to  read  any  of  the  prayers  of  the 
Church,  whicli  I  complied  with  upon  condition  I  might  read  the  Psalms, 
Lessons,  Epistle,  and  Gospel,  appointed  for  the  day,  which  I  did  and  said 
all  tlie  rest  of  the  service  by  heart,  the  doing  of  which  brought  a  great 
many  to  hear  mc  who  otherwise,  probably,  would  never  liave  heard  the 
service  of  the  Church,  and  (through  God's  blessing)  hath  tal<:en  awiiy 
their  prejudice  to  such  a  degree  as  that  they  have  invited  me  to  preach 
in  their  meeting-house  till  our  church  be  built.     Tiieir  Teacher  begins  at 

•  Uuinphrcy's  S.  P.  Q.  F.,  pp.  4-15,  W,  04,  75.  Whitehead's  V.  Amboy,  pp.  lC-21.  211-10. 
^Prague's  Aiinal.s,V.  25-30.  Clark'.s  St.  John's,  pp.  15-lG.  N.  Y.  Col.  Docuits.,  IV.  1021. 
Keith's  Journal,  in  P.  Ep.  His.  6oc.  Coll.,  I.  44,  5.    Dankors'  Journal,  p.  34C. 


292  TEE    niSTORT    OF 

eight  in  the  morning,  and  ends  at  ten,  and  then  our  service  begins,  and  iu 
tlie  afternoon  we  begin  at  two.     The  greatest  part  of  the  Dissenters  gen 
erally  stay  to  hear  all  our  service.* 

This  letter  slieds  not  a  little  light  on  the  obscurity  in  which 
the  early  Church  Annals  of  the  town  are  involved.  The 
early  hour  at  which  public  worship  waslield,  8  o'clock  A.  M., 
deserves  notice.  This  must  have  been  an  established  custom. 
It  is  not  probable,  that  they  would  give  up  their  ordinary 
hours  of  service  to  accommodate  a  rival  interest.  Mr. 
Brooke  was  a  missionary  of  tlie  Propagation  Society  already 
named,  and  "  arrived  in  East  New  Jersey,  July  15,"  1705. 
Lord  Cornbury,  to  whom  he  applied  at  New  York  for  counsel, 
"advised"  him  to  "settle  at  Elizabeth  Town  and  Perth 
Amboy."  On  the  20th  of  August,  the  very  day  of  Mr. 
Harriman's  decease,  he  wrote  from  Elizabeth  Town  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Society.  The  coming  of  Mr.  Brooke,  as  a 
local  missionary  to  settle  in  the  town,  had  probably  occa- 
sioned Mr.  Harriman  to  preach  on  the  distinctive  doctrines 
of  his  faith,  and  to  contrast  them  with  the  doctrines  of  Epis- 
copacy. And,  on  the  very  day  of  his  death,  he  may  have 
been  urging  them,  in  this  respect,  to  stand  fast  in  the  faith. 

He  must  have  died  of  apoplexy.  Ilis  son,  John,  was  a  mer- 
chant, as  well  as  a  Surveyor.  He  exerted  a  wide  influence 
over  his  townsmen.  After  his  father's  death,  his  accounts 
appear  in  the  old  Ledger,  and  some  of  them  arc  very  curious  ; 
a  specimen  has  been  given  in  connection  with  the  notice  of 
the  Martin  famil3\  David  Harriman  is  mentioned  in  the 
Ledger,  as  follows:  "  1711.  John  Kirtland  In  Saybrook  In 
New  England  C.  by  Bording  David  Harriman  from  the  17 
of  October  to  the  12  of  June  next  at  4*  G^  pr  weke  is  £7.  8. 
6  ;  by  candles  3.  4  ;  by  Are  wood  8.  8.  D'.  June  10,  1712. 
To  Cash  Delivered  your  wife  In  Saybrook,  £8.  0.  6."  David 
Avas,  doubtless,  his  son,  and  pursuing  his  studies  as  a  member 
of  Yale  College  then  located  at  Saybrook.  Mr.  Kirtland  was 
the  father  of  Bev.  Daniel,  of  Norwich,  Ct.,  the  grandfather 
of  the  Bev.  Samuel,  "  the  Oneida  missionary,"  and  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  Bev.  John  Thornton  Kirkland,  D.  D., 

•  Clark's  St.  John's  Church,  p.  19. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  293 

LL.  D.,  of  Harvard  University.     David,  probably,  died  soon 
after.*     Mr.  Ilarriman's  successor  was 

REV.  SAMUEL  MELYEN. 

Mr.  Brooke  refers  to  the  fact,  that  "  the  Dissenters,"  or 
Independents,  had  two  ministers,  at  tlie  time  of  his  arrival, 
one  of  them  "being  at  Boston,"  at  that  time.  It  appears 
from  Mr.  Ilarriman's  Ledger,  that  Mr.  Melyen  was  ordained 
and  installed  Pastor  "  of  the  Church  of  this  town,  about  the 
twentieth  of  May,  1704,  the  expenses  of  the  occasion  being 
£1.  5.  10.  Mr.  Melyen  was  ordained  the  colleague  of  Mr. 
Ilarriman,  as  may  be  most  iirojjerlj'' inferred  from  the  letter 
of  Mr.  Brooke.f 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Melyex  [Melyn]  was  the  son  of  Jacob 
Melyen,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town,  ot  whom  a  particular 
account  has  been  given  on  a  previous  page.  Samuel,  with  his 
brother,  Daniel,  and  sister,  Abigail,  was  baptized  in  the 
Dutch  Church  at  New  York,  where  the  family  then  resided, 
Aug.  7,  1G77.  His  brother,  Jacob,  and  sister,  Susanna,  had 
been  baptized,  Oct.  3,  1674,  at  which  time,  it  is  quite  certain 
Samuel  had  not  been  born.  His  birth  took  place,  most  like- 
ly, in  1675,  at  New  Y^ork,  where  his  earlier  years  were  spent. 
As  early  as  1690,  probably,  the  family  had  removed  to 
Boston,  and  soon  after  Samuel  entered  Harvard  College,  and 
enjoyed  the  instructions  of  that  eminent  divine,  Kev. 
Increase  Mather,  D.D.  He  graduated  in  1696,  one  year 
after  Jedediah  Andrews  of  Philadelphia,  and  one  year  before 
Jabez  Wakeman  of  Newark,  N.  J.     In  a  class  of  nine  his 

♦Clark's  History  of  St.  John's,  pp.16,  19.  In  the  old  account  book,  John  Boanlman  is 
credited,  by  John  Uarriman,  Jr.,  Aug.  21,  1705,  "  by  Diging  fathers  grave  4." 

t  "  The  exact  account  of  w'  we  spen    upon  y'  occasion  is  as  follows 

p  money  laj'd  out  in  sweet  spice  at  N.  Y 3.6 

p  J  of  a  bush"  of  wheat  at  4e  is 3.00 

p  a  bush"  of  barley  mault 3.9 

p  6  B  of  butter 3.0 

p  1  q'  of  rum  15'' 1.3 

p  3  B  shug'  at  6''  is 1.0 

p  pepper  9''  is 0.9 

p  4  lb.  of  cheese '2.0 

p  aq'"  lamb,  w'  SbJ  at  4''  is 2.11 

p  2  q'  veal 4.2 

1.510 
This  provision  was,  doubtless,  for  the  ordination  dinner,  of  which  "toddy  "  seems  to 
have  been  a  necessary  element.    Uarriman's  Ledger,  p.  146. 


294  THE    HISTORY    OF 

was  the  lowest  rank.  A  letter  is  extant  among  the  Mather 
Mss.  at  Boston,  addressed  to  Cotton  Mather,  in  which  he 
begs  his  aid,  though  unsuccessfully,  in  restoring  him  to  a 
higher  rank.- 

In  1700-1,  lie  tauglit  the  grammar-school  at  Iladley,  Mass., 
one  year,  for  £38.  In  December,  1702,  he  was  either  a  resi- 
dent or  a  visitor  in  this  town,  his  name  appearing,  on  the 
11th,  as  a  witness  to  the  will  of  John  Clark,  llis  uncle, 
Humphrey  Spinning,  13  years  before,  and  his  cousin  Daniel 
Spinning,  the  following  year,  had  departed  this  life  ;  but 
Mrs.  Spinning,  his  moth^"'s  sister,  may  yet  have  been  living. 

♦  Valentine's  Manu;il  for  1S63,  p.  795.     Savage's  Gen.  Diet.,  III.  19G. 

As  the  only  written  memorial  of  the  man,  save  the  inscription  on  the  next  page,  ii  ia 
hero  given  entire  ;  as  found  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Mass.  His.  Soc.  for  1S64-5,  p.  34 : 

May  19th  Ano  1698 

Reverend  S^  —  After  my  Respects  are  paid  to  yo''self  and  the  Lady  yo'  worthy 
consort,  this  is  come  to  inform  you  that  I  have  not  as  yet  finished  yo'  book,  but  intend  that 
by  y"=  Last  day  of  this  week,  (God  willing)  to  put  a  conclusion  thereunto.  S'  I  hope  you 
will  not  impute  my  tardyness  to  any  thing  of  unwillingness, — but  partly  to  y^  license  you  sent 
me,  when  you  last  sent  y  original,  &  partly  to  my  intervening  business.  Pray  S'  be  atsurcd 
by  this  that  I  am  not  only  willing  &  ready  to  serve  you  as  far  as  in  me  lies,  but  esteem 
it  an  honour  to  be  in  your  service,  wherefore  S',  I  hope  you  will  not  decline  yo'  Imposing 
it  upon  me,  at  any  time  when  yC  occasions  call  for  it. 

One  favo^.  Worthy  Br. !  I  should  be  exceedingly  rejoyced  to  obtain  at  yo'  benign  hands, 
if  it  may  not  engage  yo'solf  in  a  too  great  a  trouble,  which  I  will  manifest  after  I  have 
p''mised,  y'  towards  y  End  of  o''  Sophymorcship  by  my  audaciously  calling  freshmen  at 
y  doo'  of  y  worthy  M''  15mttlc  in  a  way  of  contempt,  y  Vener.iblo  and  Reverend  Presi- 
dent with  my  Tutor,  y  well  deserving  M'  Levorett  saw  it  convenient  to  place  mc  y*  Lowest 
in  y'  class,  whereas  before  I  was  placed  between  S'  Remington  and  S'  Whitman. 

Kow,  S'  my  humble  request  is  (seeing  j-'  Catalogue  hass  not  since  been  printed,  &  is 
before  y'  Ensuing  Commcncemon'  to  be  printed)  that  you  would  be  pleas'd  to  motion  to  y« 
Reverend  President,  that  I  may  be  reduced  into  my  former  station — Nothing  S'  can  be 
more  gratefull  to  my  Father  <k  Mother,  nor  any  thing  more  encouraging  tome— I  am  very 
Sorry  (&  desire  to  be  very  penitent)  that  in  that  as  well  as  in  many  other  things  I  have  dis- 
pleased so  worthy  a  Gentleman  as  y^  President,  and  so  kind  a  Tutor  as  M''  Leverett  w""  y* 
Rev"  M'  Brattle,  hoping  that  y"  remainder  of  ray  days  may  be  so  manidg'd  that  glory  may 
redown  to  God,  &.  thereby  some  satisfaction  may  bo  made  for  y«  wrong  I  olVrr'd  them — 
I  lye  at  their  feet  <t  humbly  beg  their  Pardon  (praying  y"^  Lord  to  forgive  mo  in  &  tliriJ 
his  son  Jos:  Christ)  hoping  they  will  henceforth  pretermitt  y'  ofl'ences  of  my  former  life 
and  grant  mc  this  favour,  which  will  much  encourage  me  in  my  labour  &  lay  me  imd' 
fresh  obligations  to  servo  them  &  yo'  noble  self  in  any  thing  y'  I  may  or  can — Had  I  S' 
been  placed  at  first  Inferio'  to  y«  rest,  I  should  have  been  contented  &  thought  it  my  place, 
(wherefore  S'  I  hope  you  will  not  conjecture  that  pride  is  y'  Impulsive  cause  of  this  my 
Petition)  but  it  being  after  such  a  nature  as  it  was,  makes  me  very  desirous  of  rcducem'— 
S'  All  our  class  y>  were  placed  at  first  beneath  me,  have  voluntarily  manifested  unto  mo 
y'  they  wove  very  willing  I  should  enjoy  my  Antient  standing.  Thus  S'  hoping  you  will 
do  yo'  Endeavor  &  pardon  my  boldness,  I  shall  at  p'senl  beg  leave  to  conclude  myself 
yo'  humble  petitioner  &.  hearty  SerV 

These  Samuel  Meltesi.* 

To  y  Revri-'  M'  Cotton  Mather 
with  my  hearty  Respects 
pr  Rishop  Elliott  P'flcnt 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  295 

Possibly,  through  the  influence  of  his  cousins,  he  may  have 
been  sent  for  to  aid  Mr.  Harriman  in  his  ministerial  work ; 
or  he  may  have  studied  theology  with  him.  At  the  decease 
of  the  latter,  he  was  left  in  charge  of  the  congregation.  It 
is  he,  to  whom  Mr.  Brooke  refers,  in  speaking  of  "  the  Dis- 
seaters,"  as  "  their  Teaelier."  At  this  time  he  was  about  30 
years  old.  The  memorials  of  his  ministry  here  are  few  and 
unsatisfactory.  One  of  his  books — "The  Cambridge  Con- 
cordance," published  in  1698, — is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Thomas  O.  Crane,  of  Railway,  whose  father,  Isaac  Crane, 
of  this  town,  bought  it  of  Elizabeth  Crane.  It  is  a  rare  old 
book,  and  in  good  preservation.  It  contains  the  following 
beautiful  autograph  inscription : 

Vita  sine  literis  est  Mortis  Imago ;  at 
"Vita  sine  Christo  est  Morte  pejor. 
Si  CHRISTUM  fliscis,  nihil  est  si  caetera  nescis. 
Si  CIIRISTDM  nescis,  nihil  est  si  caetera  discis. 
Samuelis  Melyen 
Liber, 
Martii,  1" 
Anno  Domini,  1702. 

His  ministr}''  was  short,  his  sun  going  down  behind  a  very 
dark  cloud.  He  was  preaching  regularly  at  the  time  Mr. 
Brooke  wrote  of  him,  Oct.,  1706,  and  may  have  continued  a 
year  longer.  The  pulpit  was  vacant  in  1708.  Tradition, 
with  some  show  of  probabilit}^,  accuses  him  of  some  immoral- 
ities unfitting  him  for  the  pulpit,  and  destroying  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people.  The  story  reported  b}''  Dr.  Murray  is 
not  very  plausible,  viz  :  That,  "  being  strongly  suspected  of 
intemperance,  the  choir,  on  a  certain  Sabbath  morning,  sung 
a  hymn  as  a  voluntary,  which  he  considered  as  designed  to 
reprove  and  expose  him.  Whilst  being  sung,  he  descended 
from  the  pulpit,  and  taking  his  wife  he  walked  out  of  the 
church,  and  never  again  entered  it."  The  days  of  choirs  and 
voluntaries,  it  should  be  remembered,  had  not  yet  come. 
Music  in  churches  was  but  rudely  performed  ;  "  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  seventeenth,  and  at  the  commencement  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  the  congregations  throughout  New  Eng- 


296  THE    HISTORY    OF 

land  were  rarely  able  to  sing  more  than  three  or  four  tunes." 
No  mention  is  made  of  choirs  in  churches  before  1720,  and 
none  "  of  any  regular  choir  having  separate  seats,  in  any 
church  for  thirty  or  forty  years"  after  that  date.  "There 
were  few  country  churches  with  a  choir  before  1765  or  70  ; 
and  they  certainly  did  not  become  common  until  near  the 
time  of  the  American  Revolution."  At  the  time  of  Mr. 
Melyen's  ministry,  anthems,  or  voluntaries,  as  a  part  of  the 
Sabbath  service,  were  unknown.  Note  books  were  not  to  be 
found.  All  singing  in  the  Churches  was  congregational,  led 
by  a  precentor. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  Mr.  Melyen  was  never  married ;  his 
sister,  Joanna,  about  seven  or  eight  years  younger  than  liim- 
self,  may  have  kept  house  for  him.  That  he  was  intemperate, 
however,  is  quite  likely.  The  temptations  to  this  vice  were, 
at  that  period,  very  great.  The  Rev.  John  Miller,  of  New 
York,  in  1695,  gives  an  appalling  representation  of  the  preva- 
lence of  dissipation,  there  and  then,  among  all  classes  of 
society. 

Mr.  Melyen,  in  retiring  from  the  pulpit,  continued  to  reside 
in  the  town  nntil  his  death.  In  Feb.,  170^^^^,  lie  was  ap- 
pointed, with  Thomas  Price,  Overseer  of  High- Ways.  At 
the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  sitting  at  this  town,  in  No- 
vember of  the  same  year,  a  complaint  was  brought  against 
him  by  Matthias  De  Hart,  of  the  nature  of  which  no  record 
remains.  A  true  bill  was  found  against  him  by  the  Grand 
Jury,  and  he  was  ordered  into  the  custody  of  the  Sheriff', 
until  he  should  give  special  bail.  At  the  sessions  of  the 
Court,  in  Newark,  Aug.  21,  1711,  he  is  reported  as  having 
deceased  since  the  sessions  in  May.  lie  died  nearly  at  the 
same  time  with  Col.  Richard  Townley,  who  Avas  President  of 
the  Court  by  which  he  was  indicted. 

His  "Will  bears  date,  May  10,  1711,  and  expresses  a  high 
degree  of  faith  in  the  gospel  of  the  Redeemer.  He  gives  £35. 
to  Mrs.  Ann  Gardener ;  £5.  to  his  Executor,  George  Jewell ; 
his  pewter  tumbler  and  silver  rpoon,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Jewell ; 
his  looking-glass  and  three  "  Turkey  worked  chears,"  to 
Sarah  Jewell ;  his  saddle,   pillion,  books,  bow  and  arrows, 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  297 

and  "  portmantle,"  to  Cornelius  Jewell ;  and  the  remainder 
of  his  possessions  to  his  sister  Abigail  Tillej,  at  Boston.  His 
Will  was  proved,  July  26, 1711.  No  mention  is  made  of  wife 
or  children.  He  appears  to  liave  boarded  with  George 
Jewell,  and  was,  doubtless,  a  single  man."  * 

It  was  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Melyen,  that  the  first 
Episcopal  congregation  of  this  town  was  gathered,  and  the 
foundations  of  St.  John's  Church  were  laid.  This  work  was 
principally  etfected  by  their  first  minister,  the 

REV.  JOHN  BROOKE. 

Of  his  birth  and  parentage  nothing  is  on  record,  so  far  as  is 
known.  He  was  an  Englishman,  and,  probably  of  Emanuel 
College,  Cambridge,  where  one  of  his  name  took  the  Bache- 
or's  degree  in  1700,  and  the  Master's  degree  in  1704.  Hav- 
ing been  admitted  to  orders  in  the  Church  of  England,  he  was 
appointed,  by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts,  one  of  their  Missionaries  to  America.  His 
first  report,  Aug.  20,  1705,  says — 

I  arrived  safe  in  East  New  Jersey  July  15,  and  thence  went  to  my  Lord 
Cornbury — our  Governor — who,  after  he  had  perused  your  letter,  advised 
me  to  settle  at  Elizabeth  Town  and  Perth  Amboy.  There  are  five  Inde- 
pendent Ministers  in  and  about  the  places  I  preach  at,  and  the  greatest 
part  of  the  people  are  followers  of  them.  But  I  question  not  (thro:  God's 
blessing),  but  if  you  please  to  permit  me  to  have  only  Elizabeth  Town, 
Amboy,  and  the  adjacent  Towns  under  my  care  and  to  allow  me  enough 
to  subsist  upon  without  depending  upon  the  People,  that  I  shall  gain  a 
considerable  Congregation  in  a  very  few  years.  As  for  those  that  are  of 
the  Church  of  England  already,  their  Number  is  very  inconsiderable,  and 
I  expect  nothing  from  them  for  some  years,  seeing  they  are  like  to  bo 
at  an  extraordinary  charge  in  building  of  a  Church  at  each  place.t 

The  "five  Independent  Ministers"  were  Messrs.  Ilarriman 
and  Melyen  of  this  town,  John  Prudden  of  Newark,  Samuel 
Shcpard  of  Woodbridge,  and  the  Minister  of  Piscataway, 
who  left  soon  after,  and  whose  name  has  not  been  preserved. 

The  circumstances  connected  with  the  early  Uiinistrations 

*  Valentino's  N.  Y.  Mnnnal  for  1SC3.  p.  795.  Savage,  III.  19G.  Clark's  St.  John's,  p.  ]9. 
Dr.  McDoweirs  Ms.  Sermon,  Jan.  1,  ISll.  Murray's  Notes  on  E.  T.,  p.  5.?.  Hood's  Music  in 
N.  Kng.,  pp.  56-9  ;  180.  llildrelh's  U.  States,  II.  1S9-92.  Records  of  Court,  at  Ncwarlc,  N.  J. 
Wills  at  Trenton,  No.  1.       t  Cat.  of  Univ.  of  Cambridge,  Eng.     Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  16,  17 


29S  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  Mr.  Brooke  have  already  been  detailed  (p.  291),  in  liis  own 
lan«;nage.  Daring  the  fall  aud  winter  of  1705-6,  Col.  Town- 
ley's  house  accommodated  the  congregation  on  the  Sabbath, 
and,  it  is  thought,  furnished  a  home  for  the  missionary.  In 
the  spring  of  ITOG,  they  began  to  worship  in  a  barn,  fitted 
for  the  purpose.  After  the  harvest  season,  the  barn  being 
occupied  with  the  summer  crops,  the  missionary  was  per- 
mitted to  officiate  twice  every  Sabbath  in  the  Independent 
Church,  on  terms,  which,  though  literally  observed,  were  not 
fulfilled  in  fact.  lie  was  "  not  to  read  any  of  the  prayers  of 
the  Church,"  The  obvious  understanding  was,  that  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Common  Prayer-Book  was  not  to  be  used.  He 
evaded  these  conditions  by  committing  the  prayers  to  mem- 
ory, and  saying  them  "  hy  hearts  It  certainly  is  very  mucli 
to  the  credit  of  the  old  church,  that  they  allowed  the  rival 
congregation  the  stated  use  of  their  "  meeting  house,"  twice 
every  Sabbath,  on  any  terms,  and  continued  this  permission, 
when  they  saw  that,  in  efi'ect,  the  contract  was  habitually 
broken  by  Mr.  Brooke. 

In  his  report  of  Oct.  11,  1706,  Mr.  Brooke  says  : — 

The  people,  in  general,  in  all  the  places  where  I  officiate,  were  either 
Dissenters  or  of  no  religion  at  all,  when  I  came  ;  but  now  (through  the 
blessing  of  God)  many  are  come  into  the  Fold.  There  are  about  ten 
communicants  added  since  I  wrote  last,  I  laid  the  Foundation  of  a  Brick 
church,  at  Elizabeth  Town,  on  St,  John  the  Baptist's  day,  whosename  it 
bears.-  It  is  fifty  foot  long,  thirty  wide,  and  twenty-one  high, — it  hath 
nine  windows — one  in  the  East  end,  ten  foot  wide  and  fifteen  high,  two 
in  each  side,  six  foot  wide  and  ten  high,  and  four  ovals — one  of  the  East 
window,  one  in  the  "West  end,  and  one  over  each  door,  which  are  near  the 
west  end.  The  church  is  now  covering,  and  I  hope  to  preach  in  it  in  six 
weeks  or  two  months.  Wee  shall  only  gett  the  outside  of  our  church  up 
this  year,  aud  I'lno  afraid  t'will  be  a  year  or  two  more  before  we  can 
finish  the  inside,  for  I  find  these  hard  times  a  great  many  are  very  back- 
ward to  pay  their  subscriptions.'*' 

Secretary  Basse  said  of  the  Church,  that  it  was  "  erected 
chiefly  by  the  care  and  diligence  of  Colonel  Richard  Town- 
ly,  who  has  given  the  ground  it  stands  on,  and  a  place  for  a 
Burying  Ground. "f 

♦  Clark's  St.  .Tohii's,  pp.  lS-20.  '  lb.,  26.  Trot.  Ep.  His.  Coll.,  I.  70. 


ST.    JOHN'S    CHURCH,    ELIZABETH,    IN    1350. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  299 

He  seems  to  have  labored  very  conscientiously  and  dili- 
gently in  his  vocation.  lie  performed  no  small  amount  of 
missionary  work: — 

Upon  my  arrival  here  (lie  says),  insted  of  a  body  of  cluirch  people  to 
maintain  me,  I  only  met  -with  a  small  liandfnll,  the  most  of  which  could 
hardly  maintain  themselves,  much  less  build  churches  or  maintain  me. 
Upon  which,  being  almost  discouraged  to  find  the  Church  had  got  so  little 
footing  in  those  parts,  I  resolved  heartily  and  sincerely  to  endeavor  to 
promote  her,  so  much  as  in  my  power,  in  order  to  which  I  began  to 
preach,  catechize,  and  expound,  twelve,  fourteen,  sometimes  fifteen  days 
per  month  (which  I  still  do),  and  on  other  days  to  visit  the  people, 
through  which  means,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  my  congregations  increased 
every  where  so  that  I  found  very  great  necessity  for  churches. 

Towards  the  building  of  five  churches,  and  printing  a 
tract,  he  contributed  £50 ;  and,  besides,  he  says, — 

It  hath  cost  me  above  £10  in  riding  about  the  Provinces  of  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  this  to  get  subscriptions.  I  could  not  have  given 
near  so  much  out  of  your  £100  per  annum,  had  not  I  been  very  well 
stocked  with  cloaths  I  brought  from  England,  and  had  had  some  money 
of  my  own.  For  I  ride  so  much,  Pm  obliged  to  keep  two  horses,  whicli 
cost  me  £20,  and  one  horse  cannot  be  kept  well  under  £10  or  £11  per 
annum.  'Twill  cost  a  man  near  £30  per  annum  to  board  here,  and  sure 
'twill  cost  me  mucb  more  who,  Pilgrim-like,  can  scarce  ever  be  three 
days  together  at  a  place.  All  cloathing  here  is  twice  as  dear,  at  least,  as 
'tis  in  England,  and  riding  so  much  makes  me  wear  out  miiny  more  than 
I  ever  did  before.  The  Ferries  which  Pve  frequently  to  cross,  and  every 
thing  else  I've  occasion  for  here,  are  very  chargeable,  and  Pve  nothing 
to  defray  all  ray  charges  but  what  I  receive  from  your  Society  ;  neither 
can  I  expect  any  thing  from  my  people  before  their  churches  be  finished. 
To  ask  any  thing  [from  them]  yet,  would  be  a  means  to  deter  people  from 
joynin'g  with  me,  and  would  be  looked  upon  as  offensive.  Pve  so  many 
places  to  take  care  of,  that  Pve  scarce  any  time  to  study  ;  neither  can  I 
supply  any  of  them  so  well  as  they  should  be.  I  humbly  beg,  therefore, 
you'll  be  pleased  to  send  a  minister  to  take  the  charge  of  Eliz:ibLth  Town 
and  Rawway  upon  him,  and  Pll  take  all  the  care  I  can  of  the  rest.* 

The  Secretary  of  the  Society,  Kov.  Dr.  IIum])hrcys,  said 
of  him, — 

Mr.  Brook  used  exceeding  diligence  in  his  cure,  and  was  pleased  to 
find  the  best  of  all  sorts  of  people  coming  over  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land.    He  exerted  himself  and  at  times  used  to  perform  Divine  service  at 

•  Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  20-2. 


300  THE    HISTORY    OF 

seven  places,  fifty  miles  in  extent ;  namely,  at  ElizabethtowD,  Rahway, 
Perth  Araboy,  Cheesequakes,  Piscataway,  Rock  Hill,  and  in  a  congrega- 
tion at  Pago's.     This  duty  was  very  difficult  and  laborious.* 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Brooke  came  to  an  abrupt  termina- 
tion, in  November,  1707.  The  Rev.  Thorowgood  Moore,  of 
Burlington,  had,  by  his  faithful  rebuke  of  Lord  Cornbury's 
disgusting  immoralities,  drawn  upon  himself  the  wratli  of 
the  Governor,  by  whom  he  was  arrested  and  imprisoned 
at  N.  York.  Mr.  Brooke  deeply  sympathized  with  his  afflict- 
ed brother,  and,  when  in  prison,  visited  him.  Mr.  Moore 
escaping,  and  Mr.  Brooke  being  sought  for  by  the  en- 
raged Governor,  they  resolved  to  proceed  to  London,  and  lay 
their  grievances  before  the  proper  authorities  at  home. 
They  embarked  at  Marblehead,  Mass.,  in  November,  1707, 
for  England,  but  the  vessel  was  lost  at  sea,  and  all  on  board 
perished. f 

Mr.  Brooke  seems  to  have  been  greatly  esteemed  and  much 
lamented.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot  says  of  him  and  Mr.  Moore, 
they  are  "  the  most  pious  and  industrious  Missionaries  that 
ever  the  Honorable  Society  sent  over."  "  Honest  Elias 
Neau,"  as  Col.  Morris  called  him,  said  of  them, — they 

"Were  assuredly  an  honor  to  the  mission,  and  labored  with  much  vigor 
for  the  enlargement  of  the  Kingdom  of  our  glorious  Redeemer,  and  we 
may  say,  without  prejudice  to  the  rest,  that  they  were  the  Glory  of  all 
the  Missionaries  the  Illustrious  Society  has  sent  over  hither.  The  purity 
and  candor  of  their  manners  preached  as  eflBcaciously  as  their  months,  in- 
somuch that  we  cannot  sufficiently  lament  the  loss  of  these  two  good 
servants  of  God, — whose  crime  was  for  opposing  and  condemning  boldly 
vice  and  immorality. 

His  ])eople,  years  afterwards,  spoke  of  him  as  their  "  worthy, 
and  never  to  be  forgotten  Pastor,  whose  labors  afforded  them 
universal  satisfaction."  :{: 

He  left  a  widow,  the  younger  of  the  two  daughters  of  Capt. 
Christopher  Billop,  whose  residence  and  large  plantation  at 
the  southern  extremity  of  Staten  Island,  gave  to  it  the  name 
of  Billop's  Point,  which  it  still  retains.     Subsequently  she 

*  Humphreys'  Ills,  of  S.  P.  O.  F.  P.,  pp.  lSS-00. 

t  Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  24-32.     N.  Y.  Co).  Docmts.,  IV.  10T7. 

I  Clark's  St  John's,  p.  23.    Humphreys'  S.  P.  G.  F.  P.,  p.  190.    N.  T.  CoL  Docmti.,  V.  SIS 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  301 

became  the  "vvife  of  the  Rev.  Wm.  Skinner,  of  Amboy,  but 
died  without  issue.* 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  Brooke,  and  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Melyen,  both  of  the  churches  of  the  town  became  vacant  at 
the  same  time,  and  the  people  were  once  more  left  without  a 
preacher. 

♦  Whitehead's  P.  Amboy,  p.  04. 


302  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

A.  D.    1702-1740. 

Land  Titles  —  Political  Parties  —  Lord  Cornbury,  Gov.  —  Corruption  of  the 
Court  —  Act  of  Itidcmnity  —  Lord  Lovelace,  Gov.  —  His  Death — Robert 
Hunter,  Gov.  —  Death  of  Col.  Townley  —  Officials  of  the  Town  —  Card-Playing 
not  tolerated — Newark  Bounds  —  Suit  of  Vaughan  vs.  Woodruff — Early 
Town  Books  lost  —  Town  Committee  of  Seven  —  Listof  Freeholders  in  1729  — 
Lithgow  vs.   Robison,  &c. — Measures   of  Defence  against   the   Proprietors 

—  Sale  of  Town  Lands  —  Fenn  vs.  Chambers  &  Alcorn  —  Sale  of  more  Land  — 
Distribution  of  Land  in    1737  —  Cooper  vs.  Moss,  &c.  —  Logan  vs.  Manning 

—  Newark   Bounds — Lewis   Morris,    Gov.  —  Borough    Charter  —  Officials  — 
Newspaper  Notices. 

The  surrender  of  the  right  of  Jurisdiction  to  the  Crown, 
on  the  part  of  the  Proprietors,  while  it  greatly  simplified  the 
matter  of  government,  made  no  change  whatever,  in  respect 
to  the  contest  growing  out  of  the  conflicting  titles  to  the  lands 
of  this  town  and  vicinity.  It  rather  served  to  intensify  the 
excitement  and  the  hostility  of  parties  ;  inasmuch  as,  by  an 
implied  compromise,  it  was  understood,  that  the  royal  gov- 
ernment would  confirm  the  Proprietors  in  their  claims  to  the 
possession  of  the  soil,  as  a  compensation  for  their  surrender 
of  sovereignt3\ 

In  the  political  agitations  that  followed  the  change  of  gov- 
ernment, this  question  of  titles  exerted  a  powerful  influence, 
especially  in  and  about  this  town.  The  people  were  divided 
into  parties  or  Mictions,  the  lines  of  which  were  mostly  deter- 
mined by  this  issue,  —  to  them  of  all-absorbing  interest. 
Tiie  character  of  the  party-strife  that  ensued  may,  to  some 
extent,  be  gathered  from  a  communication  written  by  Col. 
Lewis  Morris,  Feb.  0,  ITOJ,  to  the  Secretary  of  State.     Re- 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  303 

ferring  to  tlie  period  of  Lord  Cornbury's  accession  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  New  Jersey,  he  observes,  of  the  Province,  that 

IIo  found  it  divided  into  two  parties,  the  one  called  ITamiltons  and  the 
other  Basses  partie  ;  Hamilton's  partie  in  East  New-Jersey,  consisted  of 
the  gentlemen  of  the  best  figure  and  fortune  and  majority  of  the  people. 
Basse  being  formerly  an  Anabaptist  Minister,  those  of  that  religion,  some 
Quakers,  and  a  miselanious  mob,  where  of  his  partie.* 

Col.  Richard  Townley,  of  the  Hamilton  party,  and  a  noted 
enemy  to  democrac}'',  was  chosen  to  the  Assembly  of  1703 ; 
and,  when  there,  became  so  warm  a  partisan  of  Lord  Corn- 
bury,  as,  Nov.  29, 1705,  to  be  appointed  one  of  his  Council, — 
a  position  which  he  retained  until  his  death  in  1711. f 

Li  the  Assembly,  that  met  in  November,  1701-,  this  town 
had  no  representative,  the  county  members  being  from  New- 
ark. By  questioning  the  qualifications  of  three  of  the  mem- 
bers, Cornbury  obtained  a  majority,  and  carried  his  measures. 
A  militia  law  was  passed,  that  proved  a  terrible  grievance  to 
the  Quakers  who  constituted  so  large  a  portion  of  the  popu- 
lation. Tlie  laying  out  of  the  highways  was  entrusted  to  the 
most  inveterate  party  men,  of  whose  proceedings  Col.  Morris 
gives  the  following  damaging  account: 

They  puU'd  down  their  enemies  inclosures,  laid  waies  through  their 
orchards,  gardens  &,  improvem'' ;  there  was  one  gentleman  at  whom  they 
had  an  extraordinary  pique,  and  they  laid  a  way  over  a  mill  pond,  to  ne- 
cessitate him  to  pull  down  dam  &  mills  that  could  not  be  erected  for  1000 
pounds,  or  to  pull  it  down  themselves,  though  the  gentleman  offered  to 
build  a  bridge  over  the  streame,  at  his  own  charge,  ]-  of  a  mile  distant 
w'=''  would  have  been  J  nearer  and  better  way.  To  be  short  they  never 
omitted  an  ill  turn  they  could  do,  and  alwaies  weut  out  of  their  way  to 
do  it. 

The  country  was  impoverished  l)y  excessive  taxation  to 
support  tlve  government : — 

The  whole  Province  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  complaints ;  but 
neither  tliat  nor  y"  hearty  curses  they  liberaly  bestow'd  upon  the  vilains 
that  were  y'  authors  of  their  suffbrings,  avail'd  any  thing;  they  were 
forced  to  get  money,  some  by  takeing  it  up  at  10,  20,  30,  &  more  p''  Ceut 
interest,  those  whose  credit  would  not  go,  even  on  y"  most  desperate 

•  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  V.  84. 

t  Smith's  N.  J.,  p.  276.    Analytical  Index  of  N.  J.  Uocnils.,  pp.  49,  55,  4,  7,  C4. 


30J:  THE    HISTORY    OF 

terms,  were  forc't  to  sell  w'  they  Lad  was  vendible,  to  raise  the  money, 
and  very  many  there  Avas  y'  sold  good  milch  cowes  to  raise  six  shillings.* 

This  is  tlie  language  of  a  partisan,  Col.  Morris,  belonging 
to  the  Proprietary  party  ;  yet,  taken  even  with  the  needful 
abatement,  it  serves  to  show  the  state  of  parties,  the  corrup- 
tion of  officials,  and  the  distress  of  the  people  at  that  period  ; 
in  all  of  which  this  town  bore  its  full  share,  and  more. 

The  Act  of  Indemnity,  sought  the  previous  year,  was  passed 
by  the  Assembly  of  170-i,  and  received  the  Governor's  sanc- 
tion. 

The  ignorance  of  Cornbury,  in  respect  to  the  issues  before 
the  people,  is  well  exemplified  in  a  letter,  June  14,  1704,  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade,  in  which  he  says : 

Col.  Xiehols  coming  into  these  parts  found  y*  people  of  New  York  re- 
fractory and  not  inclinable  to  submit  to  him,  but  found  y'  people  of  Eliz- 
abethtowa  ready  to  obey  his  orders  in  all  things,  by  which  means  y* 
people  of  New  York  became  tractable  and  did  submit.  Col.  Nichols 
thought  himself  obliged  to  doe  something  for  y°  people  of  Elizabetlitown 
y'  might  be  as  a  reward  for  their  fidelity  upon  y'  consideration  granted 
them  y"  lauds  they  now  hold.t 

This,  in  a  State  Paper,  from  the  Head  of  a  Colonial  Gov- 
ernment !  Contemptible  !  ISTo  such  town  existed  before  his 
coming. 

In  the  Assembly  that  met  at  Burlington,  Ap.  5,  1T07,  this 
town  was  represented  by  Capt.  Daniel  Price.  The  Burgesses 
openly  rebuked  Cornbury  for  his  outrages  on  the  rights  of 
the  people,  and  stood  up  manfully  for  their  own  prerogatives. 
Nine  members  of  the  Council,  of  whom  Col.  Eichard  Town- 
ley  was  one,  drew  up  and  transmitted  to  the  Queen  an  itn- 
qualified  defence  of  Cornbury,  in  which  they  expressed  their 
"  dislike  and  abhorrence  "  of  the  proceedings  of  the  repre- 
sentative body.  Counter  statements  were  forwarded  by  the 
Assembly,  which,  in  connection  with  the  complaints  from 
every  quarter  of  the  two  Provinces,  N.  York  and  N.  Jersey, 
resulted  in  Cornbury's  displacement,  and  the  appointment, 
April  22,  1708,  of  John,  Lord  Lovelace,  to  succeed  him.:}: 

•  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  V.  36,  7.  t  Analytical  Index  of  N.  J.  Docmts.,  p.  47. 

t  Smith'i  N.  J.,  pp.  2S3-95,  845-S,  56. 


ELIZAEETE,    NEW    JERSEY.  305 

The  town  made  choice,  in  1708,  and  in  1709,  of  Benjamin 
Lyon  to  represent  them  in  tlie  Assembly.  Lovelace  was  re- 
moved by  death,  May  G,  1709,  less  than  six  months  after  his 
arrival,  and  the  government  devolved  on  Lt.  Gov.  Richard 
Ingoldsby,  until  the  arrival  of  Gov.  Robert  Hunter  at  New 
York,  June  14,  1710.  Col.  Townley  was  retained  in  the 
Council,  and  Joseph  Marsh,  of  this  town,  was  a  representa- 
tive in  the  Assembly,  that  met  in  December  of  the  same 
year.  In  a  representation,  made  by  the  Representative  body 
to  the  Governor,  of  the  affairs  of  the  Province,  it  was  insisted 
upon,  that,  in  order  to  reconcile  the  people  to  the  govern- 
ment, it  was  indispensable  that  eight  of  the  members  of  the 
Council,  who  had  rendered  themselves  obnoxious,  sliould  be 
removed.  Col.  Townley  was  of  this  number.  Similar  repre- 
sentations were  made  by  IS  of  the  Proprietors.  Counter 
statements,  in  justification  of  their  course,  were  made  by  the 
obnoxious  gentlemen  of  the  Council,  in  which  they  declared 
tiiemselves  "in  conscience  bound"  to  preserve  the  royal  pre- 
rogative from  licentious  encroachments.  Gov.  Hunter,  writ- 
ing to  the  Board  of  Trade,  May  7,  1711,  says, — 

Unless  Her  Majesty  be  pleased  to  remove  from  Her  Councill  in  the 
Jersey's  "William  Pinborne,  Daniel  Cox,  Peter  Sonmans,  and  William 
Hall  there  are  no  hopes  of  peace  and  quiet  in  that  Province,  Collonel 
Townley  is  since  dead. 

These  representations  prevailed ;  the  removals  were  ef- 
fected, and  peace  was  restored.  Gov.  Hunter  proved  an 
acceptable  ruler,  his  administration  contrasting  with  Corn- 
bury 's  to  great  advantage. 

In  the  absence  of  other  material,  something  of  the  history 
of  the  town  during  the  first  ten  years  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury may  be  learned  from  these  general  statements  respect- 
ing the  Province.  In  all  the  agitations  of  the  times,  conse- 
quent on  these  provincial  events,  the  people  of  this  town, 
ever  foremost  in  the  warfare  for  popular  rights,  could  not 
but  have  taken  an  active  and  decided  •  part — the  more  so 
because  of  the  persecution,  by  Cornbury,  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Brooke,  their  worthy  townsman,  and  his  untimelv 
death. 

20 


306  THE    HISTORY    OF 

In  1710,  Col.  Richard  Townlej,  Benjamin  Price,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Price,  and  Jonas  "Wood,  were  Justices  of  the  Peace ;  John 
Hainds,  Constable ;  and  Samuel  Melj'cn,  and  Thomas  Price, 
were  Overseers  of  tlie  highways,  for  this  town.  Andrew 
Hampton  and  Richard  Baker  were  on  the  Committee  for 
regulating  the  highways  of  the  County.  In  1711,  Isaac 
Whitehead,  Benjamin  Price,  Benjamin  Lyon,  John  Wood- 
ruff, and  John  Blanchard  were  Justices ;  John  Hainds  and 
Benjamin  Meeker  were  Constables;  and  Benjamin  Ogden, 
Jr.,  and  Samuel  Ogden  were  Overseers  of  the  highways.  In 
1712,  the  Justices  were  the  same  ;  James  Seeres  and  Samuel 
Ogden  were  Constables ;  and  Samuel  AVinans  and  John 
Scudder  were  Overseers  of  the  highways.  In  1713  ;  Con- 
stables— Ebenezer  Lyon  and  Wm.  Clarke  ;  Overseers  of  the 
highways — John  Craine  and  Joseph  Kellsey.  In  1714  ;  Con- 
stables— John  Thomson  and  Benjamin  Spinning;  Overseers 
— Daniel  Gale  and  Robert  Little;  Assessors — Capt.  Price 
and  John  Harriman.  In  1715  and  '16  ;  Constables — Richard 
Harriman  and  Elijah  Davis  ;  Overseers — James  Hinds,  Jr. 
and  Jacob  Mitchell.  In  1717  ;  Constables — Benjamin  Bond, 
Nathaniel  Whitehead,  and  Wm.  Strayhearn  ;  Overseers — 
Joseph  Bond,  John  Lambert,  Jeremiah  Peck,  and  Benjamin 
Parkhurst;  on  the  County  Committee  of  highways — Ben- 
jamin Lyon  and  Samuel  Potter.  In  1718  ;  Constables — John 
Gould,  Nathaniel  Whitehead,  and  Wm.  Strayhearn;  Over- 
seers of  the  highways — Edward  Frazey,  Benjamin  Spinning, 
Robert  Wade,  and  Daniel  Woodruff;  Surveyors  of  the  high- 
ways— Capt.  Daniel  Price,  and  James  Sayre.  In  1719  ;  Con- 
stables— AVm.  Strayhearn,  Samuel  Oliver,  Jr.,  and  Thomas 
Currey  ;  Overseers — David  Morehouse,  Samuel  Oliver,  Jr., 
and  Joseph  Marsh,  Jr.  In  1716  and  1721,  Joseph  Bonnel 
was  chosen  to  the  Legislature."'^ 

These  appointments,  embracing  a  period  of  about  ten 
years,  may  serve  to  show  who  they  were  of  the  second 
generation  that  were  chosen  to  office,  and  were  looked  upon 
as  men  of  activity  and  influence,  by  their  townsmen.  In 
almost  every  instance  they  were  the  sons  or  grandsons  of 

•  Eecords  of  Court,  at  Jsewari;. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  307 

the  old  planters,  whose  names  are  still  represented  in  the 
town. 

A  single  incident  will  illustrate  the  manners  of  the  day. 
At  the  Quarter  Sessions,  in  this  town,  August  19,  1712, 
Kichai'd  Baker,  Joshua  llenlock,  and  George  Jewell,  were 
indicted  "  for  sufl'ering  the  Game  of  Cards  to  be  played  in 
their  houses."  At  the  next  term,  in  November,  the  indict- 
ment was  quashed  on  their  payment  of  the  fees. 

The  old  difficulty  about  the  northern  boundary  line  re- 
mained unadjusted,  as  appears  from  a  Town-Meeting  at 
I^ewark,  Feb.  21,  171^ 

The  Inhabitants  of  Xe\\-ark  were  asked,  whether  they  were  willing  to 
come  to  an  Agreement  with  the  Inhabitants  of  Elizabeth  Town  about 
settling  the  Bounds  between  them  and  us,  wliich  was  unanimously  con- 
sented, unto:  And  in  Order  thereunto  by  vote  chose  a  Committee  to  en- 
deavor for  an  agreement,  (viz. :)  Mr.  John  Treat,  Mr.  Jasper  Crane, 
Capt.  Johnson,  Mr.  Theophilns  Pierson,  Mr.  Joseph  Harrison,  Sarj'.  John 
Morris,  and  John  Cooper — did  likewise  put  into  their  Hands  the  full 
Power  of  agreement,  and  did  verbally  by  Words  engage  to  rest  satisfied 
with  what  the  said  Committee  should  do  in  that  AfTair.* 

Similar,  doubtless,  was  the  course  pursued  here.  Confer 
ences  must  have  been  held,  and  probably  some  thing  agreed 
upon  ;  and  yet  more  than  4-2  years  afterwards  the  line  be- 
tween the  two  towns  had  not  been  finally  adjusted. 

A  series  of  prosecutions  was  commenced,  the  first  year  of 
George  I.,  in  the  interest  of  the  Proprietors,  to  test  once  more 
the  validity  of  the  Nicolls'  Grant,  subjecting,  for  a  long  term 
of  years,  the  Associate  settlers  to  vexatious  annoyances,  great 
disquietude,  and  no  small  expense. 

James  Emott  had  obtained,  April  G,  16S6,  of  the  Propri- 
etors, a  Patent  for  300  acres  of  land  on  the  AVest  side  of 
Rahway  river,  within  the  town  bounds,  and  claimed  by  the 
Associates  as  part  of  their  lands  in  common.  In  the  division 
of  1699-1700,  Lot  No.  148,  containing  100  acres,  surveyed 
by  John  Ilarriman,  Jr.,  and  the  Town  Committee,  was  as- 
signed to  Joseph  Woodruff.  It  covered  a  part  of  the  land 
that  had  been  surveyed,  March  20,  lG8g,  by  John   Eeid, 

♦  Newark  Town  Records,  pp.  123,  141. 


308  THE    HISTORY    OF 

(Surveyor  lor  the  Proprietors),  for  James  Emott.  At  the  de- 
cease of  Emott,  this  claim  came  into  the  possession  of  his 
Avidow,  Mary  Lawrence,  the  step-daughter,  first  of  Gov.  Car- 
teret, and  then  of  CoL  Townley  ;  and  so,  into  the  hands  of 
the  Rev.  Edward  Vaughan,  the  Episcopal  Minister  of  this 
Town,  by  her  marriage  to  him  in  1Y14,"' 

Whereupon,  in  the  November  Term  of  tlie  Supreme  Court 
of  New  Jersey,  1714,  Mr.  Vauglian-  brouglit  an  Action  of 
Ejectment  against  Joseph  "Woodruff.  The  Cause  came  to 
trial,  in  May,  171G,  the  judges  being,  as  was  alleged,  in  the 
Proprietary  interest.  A  special  verdict  was  found  ;  and,  for 
several  Terms,  the  case  was  argued  at  length  on  both  sides, 
resulting.  May,  1718,  in  a  judgment  by  the  Court  in  favor  of 
Vaughan.  Thereupon,  by  Writ  of  Error,  Woodruff  carried 
the  Cause  before  the  Governor  and  Council,  intending,  if 
judgment  were  given  against  him  there,  to  appeal  it  to  the 
King  in  Council ;  but  "  the  Governor  and  Council  would 
never  be  prevailed  upon  to  give  a  Judgment  in  the  said 
Cause ;  but  after  about  Ten  or  Twelve  Years  Delay,  and  a 
vast  Expense  in  the  Cause,  the  said  Case  dropt  without  being 
decided. "f 

About  the  time  of  this  Judgment  and  Appeal,  the  old 
Town  Books,  in  which  the  proceedings  of  the  various  Town- 
Meetings  from  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  for  more  than 
fifty  years,  and  the  various  surveys  ordered  by  vote  of  the 
town,  had  been  regularly  recorded, — to  the  irreparable 
loss  of  the  town-history,  disappeared,  and  have  never  since 
been  recovered.  The  earliest  statement  of  the  loss  is  found 
in  the  initial  entry  of  Town-Book  B.  (which,  happily,  has 
been  preserved),  under  date  of  Aug.  2,  1720,  and  which  is  as 
follows : 

Jf^ltrrcas^  Tho  Books  of  Record,  Belonging  To  The  said  Elizabeth 
Town,  wherein  Tho  Important  affairs  of  Tho  same  Towne  were  Recordecl 
from  The  Begining  Thereof;  have  Been  privately  Taken  Away  from 
him  imto  whose  Caro  and  Custody  They  were  Committed ;  And  Are  not 
Likely  To  be  Again  Obtained :  It  is  now  Therefore,  By  A  free  And 
unanimous  Agreement  of  tho  freehold's  afores"*  Concluded  and  Resolved  ; 

»  E.  Town  Book,  B.  30.    E.  J.  Records,  L.  C4,  70  ;  A.  334. 
t  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  4G,  122.    Ans.  to  Do.,  p.  32. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  309 

Thjit  This  present  Book  Now  Is  And  Shall  Bo  Improved  To  be,  A  book 
of  Records,  for  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  freeholders  of  Elizabeth  Town 
Aforcs'*,  And  for  no  Other  use  whatsoever.* 

At  a  later  date,  July  30,  1734, 

Samuel  Whitehead  Being  Duly  Sworn  and  of  full  age  Saith  that  accord- 
ing to  y"  Beest  of  his  memory  (he  Being  for  more  than  Thirty  years  Clark 
of  Eliz"'  Town)  and  having  the  Charge  and  Care  of  y"  Town  Books  of 
Kecords  that  the  Said  Books  of  Eecord  were  priviately  Stollin  and  taken 
away,  Wherein  was  Contained  a  certain  Grant  and  License  to  purchase, 
&c. 

In  a  document,  prepared  with  mncli  care,  and  signed,  'No- 
vember  18,  1729,  by  one  hundred  and  eleven  Associates, 
with  their  seals  affixed,  the  story  of  the  lost  books  is  thus 
recited  : 

But  it  80  hitppenetS^  that  the  s''  Books  wherein  the  s''  Surveys  or 
the  greater  Number  of  them  were  Entred  by  Some  One  or  more  Design- 
ing Person  or  persons  were  Craftily  and  Maliciously  Stole  and  (as  there 
is  no  Small  reason  to  believe)  were  Burnt  or  otherwise  destroy'd,  So 
that  the  benefit  thereby  intended  to  the  parties  aftbres'^  and  their  As>igns 
became  Wholly  ffrustrate  and  Void  ;  Yet  not  so  but  the  like  Good  Eifect 
may  be  hoped  for,  from  something  of  a  Like  Nature  since  the  Original 
Surveys  afFores"*  are  as  Yet  Existing  as  appears  Not  Only  by  the  Oath 
of  the  Officer  who  was  Surveyor,  but  by  divers  Other  concurring  Cir- 
cumstances to  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Parties  aflbres'.t 

In  the  Cliancer}'^  Bill,  Thomas  Clarke,  &c.,  vs.  James  Alex- 
ander, &c.,  1754,  it  is  affirmed  that  the  books  were  taken  out 
of  the  house  of  Samuel  Whitehead,  by  Ilenry  j^forris  and 
Thomas  Gould,  in  1718  or  1719,  at  the  instance  of  those  in 
the  Proprietaries'  interest.:}: 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Proprietors  affirmed,  that  the 
"  Book  pretended  to  be  lost  or  destroyed,"  had  been  con- 
cealed, or  destroyed  by  the  Associates  themselves.  Against 
which,  however,  in  reply,  a  strong  argument  is  presented  by 
the  Associates,  to  show,  for  several  specified  reasons,  that  it 
is  the  height  of  absurdity  to  suppose  that  they  would  destroy 
a  Book  so  essential  to  the  proof  of  their  several  properties. 
They  say:  that  they  "hope  to  prove,  that  this  Book  was 
taken  away  from  the  Custody  of  Samuel  Whitehead,  to  whom 

*  E.  Town  Book,  C.  1,  2,  o.  enJ.  t  E.  T.  Dock,  B.  6,  o.  end ;  3.  J  p.  IC. 


310  THE    HISTORY    OF 

it  was  committed  by  the  People  of  Elizabeth  Town,  to  be 
safely  kept,  by  the  Means  of  one  or  more  Persons,  who 
claimed  Shares  of  Propriety  Eights."  They  say,  "That,  to 
their  great  Disappointment,  the  Town-Book  is  lost ; "  but, 
that  it  was  destroyed  by  "  those  who  claimed  nnder  the  first 
Purchasers  and  Associates,  and  by  or  with  their  consent  and 
Approbation  "  they  "  believe  to  be  utterly  false."  Reference 
is  frequently  made  subsequently  to  these  early  books,  in 
which  the  language  almost  uniformly  used  is, — "  being,  as  is 
supposed,  destroyed  or  conveyed  away;"  showing  a  lurking 
suspicion  that  the  books  were  in  a  place  of  concealment,  and 
intimating  that  possibly  they  might  yet  be  recovered — a 
hope  never  fulfilled.  There  is  no  intimation  anywhere  to  be 
found,  that  they  have  ever  been  seen  since  their  disappear- 
ance in  1718  or  19,  and  not  the  least  prospect  now  of  their 
ever  being  recovered.* 

As  it  was  quite  likely  that  others,  holding  by  Proprietary 
rights,  would  follow  the  example  of  Mr.  Yaughan,  the  Epis- 
copal Missionary,  and  prosecute  their  claims  before  the 
Courts,  the  Associates  determined  to  make  common  cause 
with  the  sufferers,  in  defending  them  against  all  claimants, 
and  legal  procedures.  According!}^,  at  a  town-meeting, 
purporting  to  be  ''a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  and  freehold- 
ers of  Elizabeth  Town,  August  2, 1720,"  the  following  record 
was  made  : 

Item.  By  a,  Unanimous  Vote  of  The  freeholders  aforcs''  It  Is  Agreed 
and  Concludeil,  That  a  Committee  of  seven  men  Be  Chosen  from  Among 
Them,  To  riei>reseiit  Them  and  Every  of  Them  tlie  s'^  freeholders,  In  all 
affairs,  Touching  the  Settlement  of  Their,  and  Every  of  Their  Just  Rights 
&  Properties. 

And  Accordingly,  by  a  Unanimous  Vote  of  the  freeholders  afores**  the 
Day  and  Year  Aboves''  there  was  Chosen  A  Committee  of  Seven  men,  all 
being  of  the  freeholders  Aforos''  whose  Names  are  As  followeth  (viz')  M' 
John  Blanchard,  Cap'  Josepli  Bonnel,  John  Crane,  Joseph  Williams,  Samuel 
Potter,  Nathaniel  Bonnel,  And  Daniel  Sayre ;  To  whom  the  freeholders 
afores''  have  Given  and  Granted,  And  by  these  Presents  Do  Give  and 
Grant,  aill  their  full  Power  And  Authority,  To  Act  and  Do  for  them  And  in 
their  name  and  behalf,  whatsoever  to  them  (or  the  Major  part  of  them  the 

*  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  32.     Ans.  to  Do.,  p.  22.    Town  Book,  B.,  ubique. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  311 

said  Committee,  shall  (by  themselves  or  their  Councill  Learned)  seem 
Mete  and  proper  In  all  things  Touching  the  settlement  of  all,  &  Every  of 
the  snid  freeholders,  In  their  Just  Eights  And  properties,  As  they  and 
Every  of  them  Claim  by  force  of  Grant  and  Purchase,  under  Governour 
Richard  Nicholls.* 

This  seems  to  have  been  the  first  instance  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  Trustees,  or  "  Committee  Men,"  as  they  were  more 
generally  called,  for  the  disposal  of  the  common  lands  of  the 
town,  and  for  the  systematic  and  organized  defence  of  the 
people's  title  to  their  inheritance,  of  which  they  or  their  fa- 
thers had  now  been  in  possession  more  than  fifty  years.  The 
measure  was  wise  and  salutary,  as  well  as  necessary.  It 
served  as  an  etfectual  barrier  to  all  encroachments  from  out- 
siders, and  gave  great  annoyance  to  the  wealthy  and  power- 
ful Board  or  Council  of  Proprietors,  who  found  themselves 
continuUy  checked  and  thwarted  ever  afterward,  by  this  reso- 
lute and  most  efficient  body  of  Committee  Men,  to  whose 
energy  and  efliciency  they  could  not  but  bear  the  most  de- 
cided and  positive  testimony.f 

The  members  of  this  Committee  appear  to  have  served  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  town,  the  term  of  their  holding  ofiice  not 
being  specified.  Changes  were  made,  as  circumstances 
required. 

More  than  nine  years  afterwards,  at  a  numerous  meeting  of 
the  Associates,  full  power  was  again  given  to  the  Town  Com- 
mittee, to  act  in  the  premises,  at  which  time,  Nov.  18, 1729, 
Benjamin  Bond,  Joseph  Woodrufi",  and  John  Harriman  were 
appointed  on  tlie  Committee  in  the  place  of  John  Crane, 
Joseph  Williams,  and  Daniel  Sayre,  the  first  and  tlic  last 
having  deceased. 

The  names  of  the  Associates  present  are  attached,  with 
their  seals,  to  a  paper,  previously  recorded,  of  the  same  date, 
in  which  are  recited  briefly  the  Nature  of  their  Title-Deeds, 
the  Names  of  the  Original  Associates,  and  of  those  of  1G99 
additional,  together  with  a  statement  of  the  Loss  of  the  Town 
Books,  and  an  Agreement  to  allow  the  new  Book  to  be  re- 
garded as  a  Lawful  Record  of  Surveys  and  Conve3'ances. 

♦  Town  Book,  B.,  o.  end.  I.  t  E.  T.  Bill,  47-52.    Ans.  to  Do.,  33 


312 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


OWS 


The  several  subs 

Jonathan  Ogden 
John  WoodrufF 
Jonathan  Dickinson 
Samuel  "Whitehead 
John  Lambert 
John  Ilarriraan 
Eichard  Clarke 
John  megio 
benj  min  AVade 
Robert  "Wade 
Joseph  X  osbourn 
Leonard  milso 
Ephraim  Price 
John  Moriss 
John  Blanchard  Juu' 
Jeremlali  Grain 
Stephen  Ilarriraan 
Simon  Searing 
Jhon  royno 
Peter  Blancliard 
John  X  Bryant 
Benjamin  x  Clarke 
Joseph  •svoodroff 
John  "Wade 
Stephen  Crane 
Joseph  Ludlara 
Joseph  wood  ruffe 
Joseph  X  Morss 
Daniell  Meakcr 
Joseph  Ilalsy 
Henry  Clarke 
John  Willis 
"W'"  Brant 
John  meeker 
Matthew  Connet 
"W""  Broadwell 
Nath :  Bonncl 
Richerd  Miller 

It  is  ratl;er  creditable  to  the  humble  yeomanry  whose 
names  are  here  given,  that  all  of  them,  save  those  that  are 
marked  with  x,  were  able  to  write  tlicir  own  names;  though 


criptious  are  as  foil 

Daniel  Potter 
"William  Strayhearn 
Joseph  willis 
Sam"  miller 
Joseph  "Williams 
George  Ross  Jun' 
Samuel  Potter 
Samuel  x  Serin 
Joseph  Tooker 
Benjamin  Watkins 
Jona"* :  Allen 
John  Ross 
Ichabod  Burnet 
Henry  Connet 
Thomas  x  Baker 
John  Megie  Jn"" 
"William  Clarke 
John  X  Robeson 
Nath"  Hubbel 
Matthias  Iletfield 
Noadiah  Potter 
Robert  "Wade  2'' 
Joseph  Bonnel 
Bcnja  Bond 
John  Tluinipson 
Abraham  Clark 
John  X  Baker 
Joshua  X  Marsh 
Ben  "Woodruff 
Joseph  Megie 
John  Peirson 
Timothy  "Woodruff 
Thomas  "Woodruff 
Caleb  "Woodruff 
Daniel  Ross  Jr 
Moses  Thomson 
Robert  Ogden 


John  Clark 
John  Osborne 
Isaac  orsbon 
hope  carpntr 
David  Dunham 
Andrew  Craige 
John  Crane 
Caleb  Jefferrys 
John  Denman 
Thomas  Price 
Miles  "Williams 
Thomas  x  Akin 
Richard  Lambert 
Joseph  Clark 
Jolm  Atkinson 
Elnathan  Cory 
Jonathan  Crane 
Edward  Gillman 
David  Lambert 
richerd  hall 
Richard  Clark  jn'' 
Josiali  Terrill 
John  lambert  3* 
Joseph  Cory 
Jolm  Shotwell 
Ephraim  Terrill 
John  Terrill 
Samuel  "Woodruf 
Daniel  Williams 
David  X  Jennings 
Jonathan  Dayton 
Jonathan  Whitaker 
James  Colie 
Ezekiel  Sayre 
Benjamin  x  Acarleo 
Thomas  Jefferrys 
Thomas  Chapman* 


*  Town  Book,  B.  1-10. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  313 

it  must  be  admitted  that  the  chirography,  in  most  cases,  is 
capable  of  much  improvement.  The  list  is  ftir  from  complete. 
Other  lists,  a  few  years  later,  show  that  very  many,  who  were 
living  in  the  town  at  this  date,  and  in  full  sympathy  with 
these  subscribers,  are  not  included  in  the  list  of  signatures. 
It  contains,  probably,  only  those  who  were  present  at  the 
town-meeting  and  voted.  The  subscribing  witnesses  were, 
Thomas  Price  and  Thomas  Hill. 

Several  new  names  appear.  Among  them,  and  third  in 
order,  is  the  name  of  the  two  Presbyterian  ministers,  Jonathan 
Dickinson,  of  the  town,  and  Kathaniel  Ilubbell,  of  Westfield, 
among  the  leaders  of  the  party  of  popular  rights,  as  Mr. 
Vaughan,  the  Episcopal  minister,  whose  law-suit  was  still 
pending,  was  of  the  opposing  party.  So  numerous,  too,  was 
the  former  part}^,  it  will  be  observed,  that  their  business  was 
transacted  in  the  name  of  the  town, — at  a  "  town-meetine;," 
and  not  a  meeting  of  the  party. 

An  almost  entire  change  was  made  in  the  membership  of 
the  Committee  of  Seven  Select  Men,  at  the  town-meeting, 
April  4,  1732,  Joseph  Williams,  Joseph  ITalsey,  Jeremiah 
Crane,  Samuel  Miller,  Caleb  Jefferys,  John  Crane,  and 
Joseph  Bonnel,  Esq"",  having  been  then  appointed.* 

Another  litigation  was  commenced  in  1731.  Patrick  Lith- 
gow  had  become  a  claimant,  by  a  Proprietary  right,  to  a 
tract  of  land  west  of  the  Pahway  river,  within  the  bounds 
of  the  town,  that  originally,  Ap.  11, 1682,  had  been  surveyed 
to  Sir  George  and  Philip  Carteret,  and  conveyed  subsequent- 
ly to  Peter  Schuyler.  A  portion  of  the  same  tract,  by  virtue 
of  the  Allotment  of  1699-1700,  and  by  right  of  the  Indian 
purchase  of  1664,  had  come  into  the  possession  of  John 
Robison,  Henry  Clarke,  Andrew  Craige,  Joshua  Marsh  and 
others  of  the  E.  T.  Associates.  Actions  of  Ejectment  were 
brought,  in  the  May  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New 
Jersey,  1731,  against  these  four  occupants.  These  cases 
came  to  trial  at  the  May  Term  of  1731,  and  a  general  verdict 
was  found  by  a  Middlesex  jury,  for  the  defendants : — 
thus,  as  understood  by  the  latter  and  their  friends,  confirm- 

•  Town  Book,  B.  U. 


314  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ing  tlic  validity  of  the  E.  Town  Purcliase  and  the  Nicolls 
Grant.* 

In  order  more  firmly  to  bind  themselves  and  those  who 
purchased  of  them,  to  the  defence  of  their  Titles,  bonds  were 
given  to  [Rev.]  Nathaniel  Hubbell,  John  Crane,  and  Joseph 
Shotwell,  a  Committee  of  Trustees  chosen  for  this  purpose, 
whereby  they  severally  came  under  obligation,  to  pay  (not 
exceeding  the  sum  of  £10,  Proclamation  Money,)  such  sums 
as  should  be  duly  assessed  upon  them  by  the  said  Trustees 
towards  defraying  the  charges  and  expenses  of  maintaining 
and  defending  the  E.  Town  Title,  according  to  the  judgment 
and  discretion  of  the  Committee  of  Seven. f 

Further  to  provide  the  means  of  defraying  these  charges, 
"it  was  agrea*^  and  voted  by  a  Greait  majorility  of  those  In- 
terested "  in  the  Nicolls  Grant,  at  a  town  meeting,  July  1, 
1734,  to  empower  the  seven  select  men,  to  dispose  of 

All  that  Tract  of  Land  or  any  part  or  parcel  Thereof  Begining  at 
Ceder  Brook  where  Essex  Line  Groses  the  said  Brook  and  from  Thence 
Euning  -west  six  miles  and  from  Thence  the  Nearest  Corse  to  the  moun- 
tain from  Thence  as  the  said  mountain  Euns  to  the  hundred  acres  Lots 
former!}'  snrvea''  according  to  the  Town  order  and  agreement  and  from 
Thence  to  the  first  mentioned  place  to  the  said  Ceder  Brook.  (Also) 
To  Dispose  of  what  money,  shall  arise  from  the  Sale  of  The  said  Lands, 
or  any  part  Thereof  for  the  Genoral  Intrust  of  the  said  Associates  and 
freeholders.  In  Defending  Them  or  any  of  Them  In  The  possion  of  Their 
property  or  In  dispossessing  any  That  shall  unjustly  Intrude  upon  any 
part  of  the  aforesaid  purchase  and  Grant.J 

This  tract  was  wholly  in  what  is  now  Somerset  Co.,  and 
included  a  considerable  part  of  the  township  of  Warren, 
with  a  small  part  of  Bridgewater.  In  the  subsequent  pro- 
ceedings connected  with  these  litigations,  this  measure 
was  made  a  matter  of  complaint  against  the  Associates. 
It  was  replied,  that  the  Proprietors,  "  to  defray  and  sup- 
port the  Expense  of  their  Proceedings  and  Law-Suits, 
have  sold  at  public  vendue,  and  among  themselves,  several 
Thousand  Acres  of  Land,"  the  one  following  the  example 
of  tlie  other.§ 

♦  R  T.  Rill,  p.,  47.    Ans.  to  Do.,  p.  33.  t  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.,  llS-9.    Ana.  to  Bo.,  p.  83. 

t  Town  Cook,  B.  8.  §  Ans.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  S3. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  315 

This  controversy,  affecting,  as  it  did,  every  man's  interests, 
was,  for  long  years,  the  all-engrossing  topic  of  thonght  and 
conversation,  in  all  circles,  among  all  classes.  It  came  np  at 
every  town-meeting,  and  was  discussed  in  the  Justices' 
Courts,  and  at  the  Quarter  Sessions.  It  forms,  therefore,  the 
staple  of  the  town-history  for  tliis  period. 

At  a  town-meeting  on  the  second  Tuesday  (11th)  of 
Marcli,  173f,  the  seven  Trustees  were  authorized  to  lay 
out  the  remainder  of  the  common  land  of  the  town,  back 
of  tlie  first  mountain,  into  lots  of  100  acres  each,  to  bo 
divided  by  lot  among  the  Associates ;  and  to  arrange  with 
those  who  had  already  improved  any  portion  of  these  lands ; 
the  money  thus  received  to  be  appropriated  to  tiie  defence 
of  the  people  against  those  claiming  under  proprietary 
titles.* 

It  was  charged  by  the  other  party,  that  the  measure,  then 
discussed  and  adopted,  was  fully  and  effectually  carried  out ; 
that  a  great  number  of  tlie  Proprietary  tenants,  fearing  the 
loss  of  their  improvements,  were  induced  either  to  purchase, 
or  take  leases  of,  the  land  thus  occupied,  from  the  Town 
Trustees.  Nor  was  the  fact  at  all  denied  or  questioned.  Con- 
sequent on  this  conversion  of  title,  an  Action  of  Ejectment 
was  brought,  in  the  August  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
IRew  Jersey,  by  James  Fenn,  holding  by  Proprietary  right 
derived  from  the  three  sons,  (John,  Thomas,  and  Richard), 
of  William  Penn,  against  John  Chambers  and  a  Mr.  Alcorn  ; 
thus  opening  anew  the  litigation  which  had  been  quieted  by 
the  decision  in  the  Schuyler  case,  and  requiring  another  con- 
siderable outlay  to  meet  the  charges  necessary  for  defending 
their  titles.f 

A  town  meeting,  therefore,  was  held,  Sept.  16,  1735,  duly 
convened  by  warrant  from  the  Magistrates,  Joseph  Bonnel 
and  Joseph  Man,  Esq",  at  which  the  seven  Trustees  were  im- 
powered,  to  dispose  of 

A  Certain  Tract  or  Parcell  of  Land  Lying  west  from  a  place  Known 
by  the  name  of  Baskino  Ridge  and  between  the  west  Jersey  lino  not  to 

♦  Town  liook,  B.  4,  5.  t  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  47,  S.    Ans.  to  Do.,  pp.  33,  4. 


31G  THE    UISTORY    OF 

exceed  Eight  Milles  upon  the  East  and  west  lino  and  to  Extend  to  our 
utmost  bounds  upon  the  North  and  south  Lines  Provided  always  That 
the  s'*  Tract  of  Land  be  not  convey'd  and  sold  for  Less  then  two  Thousand 
Pounds  Current  Money  of  New  Jersey  and  so  in  Proportion  for  a  Lesser 
Quantity  of  said  Land  and  it  is  further  agreed  and  Concluded  That 
we  the  said  Associates  and  fireeholders  Do  Reserve  one  Third  part  of 
said  Tr^ct  of  Land  to  ourselves  if  Required  by  said  fireeholders  and 
then  and  In  such  case  to  Deduct  one  Third  part  of  said  Two  Thousand 
Pounds  all  which  money  is  to  be  Iraprov'd  for  the  General  Good  of  s'^ 
fFreeholders.* 

This  tract,  remote  as  it  is  from  the  locality  of  the  original 
settlement,  was  clearly  included  in  the  township  of  Elizabeth- 
Town,  as  defined  by  the  Act  of  1G93,  and  as  clearly  in  the 
land  conveyed  by  the  Indian  purchase  and  the  Xicolls 
patent.  It  embraced  the  northern  half  of  Somerset  County, 
and  a  considerable  part  of  what  is  now  Morris  County.  'N'o 
wonder,  that  the  Proprietors,  astounded  by  this  vigorous 
action  of  the  irrepressible  yeomanry  of  Elizabeth  Town,  should 
speak  of  "  the  Lines  of  their  vast  Pretensions  ;  "  nor  that 
James  Alexander,  the  father  of  "  Lord  Stirling,"  should  write, 
Oct.  1,  1735,  to  Col.  John  Hamilton  [son  of  Gov.  Andrew], 
at  Perth  Amboy,  "  advising  him  to  call  a  meeting  of  the 
Proprietors  of  East  Jersey,  to  devise  measures  to  stop  the 
proceedings  of  the  Elizabetli  Town  people  in  extending  their 
bounds  and  granting  lands."f 

A  large  body  of  land  yet  remained  unappropriated,  lying 
to  the  "West  of  the' surveys  and  allotments  of  1G99-1700,  in- 
cluding what  were  familiarly  known  as  the  First  and  Second 
Mountains,  as  far  as  the  Newark  Line  on  the  North,  with  the 
intervening  Valley  drained  by  Blue  Brook,  the  Eastern  Branch 
of  Cedar  Brook,  on  either  side  of  which  the  village  of  Feltville 
has  since  grown  up ;  and  the  whole  region  watered  by  the 
Passaic  lliver  above  Chatham,  embracing  the  Avhole  of  the 
present  Township  of  New  Providence,  in  Union  County,  and 
the  Southern  parts  of  Chatham  and  Morris  Townships  in 
Morris  County.  Portions  of  the  tract  v/ere  exceedingly  rug- 
ged, and  others  low  and  swampy  ;  but  other  portions,  of  large 
extent,  were  ipiite  productive  and  desirable.     Immigration 

*  K.  T.  Book,  B.  8.  t  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  49.    Analytical  Index,  p.  164. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  317 

had  already  found  its  way  tliitlier,  in  search  of  fruitful  soil, 
healthful  residences,  and  vahiable  mill-sites. 

It  was,  therefore,  deemed  best  to  repeat  the  measure  of 
1699,  and  make  a  further  distribution  of  the  landed  domain 
of  the  town.  A  new  generation,  the  grandchildren  of  the  old 
planters,  had  come  to  years,  and  needed  room  to  plant  and 
build  for  themselves.  A  town-meeting  was  held,  according- 
ly, Nov.  8,  1T3G,  and  measures  were  taken  to  eifect  the  de- 
sired object.  Joseph  Morse  (the  son  of  Joseph,  and  the 
grandson  of  Peter  Morse,  both  deceased)  was  chosen  and 
duly  qualified  as  the  Town  Surveyor ;  and  John  Megie  was 
chosen,  Nov.  14,  1737,  one  of  the  Seven  Men,  in  place  ot 
Samuel  Miller,  whose  growing  infirmities  of  body  unfitted 
him  for  service.* 

The  work  confided  to  the  Seven  Men  and  the  Surveyor 
was  duly  and  faithfully  performed.  The  first  43  lots  were 
surveyed  Dec.  2T-9,  1736  ;  Lots,  44-164,  Nov.  22  to  Dec.  3, 
1737;  the  Additional  Survey,  1-109,  Jan.  17  to  Feb.  22, 
173|-;  and  Corson's  Survey  of  7  Lots,  Jan.  6,  173f.  The 
whole  of  this  large  territory — the  back  country  of  the  town 
— was  regularly  laid  out,  and  divided  into  280  one-hundreu- 
acre  lots  ;  of  all  which  due  report  was  made  at  a  town-meet- 
ing, held,  March  28,  1738,  for  the  distribution,  by  lot,  of  the 
respective  shares  to  which  each  of  the  Associates,  by  their 
heirs  and  assigns,  was  entitled.  The  mode  of  allotment  was 
determined  by  the  following  vote  : 

All  such  persons  as  shall  have  a  first,  second  or  third  Lott  Eight  within 
the  s''  Elizabeth  Town  purchase  and  in  the  first  Division  of  the  Lands  to 
the  Northward  of  the  South  mountain  (Now  to  be  drawn  for)  and  have 
Disposed  of  or  Conveyed  any  such  Right  or  Rights  to  any  person  or  per- 
sons whatsoever  that  he  or  they  to  whom  s'^  Disposal  or  Conveyance  of  s"^ 
first,  second  or  third  Lot  Right  has  first  been  made  or  Conveyed  as 
afores''  may  and  shall  by  virtue  of  this  vote  (as  afores''  first  made  and 
conveyed)  have  the  first  Draugh  of  the  alotment  of  the  Lands  Now^  to  be 
Drawn  for  in  the  Division  of  the  s''  Lands  and  those  that  have  the  second 
Conveyance  shall  have  the  second  Lot  and  so  on  as  aforesaid. t 

*  E.  Town  Book,  B.  IC,  17. 

t  This  latter  Survey  included  the  greater  part  of  the  Passaic  Valley,  South  of  Chatham; 
occupied  at  the  present  day,  to  a  greatextent,  by  descendants  of  these  first  occupants;  of  whom 
extended  notices  are  given  by  John  LittcU,  in  bis  "Genealogies  of  the  First  Settlers  of  Pas- 


318  TOE    HISTORY    OF 

Joseph  Williams  liaviug  died,  and  Jeremiah  Crane  by  rea- 
son of  age  having  become  infirm,  Messrs.  Jonathan  Dayton 
and  John  Ogden  were  chosen,  Mar.  13,  1T3|,  Committee 
men  in  their  place. 

The  new  allotments  gave  occasion  for  renewed  litigation 
with  the  Proprietors,  and  their  Assigns.  Daniel  Cooper  held 
a  Propi'ietary  claim  to  a  portion  of  the  lands  thus  surveyed 
and  allotted.  An  action  of  Trespass  was,  therefore,  brought, 
in  his  name,  "  against  Joseph  Moss,  John  Crane,  John  Den- 
nan,  John  Scudder,  John  Terril,  Samuel  Norris,  sen.  and 
Samuel  Norris,  jun.,  the  then  Committee  or  Managers  for 
the  said  Clinker  Lot  Right  Men."  So  they  were  styled  in 
the  bill;  but  erroneously,  as  only  one  of  the  number,  John 
Crane,  belonged  to  the  Committee.  The  Cause  came  on  for 
a  hearing  in  the  May  Term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  1738,  and 
the  defendants  pleading —  "  Not  Guilty  " — it  was  deferred 
for  proof.* 

James  Logan,  also,  about  the  same  time,  holding  by  a  Pro- 
prietary claim,  brought  sundry  actions  of  Trespass  and  Eject- 
ment against  a  number  of  his  tenants,  in  the  Western  part  of 
the  Elizabeth  Town  purchase,  who  had,  also,  bought,  or 
taken  leases,  of  the  Town  Committee.  Similar  actions  were 
brought  in  the  August  Term  of  1738,  against  Benjamin  Man- 
ning and  Wright  Skinner,  in  the  name  of  Daniel  Axtell,  de- 
ceased. In  respect  to  one  of  these  actions,  the  following 
record  was  made,  in  the  Town  Book,  of  the  proceedings  of  a 
town-meeting,  hold,  Juno  IS,  1739  : — 

Agreed  and  Concluded,  that  m''  John  Blanchard  mr  Eduard  Sale  mr 
Jonathan  alien  mr  wilHam  miller  and  mr  thomas  Clark  are  to  cullcct 
money  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  purchase  of  Elizabeth  town  for  Defray- 
ing the  Charges  in  Rnning  out  the  said  purchase  By  a  Jury  of  Eevieue  In 
an  action  Depending  Between  James  Logan  plantilf  and  Joseph  manning 
Defendant  and  a  rule  of  Court  niade'for  y"  same.  (Also),  mr  John  Crain 
and  m''  Junaihnn  Dayton  arc  Impowerod  to  Receiuc  the  money  cullccted 
By  mr  John  Blanchard  mr  Eduard  Sale  mr  Jonathan  alien  mr  william 
miller  or  thomas  Clark  and  Dispose  of  the  same  in  Defraying  the  Charges 
of  Euning  out  the  s'  purchase  to  the  Jury  of  Rovieue  or  any  other  Charges 

Bnlc  Valley,  (and  Vicinity,)  nbovo  Chatham— witli  their  Ancestors  and  Descendants,  as  far  as 
can  now  bo  ascertained.  1S51."      K.  T.  Look,  B.  16,  o.  e.      E.  Town  Book  of  Surveys,  C.  1-60. 
♦  E.  Town  liiil,  pp.  49,  50.    Ans.  to  Do.,  pp.  SI,  5. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  319 

which  they  the  s**  m' John  Craui  or  mr  Jonathan  Dayton  shall  think 
Necessary  in  tliat  affair. 

As  Logan's  claim  was  in  the  extreme  AVest  of  tlie  Pur- 
chase, and  it  was  doubtful  whether  it  was  included  therein, 
the  Court  had  ordered  the  question  of  fact  to  be  determined 
by  a  Jury  of  Review. 

At  the  same  town-meeting,  the  question  of  the  Newai'k 
boundary  line,  also,  came  up  again  for  consideration,  and  it 
was  agreed, 

That  Justice  andrcw  Jolinc  mr  John  Blancharcl  and  mr  Daniel  potter 
are  Impowered  by  the  associates  and  freeholders  aboue  said  to  aGree  with 
the  people  of  Newark  to  settle  and.  ascertain  a  Division  Lioe  Between  the 
Town  of  Newark  and  Elizabeth  town  and  to  take  such  measures  and. 
means  as  to  them  the  s'^  Justice  andrew  Jolinemr  John  Blanchard  and  mr 
Daniel  potter  shall  seem  proper  in  order  to  obtain  the  said  Division  Line 
to  be  Established,  and  to  have  Reasonable  Satisfaction  for  their  service  in 
that  affair. 

The  Newark  people  appointed,  Oct.  24,  1739,  "  Jonathan 
Crane  Esq'r,  Col'i  Josiah  Ogden,  and  Samuel  Farrand  Esq'r. 
a  Committee  to  treat  with  the  People  of  Elizabeth  Town 
about  settling  a  Line  between  the  two  Towns."  " 

Whatever  was  done  in  the  matter,  the  result  was  the  same 
as  on  former  occasions  ;  inasmuch  as  the  line  was  still  unad- 
justed, fifteen  years  later.  It  was  a  large  and  valuable  in- 
heritance that  the  Town  received  from  the  original  I'ur- 
chasers,  but  it  cost  them  a  vast  deal  of  time,  expense,  and  per- 
plexity, to  determine  its  exact  bounds,  and  to  defend  it  against 
all  trespassers.f 

It  was,  probably,  the  difficulty  experienced  in  conducting 
these  delicate  and  intricate  affairs  in  town-meeting,  and  the 
doubtfulness  of  the  authority  claimed,  in  some  instances  by 
the  Committee  men,  or  Trustees,  that  led  the  principal  men 
of  tlie  town  to  seek  an  Incorporation — to  obtain  a  Charter 
by  means  of  which  the}''  could  more  promptly  and  thorougiily 
transact  the  public  business. 

The  time  was  opportune.  New  Jersey,  after  having  been 
for  thirty-five  years  an  appendage  of  the  Province  of  New 

*  E.  Town  Book,  B.  20,  o.  e.    Newark  Town  P^ccords,  p.  134. 
t  Newark  Town  Records,  p.  141. 


320  THE    HISTORY    OF 

York,  mider  a  succession  of  Royal  Governors  residing  in  the 
City  of  ]!^ew  York,  had  at  length,  after  repeated  remonstran- 
ces and  entreaties,  obtained  a  position  independent  of  the 
other  Provinces,  with  one  of  her  own  citizens,  Lev>-is  Morris, 
as  Governor.  His  long  familiarity  with  the  Territory  and 
with  the  people,  as  a  private  citizen  and  in  public  office,  had 
made  him  acquainted  with  the  towns  and  their  need.  Joseph 
Bonnel,  a  ma^  of  commanding  influence  at  home,  had  repre- 
sented the  town  in  Gov.  Morris'  first  Legislature  (1738-39), 
of  which  he  had  been  chosen  Speaker,  from  which  position 
he  had  been  transferred  by  the  Governor  to  the  Bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  having  been  appointed.  May,  1739,  Second 
Judge,  Tlobert  Hunter  Morris  being  Chief  Justice.* 

A  petition,  therefore,  was  prepared,  and  circulated,  praying 
Gov.  Morris  to  procure  from  his  Majesty,  the  King,  a  Charter 
of  Incorporation  for  the  town,  as  a  free  town  or  borough.  It 
was  extensively  signed,  the  first  names  being  in  order  as 
follows :  "  Joseph  Bonnel,  Andrew  Joline,  Thomas  Price, 
John  Ross,  John  Blanchard,  John  Crane,  Thomas  Clark, 
Matthias  Iletfield,  Noadiah  Potter,  John  Halstead,  Kathaniel 
Bonnel,  Samuel  Woodruff,  Samuel  Marsh,  Jonathan  Hamp- 
ton, William  Chetwood,  Edward  Thomas,  and  Cornelius  Het- 
field."  These  were  the  leading  men  of  the  town,  representing 
both  of  the  parties  into  which  it  was  divided,  and  both  of  the 
religious  denominations.  As  Judge  Bonnel's  name  leads  the 
petition,  it  is  quite  likely  that  he  himself  had  prepared  it,  and 
presented  it. 

Tiic  petition  was  favorably  received,  and  a  Charter  granted 
by  his  Majest}',  George  II.,  bearing  date  Feb.  8,  17f  J.  It 
constituted  the  Passaic  River,  from  the  mouth  of  Dead  River 
to  the  Minisink  Crossing,  the  Western  boundary  of  the 
Borough.  The  territory  was  nearly  co-terminous  with  the 
present  Union  County.  On  the  South-west,  however,  it  in- 
cluded nearly  the  whole  of  the  town  of  Warren  in  Somerset 
County.  It  was  to  be  known  "  by  the  name  of  the  Free 
Borough  and  town  of  Elizabeth."  It  appointed  Joseph  Bon- 
nell.  Esq*",  "Mayor  and  Clark  of  the  Market,"  and  Coroner, 

•  Anal.  Index  of  N.  J.  Doemts.,  p.  175. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY  321 

also;  John  Blancliard,  Esq"",  Ilecorder ;  "Andrew  Joline, 
Matthias  Hatfield,  Thomas  Price,  John  Koss,  John  Crane,  & 
Thomas  Clark  Esq'^"  Aldermen;  "I^oadiah  Potter,  John 
Halstead,  Nathaniel  Bonnel,  Samnel  WoodruiF,  Samuel  Marsh 
&  Jonathan  Hampton  Gent.,"  "Assistants  and  Common 
Councill;"  ""William  Chetwood  Esq"","  Sheriff;  Jonathan 
Dajton,  Chamberlain;  Thomas  nill,  Marshall;  "  John  Pad- 
ley,  George  Ross,  Junior,  Daniel  Marsh  &  John  Scudder, 
Assessors  ;  Pobert  Ogden,  John  Odle,  John  Terrill  &  Wil- 
liam Clark,  Collectors ;  James  Townley,  High  Constable ; 
and  Robert  Little,  Nathaniel  Price,  Richard  Harriman,  John 
Looker,  John  Craige,  Daniel  Dunham  to  be  petit  Constables  ; 
Henry  Garthwait,  Cornelius  Hetfield,  John  Radley  Sen^ 
John  Allen,  Ephraim  Marsh  &  Daniel  Day,"  "  Overseers  for 
the  Poor;"  and  "Michael  Ivearnj^,  Esq"","  Common  Clerk, 

It  accorded  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Common  Coun- 
cil all  the  Rights,  Immunities  and  Privileges  usually  granted 
to  bodies  corporate ;  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  ex- 
ceedingly voluminous  Document  itself.* 

Of  the  above-named  officers  of  the  new  Corporation,  An- 
drew Joline  had  been  Collector  for  this  town  from  1734  to 
1Y38,  and  Justice,  as  early  as  1735.  His  death  occurred  not 
later  than  1742.  William  Chetwood  had  been  Sheriff  of  the 
County,  as  early  as  1735,  succeeding  Benjamin  BonnelJ. 
Joseph  Bonnell,  Thomas  Price,  and  Matthias  Hatfield  had 
been  Justices. 

The  town  had,  from  the  first,  been  the  leading  town  in  East 
Jersey.  In  1734,  the  Rates  foi-  Essex  Co.  were  as  follows : 
for  Elizabeth  Town,  £56.  0.  0  :  for  Newark,  £44.  14.  0  :  for 
Acquackanong,  £14.  7.  3.  Agreeably  to  the  action  of  the 
town,  June  18, 1739,  the  Line  was  drawn  separating  Essex 
County  from  Middlesex  and.  Somerset  Counties,  for  which 
the  following  charges  were  paid :  To  Mr.  Joseph  Bonnell, 
"for  procuring  a  Writ  or  Warrant  for  Runing  the  Division 
Line,"  £2.  14.    0. 

To  Wm.  Chetwood,  Sheriff,  for  time  and  Expences,  G.    0.    0. 
To  John  Blanchard,  Surveyor,  "         "  "  2.    2.    0. 

*  Murray's  Nates,  pp.  23-41. 

21 


322  THE    HISTORY    OF 

To  Jonathan  Hampton,  Surveyor,  for  time  and 

Expences,  £2.    0.    0. 

To  John  Crane,  for  time  and  Expences,  1.    8.    0. 

To  Nathaniel  Bonnel,    "              "  1.  19.  10. 

To  Daniel  Potter,           "              "  1.    6.    0. 

February  27,  17II-."  ^^^*    ^- '^^* 

During  the  first  sixty  years  of  the  settlement  the  newspa- 
per was  unknown.  Information  of  current  events  at  home 
and  abroad  was  received  by  correspondence,  or  oral  commu- 
nication. The  gathering  at  the  "  meeting-house,"  on  the 
Lord's  Day,  was  the  principal  occasion  for  the  diffusion  of 
intelligence,  whether  of  domestic  occurrences,  or  of  provin- 
cial and  foreign  events.  Advertisements  were  posted  at  the 
doors  of  the  meeting-house,  where  all  could  read  them.  The 
Boston  "  News-Letter,"  a  half-sheet  of  paper,  12  by  8  inches, 
was  started,  April  24,  1704  ;  but  it  is  scarcely  probable,  that 
it  circulated  here.  Possibly  a  single  copy  may  have  found 
its  w'ay  hither  occasionally.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the 
"  Boston  Gazette,"  commenced  at  the  close  of  1719,  and  of 
the  "  New  England  Courant,"  commenced  at  Boston,  Aug. 
17, 1721.t 

"  The  New  York  Gazette  "  was  introduced  to  the  public 
by  Wm.  Bradford,  Oct  16,  1725,  being  the  first  Weekly  Pa- 
per established  in  the  City  of  New  York.  Though  a  dimin- 
utive affair,  the  event  was  of  no  small  importance.  This 
humble  periodical  brought  the  people  of  the  city  and  neigh- 
boring towns,  into  a  familiar  and  accurate  acquaintance  with 
passing  occurrences  of  greatest  interest,  and  was  made,  also, 
the  vehicle  of  communicating  one  with  another.  The  Ad- 
vertisements were  few  and  brief,  and  the  News-items  exceed- 
ingly meagre.  But  occasionally  a  paragra])h  appears  shed- 
ding light  on  the  social  and  commercial  interests  and  history 
of  this  town.  The  earliest  notices  of  the  kind,  now  to  be 
found,  are  woi'thy  of  a  place  in  these  pages.  The  very  first 
is  connected  with  tlie  institution  of  Domestic  Slavery,  now, 
by  tlie  good  providence  of  God,  brought  to  a  perpetual  end : — 

•  E^sox  Co.  Jiisttces'  Account  Book. 

t  BuckiDgbam's  Specimens  of  Newsp.-iper  Liteiaturc,  I.  4,  44,  9. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  323 

Eua  away  from  Solomon  Bates  of  Elizabeth  Town,  a  Negroe  Man, 
called  Clause,  aged  about  27  years  old,  has  got  with  him  a  Horaspun 
Coat  of  Linen  and  Wool,  with  Brass  Buttons,  an  Ozenbrig  Vest  with 
black  Buttons  and  Button-holes,  and  an  old  striped  Vest,  Leather  Breeches, 
new  Homespun  Wosted  Stockings,  black  Shoes  with  Buckles ;  he  has  a 
Hat  and  Cap,  and  he  can  play  upon  the  Fiddle,  and  speaks  English  and 
Dutch.  Whoever  can  take  up  the  said  Negro,  and  bring  him  to  his  said 
Master,  or  secure  him  and  give  Notice,  so  that  his  Master  can  have 
him  again,  shall  have  reasonable  Satisfaction,  besides  all  reasonable 
Charges.* 

Mr.  Bates'  name  first  occurs,  Nov.  9,  1714,  in  the  old 
"  Record  of  Ear  Marks  for  Elizabeth  Town  ; "  but  he  seems 
to  have  had  no  connection  with  the  Associates.  His  name 
occurs,  also,  in  "  the  Morristown  Bill  of  Mortality,"  p.  13, 
as  having  died  of  old  age  (100)  November,  1771.  His  widow 
died,  also  of  old  age,  March  18,  1787,  97  years  old.  They 
must  have  removed  to  Morristown  at  an  early  day.  Claus, 
or  Nicholas,  formerly  belonged  to  Daniel  Badgley.  He  was 
arrested  and  restored  to  his  master.  But  he  had  a  persistent 
propensity  to  have  his  own  way ;  and,  less  than  two  years 
afterwards.  Mr.  Bates  complains  that  he  had  taken  himself 
away  again,  and,  this  time, — 

.  He  has  taken  with  him  a  grey  Homespun  Drugget  Coat  trim'd  with- 
Black,  a  white  linnen  Vest  trhn'd  with  black,  and  a  homespun  Kearsay 
Vest,  a  Pair  of  Leather  Breeches,  with  rod  Puifs  and  Shoes  and  Stock- 
ings.t 

"  Mr.  Benjamin  Price,  Attornc}^  at  Law  in  New  York,"' 
has  for  sale  a  House  and  Lot  in  New  Brunswick.     Mr.  Price 
was  a  grandson  of  one  of  the  Associates  and  bore  his  name.:}: 

The  public  are  informed  that 

there  is  good  Entertainment  for  Men  and  Horses  and  Horses  to  bo 
Let  at  all  Times  by  William  Donaldson  at  the  Kose  and  Crown  in  Eliza- 
beth Town,  New  Jersey.§ 

The  House,  Stable  and  Garden  of  Benjamin  Hill  in  Elizabeth-Town  in 
New  Jersey,  is  to  bo  Let  from  year  to  year,  or  for  a  term  of  years.  It  is 
a  very  convenient  place  for  a  Trades-man  or  a  Shop-keeper.  || 

At  the  Sign  of  the  Ship  in  Eliz.ibeth-Town  lives  Benjamin  Hill,  who 
keeps  Horses  to  Let,  and  where  all  Travellers  and  others  may  be  accom- 

♦  N.  T.  Gazette,  June  1,  1730.  t  lb.,  May  8, 1732.  J  lb.,  July  20,  1730. 

5  lb.,  Oct.  16, 1732.  5  lb.,  Mar.  25,  1734. 


321-  THE    HISTORY    OF 

modatcd  with  good  Entertainment  for  Man  and  Horse  at  all  Times  in  the 
"White  House  which  Mr.  Schuyler  bought  of  Mr.  Townley.* 

This  was  the  house  built  by  Gov.  Carteret  shortly  before 
his  death,  of  which  Col.  Townley  became  possessed  by  marry- 
ing the  Governor's  widow. 

On  "Wednesday  the  23  of  April  next  at  the  Paper  Mill  in  Elizabeth- 
Town,  there  will  he  Sold  at  Public  "Vendue  to  the  highest  Bidder,  all 
sorts  of  Household  Goods,  Cattle,  Horses,  Hogs,  Cart,  Plows,  Harrows 
with  Iron  Teeth,  and  other  Utensils :  The  Plantation  adjoyiiing  to  the 
said  Mill  will  also  be  sold,  which  contains  about  Ninety  Acres,  &c.t 

It  was  at  this  Mill  that  the  Paper  was  made,  on  which  the 
Gazette  was  printed.  It  is  not  known  by  whom  the  Mill  was 
built ;  but,  in  1728,  it  was  purchased  by  William  Bradford, 
of  New  York,  who,  in  1Y30-1,  was  a  resident  of  the  town. 
His  son,  Andrew,  was,  at  the  same  period,  printing  the 
"  American  Weekly  Mercury."  The  father  and  son  had 
quite  a  monopoly  of  government  printing,  and  needed  a  mill 
•independent  of  the  foreign  manufacturers.  This  was  the 
first  paper  mill  in  New  Jersey.:}: 

To  bo  Sold  at  Publick  Vendue,  on  Tuesday  the  2Gth  of  August  instant, 
at  Elizabeth-Town  in  New  Jersey,  a  Grist  Mill  and  fulling  Mill,  also  a 
Lot  of  Ground,  adjoyning  to  the  Dwelling  House  of  Edward  Thomas,  in 
the  said  Town,  very  convenient  for  a  dwelling  house  and  Garden,  and 
near  the  said  Mill,  as  also  sundry  Household  Good.  All  which  were  lately 
belonging  to  "Wm  "Williamson  late  of  said  Town,  deceased,  and  power  of 
Selling  the  same  given  by  his  last  "Will  to  Margaret  Williamson  his  "Wid- 
dow  Now  living  at  Elizabeth  Town  aforesaid.  § 

This  was  the  old  Mill  that  was  still  standing,  until  within 
a  few  years,  at  the  stone  bridge  in  Broad  street, — originally 
constructed  b}'-  the  pioneer  John  Ogden, — the  last  vestiges  of 
which  have  now  disappeared  before  the  march  of  modern 
improvement. 

In  the  Month  of  December  last  an  Apprentice  Lad  named  Abraham 
Hendricks  ran  i^ay  from  his  Master  John  Ross  of  Elizabeth  Town  New- 
Jersey  ;  said  Lad  is  about  Years  of  Age,  was  of  small  Stature,  had  a 
brown  great  Coat  and  a  Linsey  "Wosley  under        a  Beaver  Hat  half  worn 

*  N.  Y.  Gazottp,  Mar.  81,  1735.  t  lb.,  Ap.  7, 1735.   , 

$  HlstoricalMngftzino,  I.  86, 123;  111.173;  VII.  210. 
.      5  N.  Y.  Gazette,  Aug.  25, 1735. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  325 

having  liglit  colored  hair  and  took  a  set  of  Shoemakers  Tools  along  with 
him,  being  a  Shoemaker  by  Trade.  (A  Reward  of  SOs.  and  charges  of- 
fered.)* 

Mr.  Ross  was  named,  in  the  Borongli  Charter,  one  of  the 
Aldermen  of  the  Corporation,  and  became,  in  1748,  Mayor 
of  the  Borough.  Hendricks  was,  probably,  the  brother  of 
Isaac,  and  the  son  of  Jonn  Hendricks,  who  came  here  as 
early  as  May,  1Y21,  from  Piscataway,  where  Daniel  and 
Jabez  Hendricks,  brothers,  and  Leonard  Hendricks  were 
numbered  among  the  original  settlers.  Abraham  returned, 
and  his  name  is  found  among  a  large  number  of  citizens, 
attached  to  a  Memorial  forwarded  in  1743  to  the  King, 
George  H. 

These  are  to  desire  all  Persons  not  to  Trade  with  nor  Trust  my  Wife 
Hannah  Tunis  on  my  Account,  for  I  will  not  pay  any  Debts  that  she  shall 
contract.  Peter  Tunis.t 

This  is  the  first  occurrence  of  the  name  in  the  Records,  or 
Chronicles  of  the  Town.  The  family  were  early  found  among 
the  Dutch  in  New  York. 

We  have  an  Account  also  that  two  Boys,  the  sons  of  Matthias  Ilat- 
field  of  Elizabeth  Town  in  New  Jersey,  being  in  the  Woods  hunted  a 
Rabbit  into  a  hollow  Tree,  and  in  order  to  get  it  cut  down  the  Tree, 
which  fell  upon  the  younger  Brother  and  killed  him  dead  on  the  Spot.| 

Mr.  Hatfield  was  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  town,  be- 
came High  Sheriff  and  Alderman,  and,  by  his  daughter 
Pliebe,  wife  of  Robert  Ogden,  Esq.,  was  the  grandfather  of 
Gen.  Matthias  and  Gov.  Aaron  Ogden,  and  an  ancestor  of 
Gov.  Daniel  Haines. 

♦  N.  Y.  Gazette,  Ang.  25, 1735.  +  lb.,  Sop.  20,  1735.  :  lb.,  Jan.  13, 173|. 


326  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    XY. 

A.D.  1'70S-1747. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev,  Jona.  Dickinsoa  —  Parentage,  Education,  Marriage,  and 
Ordination  —  His  Parish  and  Salary  —  Joins  the  Presbytery,  Episcopal  Con- 
troversy, Westfield  Clih.  —  "Adopting  Act"  of  1729  —  Practices  Medicine 

—  His  "  Reasonableness  of  Christianity  "  —  Presbytery  of  E.  Jersey  —  Elders 

—  Case  of  Hemphill  —  Another  Episcopal  Controversy  —  New  Providence  Chh. 

—  Presbytery  of  N.  York  —  Whitefield  at  E.  T.  —  Dickinson's  "Witness  of 
the  Spirit."  —  Revival  of  1740  —  Dickinson's  "Five  Points"  —  His  "Display 
of  Special  Grace"  —  Controversy  on  Regeneration  —  EQs  " Familiar  Letters." 

—  Old  Side  and  Ncvr  Side  Controversy  —  Division  of  the  Synod  —  Efforts  to 
Christianize  the  Indians — David  Brainerd  —  Death  of  Mrs.  Dickinson  —  His 
Second  Marriage  —  Another  Episcopal  Controversy  —  College  of  New  Jersey 
— Dickinson,  its  first  President  —  His  Death  and  Character  —  His  Family. 

The  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  retirement  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Melyen  from  the  pulpit  of  tlie  Independent  Church, 
was  lilled,  shortly  after,  hy  the  Ordhiation  and  Installation 
of  the 

REV.  JONATHAN  DICKINSON. 

He  was  the  son  of  Hezekiah,  and  grandson  of  Nathaniel 
Dickinson.  His  grandfather  was  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Wethersfield,  Ct.,  and  emigrated  thence,  in  1659,  to 
Hadley,  Mass.  His  son,  Hezekiah,  was  born  at  Wethers- 
field, Feb.,  164|,  became  a  merchant,  and  resided  successive- 
ly in  Stratford,  Ct.,  and  Hatfield,  Hadley  and  Springfield, 
Mass.  He  married,  at  Stratford,  December  4,  1679, 
Abigail,  born  Nov.  11,  1663,  daughter  of  Samuel,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Rev.  Adam,  Bhickman,  [Bhikcman],  the  first 
minister  of  Stratford,  Ct.,  and  a  graduate  of  the  University 
of  Oxford.* 

•  Savage's  Gen.  Diet.,  I.  195.  II.  47.  Ilioman's  Pur.  Settlors  of  Ct.,  1.  244.  Goodwin's 
•Ocnealog.  Notes,  pp.  6,  7, 123. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  327 

>  Jonathan  was  the  second  child  of  these  worthy  parents. 
He  was  born,  April  22,  1688,  at  Hatfield,  Mass.,  removed  to 
Hadlej,  in  1G90,  and  to  Springfield,  in  1095,  where  he  spent 
the  most  of  his  youth.  Possibly,  a  portion  of  his  younger 
days  may  have  been  passed  at  his  grandfather  Blackman's, 
in  Stratford.  The  worthy  minister  of  Stratford,  Kev.  Israel 
Chauncy,  was  one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Yale  College, 
which  went  into  operation  in  1702.  Through  his  influence 
it  was,  probably,  that  young  Dickinson,  entered  the  new 
college  the  same  year,  and  was  received  into  the  family  of 
the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  of  Killingworth,  Ct.,  the  first 
President,  at  whose  house  the.  students  received  instruction 
until  his  death  in  1707.  His  tutor  for  three  years,  (1703- 
1706),  was  John  Hart,  subsequently  the  minister  of  East 
Guilford,  Ct.  He  graduated  in  1706.  His  classmates  were 
Jared  Eliot  (Mr.  Pierson's  successor  in  the  ministry  at  Kill- 
ingworth, and  highly  celebrated  as  a  physician  as  well  as  a 
divine),  and  Timothy  "Woodbridge,  minister  of  Simsbury,  Ct., 
from  1712  to  1742.* 

Shortly  after  he  left  College,  his  father  died,  (June  14, 
1707),  and  his  mother  married,  January  21,  170|,  Thomas 
Ingersoll,  of  Springfield,  Mass.  With  whom  young  Dickin- 
son studied  theology,  and  by  whoi'fl  he  was  licensed  to  preach, 
no  record  informs  us.  While  in  College,  at  Killingworth,  he 
may  frequently  have  extended  his  visits  to  Guilford,  the  next 
town  on  the  West,  and  there,  among  the  Hubbards  and  Fow- 
lers, have  met  and  courted  their  cousin,  Joanna  Mch^en, 
the  daughter  of  Jacob,  and  the  sister  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Melyen.  He  may  thus  have  had  his  attention  directed  to 
the  vacant  pulpit  in  this  town  ;  or  the  people  here  may  have 
been  tlius  directed  to  him.  Mr.  Pierson,  too,  who  had,  for 
more  than  20  years,  been  the  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Newark, 
and  familiar  with  this  whole  region,  may,  at  or  soon  after  his 
graduation,  (for  Mr.  Pierson  died,  March  17,  ITOf),  liave 
advised  him  to  go  to  East  Jersey.f 

He  was  in  his  twenty-first  year,  a  mere  stripling,  when  he 

•  TrumbnU's  Conn.,  I.  501.     Baldwin's  Talc  Coll.,  pp.  lS-22.     Ynlo  Col.  Triennial, 
t  Chapin's  Glastenbury,  p.  172. 


328  THE    HISTORY    OF 

came  hither  in  1708.  His  marriage  to  Miss  Melyen  must  t 
have  taken  pLice  as  early  as  March,  1709,  the  birth  of  his 
first  child  being  thus  recorded  in  his  Family  Bible :  "  Our 
son  Melyen  was  born  December  7,  1709."  Ilis  wife  was 
more  than  four  years  his  senior,  having  been  born  in  1G83. 
His  ministry  proved  so  acceptable,  that  measures  were  soon 
taken  for  his  ortlination  as  Pastor.  The  ministers  of  Fair- 
field County,  who  had  just  become  consociated,  according  to 
the  Saybrook  Platform  of  Sept.  9,  1708,  were  invited  to  per- 
form the  services  on  that  occasion.  These  ministers  were 
John  Davenport  of  Stamford,  Stephen  Buckingham,  of  ISTor- 
walk,  Jose])h  Webb  of  Fairfield,  and  Israel  Chauncy  of 
Stratford.  These,  with  "Messengers"  from  the  several 
Churches,  constituted  the  ordaining  Council,  together  with, 
probably,  the  Pev.  ISTathaniel  AVade  with  a  Messenger  from 
the  Church  of  Woodbridge ;  and  the  Pev.  Nathaniel  Bowers 
with  a  Messenger  from  the  Church  of  Newark.  The  Pev. 
Joseph  Morgan  had  just  left  Greenwich,  Ct.,  and  been  in- 
stalled at  Freehold,  N.  J.  He,  too,  was  invited,  and  it  had 
been  arranged  that  he  should  preach  the  sermon.  The 
ordination  took  place,  on  Friday,  Sept.  29,  1709.  Mr. 
Morgan  preached,  from  Mark  xvi :  16, — "Go ye  into  all  the 
world,"  &c.  The  discourse  was  printed,  by  W.  &  A.  Brad- 
ford, at  New  York,  in  1712,  and  a  copy  of  it  is  preserved  in 
the  Library  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society  at  Hartford. 
The  theme  of  the  sermon  was,  "The  Great  Concernment  of 
Gospel  Ordinances,  manifested  from  the  great  eff'ects  of  im- 
proving or  neglecting  them."  It  was  probabl}'  abbreviated 
in  the  delivery,  as  "one  of  the  ministers  frequently  desired 
him  to  be  brief,  on  account  of  the  shortness  of  the  day  and 
the  greatness  of  the  work  in  hand."  He  urges  the  duty  of 
thorough  preparation  for  the  pulpit,  by  the  adage  "  A  tow 
lace  ill  beseems  a  silk  garment."  - 

It  was  an  extensive  field  of  labor,  M-ith  the  cultivation  of 
which  young  Dickinson  was  thus  entrusted.  The  town  had 
been  spreading  itself  in  every  direction.     It  included,  in 

♦  Webster's  His.  of  the  Presb.  Chh.  in  Am.,  pp.  858-61;  Spraguo'a  Anna)3,  III.  14-18. 
Trumluirs  Conn.,  I.  501,  2,  9, 15,  23. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  329 

« addition  to  the  main  settlement  along  the  Creek,  the  neigh- 
borhoods of  Woodruff's  Farms,  Lyon's  Farms,  Connecticut 
Farms,  "Williams'  Farms,  a  considerable  population  on  both 
sides  of  the  npper  Rahway  river,  and  a  large  settlement  on 
the  North  of  the  Eiver,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Woodbridge 
road.  A  few  scattered  habitations  were  found  in  the  present 
town  of  Westfield,  and  at  the  Scotch  Plains.  Neither  church 
nor  minister  was  yet  to  be  found  in  the  regions  beyond 
towards  the  setting  sun.  It  was  the  extreme  border  of 
civilization.  An  Episcopal  Church,  as  already  related,  had 
been  organized  within  these  bounds,  but  its  numbers  were 
yet  inconsiderable,  and  its  pulpit  was  not  yet  supplied.  Mr, 
Vanghan  had  been  appointed  to  the  place,  but  had  not 
arrived.  It  was  a  weighty  charge  to  be  laid  on  such  youth- 
ful shoulders.  And  yet  not  too  weighty,  as  the  sequel 
proved.  Quietly  and  diligently  he  applied  himself  to  his 
work,  and  his  profiting  presently  appeared  to  all.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  took  rank  among  the  first  of  his  profession."- 

The  only  information  thus  far  obtained  in  regard  to  his 
compensation  is  contained  in  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Halliday,  Episcopal  Missionary,  dated,  "  Elizabeth  Town, 
8th  Nov.,  171G  :— 

In  this  part  of  East-Jersey  tliere  are  three  large  Townships,  Newark, 
Elizabeth  Town  and  Woodbridge  which  consist  of  upwards  of  a  thousand 
families  the  chief  settlers  of  which  were  Now  England  Independents,  who 
are  now  old  and  confirmed  in  their  erroneous  way.  In  each  of  those 
towns  there  is  a  large  Independent  Congregation  who  support  their 
preachers  with  the  allowance  of  £80  per  annum  besides  House,  Glebe, 
and  perquisites  of  Marriages.t 

Very  brief  notices  only  remain  of  the  first  few  years  of  his 
ministry.  He  took  part,  as  a  corresponding  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  Oct.  20,  1715,  in  the  ordination 
of  Robert  Orr,  at  Maidenhead,  now  Lawrenceville,  N.  J.  It 
was,  doubtless,  through  his  influence,  principally,  that  John 
Pierson,  one  year  younger  than  himself,  with  whom  he  had 
been  intimately  associated,  at  the  house  of  his  father,  Rev. 
Abraham  Pierson,  at  Killingworth,  was  introduced  to  the 

•  Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.,  p.  34.  t  Clark's  St.  Jolin's  Chh.,  p. '44. 


330  THE    HISTORY    OF 

people  of  Woodbridge,  and  settled  there.  Dickinson  took 
part  with  Prudden,  Andrews,  Morgan  and  Orr,  April  29, 
1717,  in  this  ordination,  also.'" 

Uitherto  the  chnrch  of  Elizabeth  Town  had  remained  In- 
dependent, retaining  the  forms  and  usages  of  the  New  Eng- 
land churches.  At  the  time  of  tlieir  organization,  no  Pres- 
bytery had  been  formed  in  America.  It  was  not  until  forty 
years  had  passed,  that  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  was 
constituted.  One  after  another,  the  churches  out  of  New 
England  were  becoming  connected  with  it.  The  church  of 
Freehold  had  joined  the  Presbytery  as  early  as  1706  ;  Wood- 
bridge,  and  their  minister,  Nathaniel  "Wade,  in  1710  ;  New- 
town, L.  I.,  and  their  minister,  Samuel  Pumroy,  (a  fellow- 
student  with  Dickinson,  at  Yale,  where,  in  1705,  he  gradu- 
ated), in  1715;  and  Southampton  (with  whom  the  people  of 
this  town  were  so  intimately  connected),  %vitli  their  minister, 
Joseph  Whiting,  and  his  colleague,  Samuel  Gclston,  had  been 
received  in  1716.  Dickinson,  it  may  be  presumed  from  the 
well-known  preferences  of  President  Pierson,  was  not  averse 
to  the  change  from  Independency  to  Presbyterian  ism.  But 
he  was  very  young,  and  needed  first  to  establish  himself  with 
his  people  before  proposing  any  innovations.  They  were 
thorough  Puritans,  and,  as  has  been  abundantly  exhibited  in 
this  narrative,  men  of  spirit.  They  were  slow  to  part  with 
what  tliey  conceived  to  be  their  rights.  Dickinson  was  not 
a  member  of  the  Presbytery  previous  to  September,  1716,  as 
appears  from  the  roll.  It  is  quite  probable  that  he  united 
with  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  at  their  meeting  in 
Woodbridge,  April  29,  1717,  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  John 
Pierson,  on  which  occasion,  he  took  part  in  the  services.f 

At  the  meeting  of  the  newly-constituted  Synod  of  Phila- 
delphia, Sept.  17,  1717,  his  name  is  enrolled  as  the  youngest 
member.  Ilis  church,  also,  either  then  or  very  soon  after, 
put  themselves  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  Sept.  10,  1718,  it  is  noted  in  the  Records,  that 
"  Mr.  Dickinson  delivered  one  pound  twelve  shillings  from 

•  Records  of  tho  Prcsb.  Clih.,  U.  S.  A.,  pp.  41,  8. 
t  Uecords,  P.  Chh.,pp.  T,  IC,  39,  42,  6. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  231 

his  congregation  of  Elizabeth-town,  for  the  fund,  "  for  pious 
uses."  This  was,  undoubtedly,  the  first  contribution  for 
Presbyterian  purposes  ever  made  by  this  congregation. 
From  1719  until  after  1724,  probably  until  1733,  he  was  the 
Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery,  as  appears  from  the  Record 
of  the  Synod  : — "  The  book  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia 
was  not  produced  by  reason  of  Mr.  Dickinson's  absence." 
He  was  "  necessarily  detained  by  his  brother's  sickness." 
His  brother,  Moses,  had  been  settled  at  Hopewell  [Penning- 
ton], in  1717.  He  took  part,  Oct.  22,  1719,  in  the  ordination 
of  Joseph  Webb,  at  Newark,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia. So  rapidly  had  he  risen  in  the  estimation  of  the  Synod, 
that,  when  a  Standing  Commission  was  appointed  in  1720,  he 
was  made  one  of  the  number.* 

For  the  first  time,  the  church  was  represented  in  the  Synod 
of  1721,  by  one  of  their  elders,  Robert  Ogden,  son  of  Deacon 
Jonathan,  and  grandson  of  "  Old  John  Ogden."  Mr.  Dick- 
inson was  chosen  Moderator.  Though  he  had,  in  good  faith, 
adopted  the  Presbyterian  system,  he  could  not  wholly  forego 
that  in  which  he  had  been  trained.  Against  an  overture, 
adopted  by  the  Synod,  which  savored  o.f  the  stricter  and 
more  rigid  system  of  the  old  world,  he,  with  five  other  breth- 
ren of  like  liberal  views, — Webb,  of  Newark,  Pierson,  of 
Woodbridge,  Morgan,  of  Freehold,  and  two  AVelsh  breth- 
ren,— protested.  At  the  opening  of  the  Sjmod,  the  following 
year,  he  preached  the  sermon,  from  2  Tim.  iii.  17;  in  which 
he  took  occasion  to  define  his  views  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdic- 
tion, in  justification  of  his  Protest  of  the  previous  year  :  "  an 
excellent  Sermon,"  says  Foxcroft  of  Boston,  "  where  the  true 
Boundaries  of  Church-Power  are  particularly  considered  and 
set  in  their  pro})cr  Light."  f 

At  this  meeting  he  succeeded,  after  the  subject  had  been 
fully  discussed,  in  so  harmonizing  the  views  of  the  Synod  by 
the  presentation  of  a  paper  on  the  subject,  as  to  carry  their 
unanimous  assent,  and  lead  them  to  a  hearty  giving  of  thanks 

*  lb.,  pp.  46,  51, 4,  62,  Th",  80.    Stearns'  Newark,  p.  122. 

t  Records,  P.  Chh.,  pp.  62,  6,  7, 72.  Webster's  P.  Chh.,  p.  850.  Pre  f.  to  "  Erasonablenesi 
of  Chy."  p.  Ix. 


332  THE    niSTORY    OF 

in  prayer  and  praise,  for  the  composure  of  tlieir  difference." 
In  this  paper,  the  power  of  the  keys  is  accorded  to  the  church 
officers,  and  to  them  only  ;  care  is  taken  to  distinguish  be- 
tween legislative  acts  binding  on  the  conscience,  and  orderly 
regulations  conformed  to  God's  Word ;  and  the  right  of 
appeal  from  the  lower  to  the  higher  court  is  admitted.  Ilis 
sermon  on  this  occasion  was  shortly  after  published,  being 
his  first  appearance  in  print.  The  church  was  represented 
in  the  Synod,  this  year,  by  Elder  Joseph  Woodruff,  whose 
affidavit  relative  to  the  Newark  Boundary  Line  is  recorded 
in  the  Answer  to  the  Elizabeth  Town  Bill  in  Chancery.* 

Mr,  Dickinson  was  also  fully  alive  to  the  zealous  efforts  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Yaughan,  his  townsman,  and  others  of  the 
Episcopal  ministry,  to  extend,  the  influence  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  the  Colonies.  The  defection  of  Timothy  Cutler, 
President,  and  Daniel  Browne,  Tutor  of  Yale  College,  wdth 
Samuel  Johnson,  Minister  of  West  Haven,  Ct.,to  Episcopacy, 
in  the  autumn  of  1Y22,  followed  by  Messrs.  Hart,  Eliot, 
Whittlesey,  and  Wetmore,  shortly  after,  produced  a  profound 
impression  throughout  the  country,  turning  the  attention 
of  the  ministry  and  churches,  both  Congregational  and  Pres- 
byterian, to  what  they  regarded  as  "  the  assumptions  "  of 
Prelacy.  Mr.  Johnson,  having  received  Episcopal  ordina- 
tion, was  appointed  akmissionary  to  Stratford  and  vicinity,  in 
Connecticut, — the  only  Episcopal  minister  in  the  Colony, — 
commencing  his  work  in  November,  1723.  One  of  his  zealous 
parishioners,  shortly  after,  published  a  pamphlet,  entitled, 
"  A  modest  Proof  of  the  Order  and  Government  settled  by 
Christ  and  his  Apostles  in  the  Church."  A  copy  of  this 
pamphlet  came  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Dickinson,  man}^  of 
them,  probably,  being  circulated  in  the  town.  He  imme- 
diately prepared  and  published,  in  1724,  at  Boston,  a  reply  in 
"  Defence  of  Presbyterian  Ordination."  f 

His  antagonist,  wholly  unable  to  cope  with  him  in  argu- 
ment, called  in  the  aid  of  his  minister,  Mr.  Johnson,  by 
whom  he  was  furnished  with  "  a  sketch  of  the  common  argu- 

*  Records,  ut  an  tea. 

t  Si)rague*B  Annals,  V.  51.    Chandler's  Life  of  Johnson,  pp.  20-22,  9,  69. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  333 

ments  in  favour  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Church  "  of  England  ; 
which  the  other  sent  in  his  own  name  to  Mr.  Dickinson. 
This  drew  forth  another  publication  from  the  latter,  in  which 
he  affirmed  that  "  High  Churchism  is  properly  no  more  a 
part  of  the  Church  of  England,  than  a  wen  is  of  the  liuman 
body."  To  this,  also,  Mr.  Johnson  furnished  his  parishioner 
with  a  rejoinder.  "Sometime  after  Mr.  Dickinson  enlarged 
and  printed  his  own  papers  in  this  dispute ;  upon  which  Mr. 
Johnson  thought  proper  to  publish  what  lie  had  written  on 
the  other  side."  * 

The  Records  of  the  Synod,  year  by  year,  give  abundant 
evidence  of  his  interest  and  activity  in  ecclesiastical  matters, 
as,  also,  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  brethren, — 
his  name  appearing  on  almost  every  commission,  to  which 
matters  of  moment  were  referred.  lie  was  appointed,  Sept. 
20,  1723,  to  visit  certain  Memorialists  in  Virginia,  and  preach 
some  Sabbaths  to  them,  within  the  year  following.  It  is  not 
known,  whether  he  went  or  not.  His  rare  and  commanding 
ability  as  a  j^reacher  subjected  him  to  many  invitations  to 
go  abroad  and  be  helpful  to  other  ministers  and  churches.f 

That  portion  of  the  congregation,  who  had  removed  back 
into  the  country,  beyond  the  Kaliway  river,  had,  in  1727, 
become  so  numerous,  and  found  it  so  inconvenient  to  attend 
public  worship  in  the  old  meeting-house,  that  they  began  to 
hold  public  services  among  themselves,  on  the  Lord's  Day, 
and  had  secured  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev.  JSTathaniel 
Ilubbell,  a  portion  of  the  time.  The  Westfield  Church  was 
organized,  probably,  at  a  somewhat  later  date. :{: 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  1727,  it  was  proposed  to 
require  of  every  minister  and  candidate  a  hearty  assent  to 
the  Westminster  Confession  and  Catechisms.  No  action  was 
then  taken.  In  1728,  it  Avas  taken  up,  but  deferred  until  the 
following  year.  Mr.  Dickinson,  "  the  ablest  and  most  influ- 
ential member  of  the  Synod,"  as  Dr.  Ilodge  calls  him,  at  once 
took  ground  against  the  proposition.  His  constitutional  love  of 

*  Chandler's  Lifoof  Jolinson,  p.  70. 

t  Records,  P.  Clih..  ji.  74. 

:  lb.,  pp.  83,  6.    Webster's  P.  Chh.,  p.  3S0.    HuiUting's  His.  Sermon,  pp.  10,  13. 


334  THE    HISTORY    OF 

liberty,  and  his  fear  of  any  infringement  of  the  rights  of  tlie 
ministr}'',  led  him  to  oppose  the  measure,  and  present  his 
reasons  for  rejecting  it.  The  overture  had  been  printed.  A 
response  to  it  from  the  pen  of  Dickinson  -was  also  printed,  by 
Zenger,  at  New  York,  a  copy  of  which  is  found  in  the  old 
South  Church  Library,  Boston.  It  is  dated,  April  10,  1Y29, 
and  sliows,  that,  while  he  himself  cordially  accepted  these 
Symbols  of  Faith,  he  was  opposed  to  all  imposition  of  creeds 
of  human  composure.  Having  been  placed  on  the  Commit- 
tee to  whom  the  proposition  was  referred,  he  succeeded  in 
modifj^ing  it  to  such  an  extent,  as  to  unite  the  whole  Synod, 
with  thanksgiving  to  God,  in  the  support  and  adoption  of  the 
measure,  thenceforward  known  as,  "  the  Adopting  Act^  * 

It  will  be  remembered  that  only  a  few  weeks  later,  Mr. 
Dickinson  subscribed,  at  home,  a  paper  designed  to  unite 
more  closely  and  effectively  his  townsmen  in  their  opposition 
to  the  pretensions  of  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors.  Having 
cast  in  his  lot  with  his  people  in  defence  of  their  homesteads, 
he  proved  himself,  in  that  controversy,  as  in  the  Synod,  an 
invaluable  counselor  and  organizer  in  defence  of  popular 
rights.  In  all  the  straits  and  trials,  growing  out  of  the  liti- 
gations with  which  they  were  disturbed,  he  ever  stood  with 
them,  and  never  shrunk  from  any  responsibilities  thus  de- 
volved upon  him.  He  endeared  himself  to  his  congregation, 
not  only  by  his  admirable  pastoral  qualifications,  lully  ex- 
emplified in  all  his  intercourse  with  them,  but  by  attention 
to  their  bodily  maladies.  He  gave  himself  to  the  study  of 
medicine  as  well  as  of  divinit}^  and  acquired  a  high  repu- 
tation as  a  physician.  In  Zenger's  Weekly  Journal,  Feb.  16, 
173f ,  will  be  found  a  communication  from  his  pen,  descrip- 
tive of  "  the  Throat  Distemper  "  (at  that  time  prevailing 
fearfully  and  fatally  in  these  parts),  and  proposing  what  he 
regarded  as  an  effectual  remedy.f 

The  period  in  which,  he  served  the  Cliurch  was  noted  for 
the  prevalence  of  scepticism.  The  writings  of  Ilobbcs, 
Blount,  Toland,  Shaftesbury,  Collins,  Woolston,  "Wollaston, 

•  Records,  pp.  89,  01,  2,  3.    Hodge's  V.  Chh.,  I.  1G2-178.    Webster's  P.  Chh.,  pp.  103-8. 
t  E.  Town  Book,  B.  4,  A  pp.  to  Green's  Discourses,  p.  297.    Christian  Advocate,  X.  62. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  335 

Tindal,  and  Chubb,  the  modern  apostles  of  Deism,  had*  ob- 
tained a  wide  circulation,  and  were  greedily  devoured.  It 
was  fashionable  to  decry  both  Ins)3iration  and  Kevelation. 
Men  gloried  in  "  the  Religion  of  Nature,"  and  decried  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  the  CImrch,  and  the  Christian.  Reason  was 
deified  and  Christ  dethroned.  The  tendencies  of  the  ])ulpit 
were  towards  a  low  Arminianism — latitudinarianism  in  doc- 
trine and  practice.* 

Mr.  Dickinson  set  himself  to  breast  and  beat  back  the 
waves  of  error.  lie  prepared  and  preached  to  his  people,  a 
short  series  of  discourses,  which,  soon  after,  were  printed  in 
a  convenient  manual  edition,  with  the  following  title : 

The  Reasonableness  of  Christianity,  ia  Four  Sermons,  "Wherein  The 
Being  and  Attributes  of  God,  the  Apostacy  of  Man,  and  the  Credil)ility 
of  the  Christian  Religion,  are  demonstrated  by  rational  Considerations. 
And  the  Divine  Mission  of  our  blessed  Saviour  prov'd  by  Scripture-Ar- 
guments, both  from  the  Old  Testament  and  the  New ;  and  vindicated 
against  the  most  important  Objections,  whether  of  ancient  or  modern  In- 
fidels. By  Jonathan  Dickinson,  M.  A.  Minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Elizabeth- 
Tovvn,  N.  Jersey.  Cum  dilectione  fides  Christiani :  Sine  dilectione  fides 
daemonum :  Qui  autem  non  credunt,  pejores  sunt  quam  daemones. — 
Aug.  de  charit.  With  a  Preface  by  Mr.  Foxcroft.  Boston-  N.  E. 
Printed  by  S.  Kneeland  and  T.  Green,  for  Samuel  Gerrish  at  the  lower 
end  of  Oornhill.  MDCCXXXII. 

The  author  is  thus  introduced  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Fox- 
croft, of  Boston  : — 

The  reverend  and  learned  Author  of  the  ensuing  Discourses  needs  not 
any  Epistles  of  Commendation  to  such  as  are  acquainted  with  hU  Per- 
son and  Character :  Whose  Praise  is  in  the  Gospel  thorowout  all  the 
Churches  in  those  remote  parts  where  Divine  Providence  has  cast  bis 
Lot.  Neither  is  he  unknown  to  the  Publick  :  which  has  been  favoured  with 
several  lesser  Writings  of  his,  formerly  publish'd  on  special  occasions ; 
that  must  have  loft  on  the  Minds  of  those  who  have  read  them,  a  grate- 
ful Relish,  and  such  an  Idea  of  Mr.  Dickinson's  peculiar  Genius,  Ca[)acity 
and  Judgment,  as  cannot  but  prepare  them  to  come  with  raised  Expecta- 
tions and  a  particular  Gust,  to  the  perusal  of  tjie  foHowing  Tracts;  Which 
it  would  therefore  be  as  superfluous  to  recommend  to  such,  as  it  would 
be  thought  vain  in  me  to  attempt  a  profuse  Encomium  on  them  for  the 

• 
•  Dickinson  fuvorod  the  "  Ilalf-Way  Covenant,"  but  not  tho  las  vlowa  of  Doctrine  grow- 
ing out  of  it.      Chn.  Advocate,  X.14T. 


336  THE    HISTORY   OF 

sake  of  others  ;  nor  indeed  would  the  known  Modesty  of  the  Author  in- 
dulge me  in  taking  this  Liberty. 

They  are  truly  admirable  discourses,  learned,  discriminat- 
ing, and  logical ;  full  of  pith  and  power ;  pointed  and  im- 
pressive. Happy  the  people  favored  with  the  ministry  of 
such  a  teacher !  Happy  the  children  whose  early  years  were 
blessed  with  such  instructions ! 

In  1733,  was  published,  at  Boston,  New  England,  "Tlie 
Scripture-Bishop  Vindicated.  A  Defence  of  the  Dialogue 
Between  Praelaticus  and  Eleutherius,  upon  The  Scripture 
Bishop,  or  The  Divine  Bight  of  Presbyterian  Ordination  and 
Government,  Against  The  Exceptions  of  a  Pamphlet  Intitled. 
The  Scripture  Bishop  Examined.  B}'-  Eleutherius,  Y.  D.  M. 
In  a  Letter  to  a  Friend."  This  book,  now  exceedingly  rare 
(the  only  copy  known  to  the  author  of  this  history  being  in 
liis  own  library),  was  ascribed,  a  few  years  later,  by  Be  v. 
George  Beckwith,  of  Lyme,  Ct.,  to  Mr.  Dickinson.  It  was 
undoubtedly  the  product  of  his  pen. 

In  the  following  year  he  was  called  to  preach  the  funeral 
sermon  of  Ruth,  the  wife  of  his  friend,  Rev.  John  Pierson,  of 
"Woodbridge,  and  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Wood- 
bridge  of  Hartford,  Ct.  This  sermon  was  printed  at  New 
York,  the  same  year,  by  William  Bradford. ^^ 

In  1733,  the  Presbytery  of  East  Jersey  was  formed  out  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  Dickinson  became,  at 
once,  the  acknowledged  head  of  the  new  Presbytery.  In 
1734,  his  Elder,  Matthias  Hatfield,  accompanied  him  to  Synod. 
As  the  early  Records  of  the  Church  are  not  extant,  it  is  only 
by  reference  to  the  Records  of  the  Synod,  that  the  names  of 
the  Elders  previous  to  1765  can  be  ascertained.  Robert 
Ogden  had  a  seat  in  the  Synod  of  1721 ;  and  Joseph  Wood- 
ruff, in  1722.  In  1730  William  Miller  represented  the  Church 
in  the  Synod;  Joseph  Woodruff,  again,  in  1740,  and  1745  ; 
David  Whitehead,  in  1742;  John  Ogden  in  1743;  Ephraim 
Price,  in  1748;  Joseph  Ogden,  in  1755,  1756  and  1762; 
Joseph  Lyon,,  in  1759  ;   Thomas  Tobin,  in  1760  ;    Robert 

•  Webster,  p.  858. 


ELIZABETE,    NEW    JERSEY.  337 

Ogden,   in    17G3  ;    caud    Samuel   AYoodruff,    in    1764,    and 
1765.* 

Dickinson's  next  publication  appeared  in  September,  1735, 
anonymously.     It  was  entitled, — • 

Remarks  oa  a  Letter  to  a  Friend  in  the  Country ;  containing  the  sub- 
stance of  a  sermon  preached  at  Philadelphia  in  the  congregation  of  the 
Eev.  Mr.  llcmpliill,  in  which  the  terms  of  Christian  and  ministerial  com- 
munion are  so  stated  that  human  imjiositions  are  exploded,  a  proper  en- 
closure proposed  for  every  religious  society,  and  the  commission  justified 
in  their  conduct  towards  Mr.  Ilemphill.t 

In  the  following  year,  1736,  Mr.  Dickinson  again  became 
involved  in  a  controversy  about  Episcopacy.  An  unhappy 
disturbance  liad  been  created  in  the  church  at  JSTewark,  by  a 
case  of  discij^line.  Col.  Josiah  Ogden,  (a  grandson  of  "  Old 
John  Ogden,"  of  this  town),  residing  at  l!Tewark,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  cliurch,  was  censured  "for  Sabbath-breaking,  in 
laboring  to  save  a  crop  of  wheat,  on  the  Lord's  Day,  after 
long-continued  rains.  Being  a  man  of  great  influence,  a 
party  was  created,  absorbing  the  disaffected  elements  of  the 
congregation.  Though  the  censure,  on  appeal,  was  removed 
by  the  Presbj'^tery,  and  the  Synod  endeavored,  by  kindly 
interposition,  to  heal  the  breach,  the  grievance  proved  incur- 
able. The  dissentients  gravitated  towards  Episcopacy,  and 
sought,  of  Mr.  Yaughan  and  others.  Episcopal  ministrations.:]: 

In  these  circumstances,  Mr.  Dickinson  was  invited  and 
consented  to  preach  at  Newark,  on  Wednesday,  June  2, 1736. 
His  text  was  Mark  7 :  15;  '"Ilowbeit  in  vain  do  they  wor- 
ship me,  teaching  for  doctrines  the  commandments  of  men." 
The  sermon  was  given  to  the  press  shortly  after,  with  the 
Title, — "  The  Yanity  of  human  Institutions  in  the  "Worsiiip  of 

*  Ueconls,  P.  Clih.,  pp.  94,  104,  5,  134,  14S,  IGO,  5, 232,  5,  2C1,  270,  2U1,  7,  313,  822,  333,  341. 
Webster,  p.  192. 

t  Samuel  Ucmpbill  was  an  Irish  adventurer,  who  had  guliied  admission  to  the  Synod  in 
1734,  and,  by  means  of  a  tiuent  tongue,  had  been  employed  as  assistant  to  Mr.  Andrews  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia,  llis  sermons  savored  so  much  of  Deism  and  Armin- 
ianlsni,  that  complaint  was  made  to  the  Synodical  Commission,  by  whom  ho  w;is  tried, 
found  guilty,  and  suspended.  IJenjamin  Franklin  was  ono  of  his  hearers,  and  warmly  es- 
poused his  cause.  It  was  found,  after  all,  that  his  sermons  were  not  his  own,  but  were  re- 
peated verbatim  from  the  Kev.  Drs.  Samuel  Clarke,  Ibbots,  and  Foster,  men  noted  for  their 
Arianism.    On  this  discovery  he  sunk  into  obscurity.    Webster,  pp.  110,  2,  3,416-20. 

t  Stearns'  Newark,  p.  143.    MoWhorter's  Century  Sermon,  p.  17. 

22 


338  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

God."  It  was  called  "  his  famed  sermon,"  and  was  read  with 
great  interest.  An  answer  was  attempted  by  the  Rev.  John 
Beach,  of  Newtown,  Ct.,  who  four  years  before  had  left  the 
Chnrch  of  his  fathers,  and  connected  himself  with  the  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  issued  a  pamphlet,  entitled, — "  A  Vindica- 
tion of  the  "Worship  of  God,  according  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land." "  A  Defence  "  of  his  sermon  was  published  by  Mr. 
Dickinson,  in  1737  ;  and  a  rejoinder  was  put  forth,  the  same 
year,  by  Mr.  Beach,  under  the  Title, — "  Appeal  to  the  Un- 
prejudiced :  In  a  Supplement  to  the  Vindication  of  the  Wor- 
ship of  God,  according  to  the  Church  of  England."  The 
Controversy  was  closed  by  Mr.  Dickinson,  in  1738,  by  his 
publishing — 

The  Reasonableness  of  Nonconformity  to  the  Church  of  Engh^nd,  in 
Point  of  Worship.  A  Second  Defence  of  A  Sermon,  preach'd  at  Newark, 
June  2,  1736,  Intitled,  The  Vanity  of  human  Institutions  in  the  Worship 
of  God.  Against  the  Exceptions  of  Mr.  John  Beach,  in  his  Appeal  to 
the  Unprejudiced.  Done  in  the  Form  of  a  Dialogue,  ■wherein  Mr.  Beach's 
Arguments  are  all  expressed  in  his  own  Words.* 

In  his  Prefatory  Letter,  dated  "  Elizabeth-Town,  Feb.  1, 
1737,  8,"  he  apologizes  for  the  delay  of  this  replication  : 

It  is  not  from  a  Disregard  to  your  Person,  nor  a  Neglect  of  your  tri- 
umphant Performance,  that  I  have  not  before  now  acknowledged  your 
Favour;  but  from  bodily  Indispositions,  which  rendered  me  incapable  of 
writing. 

In  the  year,  1737,  about  the  time  of  the  Survey,  by  Joseph 
Morss,  of  the  land  back  of  the  First  Mountain,  the  popula- 
tion had  become  so  considerable,  as  to  make  it  desirable  that 
a  separate  religious  Society  should  be  constituted.  The 
Presbytery  of  East  Jersey,  to  whom  they  applied,  granted 
the  request,  and  sent  them  Mr.  John  Cleverly,  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  in  1715,  who  preached  in  a  log-house  built  for  the 
purpose,  of  small  dimensions.f 

At  the  ordination  of  Aaron  Burr,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
East  Jersey,  at  Newark,  Jan.  25,  173J,  Dickinson  presided 

•  Chandler's  Life  of  Johnson,  pp.  62,  3.  Spraguc's  Annals,  V.  S2,  3,  6.  App.  to  Green's 
Discourses,  p.  298. 

t  Ms.  Records  of  P.  Chh.  of  N.  Providence,  1. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  339 

and  gave  the  charge.  In  liis  account  of  the  transaction,  Mr. 
Bnrr  says, — "  Mr.  Dickinson,  who  presided  at  this  work,  has 
been  of  great  service  to  me  by  his  advice  and  instruction, 
both  before  and  since  my  ordination."  The  same  testimony 
might  have  been  borne,  by  all  the  ministry  of  this  section  of 
countr3^  He  was  the  chosen  counselor  and  ready  adviser 
of  ministers  and  churches  in  all  their  straits  and  emer- 
gencies.* 

In  May,  173S,  Mr.  Dickinson  and  his  church  became  con- 
nected with  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  then  newly  formed 
by  the  union  of  the  East  Jersey  and  Long  Island  Presby- 
teries.f 

In  the  midst  of  the  exciting  controversies  through  which 
he  had  passed,  Mr.  Dickinson  had  not  been  inattentive  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  his  people.  Faithfully  and  earnestly 
he  preached  the  word,  and  diligently  he  sought  to  lead  his 
people  to  the  Cross  for  salvation.  But  the  results  were  not 
answerable  to  his  expectations.  Of  the  year  1739,  he  writes, 
"  Peligion  was  in  a  very  low  state  ;  Professors  generally  dead 
and  lifeless;  and  the  Body  of  our  People  careless,  carnal 
and  secure  ;  there  was  but  little  of  the  Power  of  Godliness 
appearing  among  us." 

Some  time  in  August  1739,  the  people  of  Newark  became 
deeply  interested  in  religious  affairs.  The  young,  particu- 
larly, were  remarkably  exercised,  and  many  of  them  were 
hoi^efully  converted  from  the  error  of  their  ways.  The  con- 
cern at  length  became  general,  resulting  in  a  marked  reforma- 
tion among  all  classes,  and  large  accessions  to  the  Church. + 

In  November,  1739,  while  this  revival  was  in  progress  at 
Newark,  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  then  a  youth  in  his 
25th  year,  whose  fame,  as  an  eloquent  divine,  and  an  awaken- 
ing preacher,  had  preceded  him,  first  visited  these  ]3arts.  On 
his  way  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York  and  again  on  his 
return  to  Philadelphia,  he  passed  through  this  town  : 

"Wednesday,  Nov.  14.  Set  out  from  Brunswick,  in  Company  with  Mr. 
Tennent  and  my  other  Fellow-Travel lers ;  and  as  wo  passed  along  we 

*  Davis's  Life  of  A.  Burr,  I.  IS.    Stearns'  Newark,  p.  355. 

t  Records  of  V.  Chh.,  p.  134.  t  Prince's  Chn.  History,  I.  252-1. 


340  THE  niSTORY   of 

spent  our  Tiiiio  most  agreeably  iu  telling  one  another  wliat  God  had 
done  for  our  Souls.  About  Noon  avo  got  to  Elizabeth  Town,  22 
Miles  from  Brunswick.  Here  v,q  took  Boat,  and  about  Four  reached 
New-York. 

Monday,  Nov.  19.  Took  Boat  about  Five  in  the  Morning,  and  reached 
Elizabeth-Town  Point  at  Seven. — Dined  with  Mr.  Dickenson  a  worthy 
Dissenting  Minister,  who  had  sent  a  Letter  of  Invitation  to  New  York, 
and  oifered  me  the  Use  of  his  Meeting  House. — About  Twelve  I  preached 
in  it,  according  to  Appointment,  to  upwards  of  700  People,  many  of  whom 
seemed  much  affected,  and  God  was  pleased  to  open  my  Mouth  against 
both  Ministers  and  People  among  all  denominations,  who  imprison  the 
Truth  in  Unrighteousness.* 

Iu  reference  to  this  discourse,  Mr.  Dickinson  says, — 

I  could  observe  no  further  Influence  upon  our  People  by  that  Address, 
than  a  general  Thoughtfulness  about  Religion;  and  a  Promptitude  to 
make  the  Extraordinary  Zeal  and  Diligence  of  that  Gentleman,  the  com- 
mon and  turning  Topick  of  their  Conversation.  I  don't  know  that  there 
was  any  one  Person  brought  under  Conviction,  or  any  new  and  special 
Concern  about  their  Salvation,  by  that  Sermon  ;  nor  more  than  one  by 
any  Endeavours  tliat  were  used  with  them  that  Fall,  or  the  succeeding 
Winter. 

Mr.  Dickinson  was  evidently  expecting  nnicli  from  the 
young  Revivalist,  and  was  disappointed  with  the  results  : — 

Tho'  there  was  8uch  a  shaking  among  the  dry  Bones  so  near  to  us,  as 
is  above  represented,  and  we  had  continual  Accounts  from  Newark  of  the 
growing  Distress  among  their  People,  (their  young  People  especially)  and 
of  their  awful  solicitous  Concern  about  their  Salvation ;  our  congregation 
remained  yet  secure  and  careless ;  and  could  not  be  awakened  out  of 
their  Sleep.  You  will  easily  conceive,  that  this  must  needs  be  an  afflict- 
ing and  discouraging  Consideration  to  me  :  that  when  from  other  Places, 
we  had  the  joyful  News  of  so  many  fllying  to  Christ  as  a  Cloud,  and  as 
Doves  to  their  Windows,  I  had  yet  Cause  to  complain,  that  I  laboured  in 
vain,  and  spent  my  Strength  for  nought.  But  notwithstanding  all  these 
discouraging  Appearances,  I  could  not  but  entertain  an  uncommon  Con- 
cern, particularly  for  the  young  People  of  my  Charge,  during  that  Win- 
ter ;  and  the  ensuing  Spring  ;  which  not  only  animated  my  Addresses  to 
the  Throne  of  Grace  on  their  Behalf,  but  my  Endeavours  also,  to  excite 
in  them  if  possible,  some  affecting  Sense  of  their  Misery,  Danger,  and 
Necessity  of  a  Saviour.  To  that  End,  there  were  frequent  Lectures  ap- 
pointed for  tho  young  people  in  particular,  but  without  any  visible 
success.t 

♦.Whlteflol(l"8  Journals,  I.  274,  7.  t  Prince's  Christian  History,  I.  254,  5. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  34-1 

III  the  spring,  they  were  favored  with  another  sermon  from 
the  gifted  AYhitefield.  On  Monday,  April  28,  1740,  after 
preaching  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  to  a  great  congregation  in 
Woodbridge,  he  says, — 

After  Sermon,  I  and  my-Friends  dined  at  tbe  Dissenting  Minister's 
[Rev  John  Pierson's]  House,  who  invited  me  to  preach ;  and  tlien  we 
hasted  to  Elizabeth-Town,  where  the  People  had  been  waiting  for  me 
some  Hours. — I  preached  in  the  Meeting-House,  as  when  I  was  there  last. 
It  was  full,  and  was  supposed  to  contain  2000  People.  Near  ten  dissent- 
ing and  two  Church  Ministers  were  present.  I  used  much  Freedom  of 
Speech.  No  doubt  some  were  offended:  But  Events  belong  to  God. — 
After  Sermon  I  intended  to  ride  six  Miles  :  But  being  over-ruled  by  the 
Advice  of  Friends,  I  stopped,  and  lay  at  an  Inn  all  Night,  near  the  Water- 
side where  People  take  Boat  to  go  to  New  York  [E.  Town  Point].* 

Mr.  Dickinson  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  progress  of  the 
work  of  grace  at  Newark,  and  frequently  assisted  his  young 
brother  Burr  (then  only  24  years  old,  and,  at  the  best,  of 
feeble  health),  in  the  services  of  the  pulpit.  On  one  oc- 
casion, lie  preached  a  sermon,  from  Rom.  viii :  16,  so  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  the  state  of  the  congregation  and  of  the 
times,  that  its  publication  was  generally  called  for.  It  was 
printed  and  had  a  wide  circulation.     It  was  entitled. 

The  "Witness  of  the  Spirit.  A  Sermon  preached  at  Newark,  in  New- 
Jersey,  May  7th,  1740.  "Wherein  is  distinctly  shewn,  in  what  "Way  and 
Manner  the  Spirit  himself  beareth  "Witness  to  the  Adoption  of  the  Children 
of  God.  On  Occasion  of  a  wonderful  Progress  of  converting  Grace  in 
those  Parts.t 

A  second  edition  was  published  in  1743.  It  exposed  so 
faithfully  some  of  the  delusions,  that  were  cherished  by  the 
more  violent  promoters  of  revivals  of  religion  at  that  day,  that, 
when  the  Synod  met  at  Philadelphia,  three  weeks  later,  and 
all  the  intervals  of  business  were  given  to  preaching,  Dickin- 
son was  excluded  from  participating  in  the  work,  because  of 
this  sermon — its  doctrine  being  regarded  by  the  Tennents 
and  their  friends  as  untenable,  and  detrimental  to  the  cause; 
and  yet  the  Revival  had  no  truer  friend,  and  no  abler  ad- 
vocate.:}: 

•  Jimrnals,  I.  849.  t  Prince's  Chn.  HiB.,  I.  21 G.    Stearns'  Newark,  p.  157. 

$  Webster's  P.  Chb.  p.  148 


34:2  THE    HISTORY    OF 

These  services  prepared  him  for  a  similar  work' of  grace 
among  his  own  people.  Scarcely  had  he  and  his  Elder, 
Joseph  Woodruff,  returned  from  the  meeting  of  the  Synod, 
"  in  June,  1740,"  when  tlic  people  were  favored  with  "  a  re- 
markable Manifestation  of  the  Divine  Presence."  He  thus 
describes  it : — 

Having  at  that  Time  invited  tlie  young  People  to  bear  a  Sermon,  there 
was  a  numerous  Congregation  conveen'd,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  our 
Youth,  tlio'  there  were  many  others  with  them.  I  i)reach'd  to  them  a 
plain,  practical  Sermon  ;  without  any  Pathos  or  Pungency,  or  any  special 
Liveliness  or  Vigour ;  for  I  was  then  in  a  remarkably  dead  and  dull 
Frame,  till  enliven'd  by  a  sudden  and  deep  Impression  which  visibly 
appeard  upon  the  Congregation  in  general.  —  There  was  no  Crying 
out,  or  Falling  down ;  (as  elsewhere  has  happen'd)  but  the  inward  Dis- 
tress and  Concern  of  the  Audience  discover'd  itself,  by  their  Tears,  and 
by  an  audible  Sobbing  and  Sighing  in  almost  all  Parts  of  the  Assembly. 
There  appeared  such  Tokens  of  a  solemn  and  deep  Concern,  as  I  never 
before  saw  in  any  Congregation  whatsoever.  From  this  Time,  we  heard 
no  more  of  our  young  People's  meeting  together  for  Frolicks  and  extrav- 
agant Diversions,  as  had  been  usual  among  them ;  but  instead  thereof, 
private  Meetings  for  religious  Exercises  were  by  them  sot  up  in  several 
Parts  of  the  Town.  All  our  Opportunities  of  publick  Worship,  were  care- 
fully and  constantly  attended  by  our  People  in  general ;  and  a  serious  and 
solemn  Attention  to  the  Ministry  of  the  Word,  was  observable  in  their  very 
Countenances.  Numbers  were  almost  daily  repairing  to  me,  for  Direc- 
tion and  Assistance  in  their  eternal  Concerns.  There  were  then  prob- 
ably more  came  to  me  in  one  Day  on  that  Errand,  than  usually  in  half  a 
Years  space  before.  In  a  AVord,  thf;  Face  of  the  Congregation  was  <2uite 
altered;  and  Religion  became  tlie  common  Subject  of  Conversation  among 
a  great  Part  of  the  People.* 

Tho'  there  are  some  of  those  who  were  then  under  special  Convictions, 
that  have  Avorn  off  their  Impressions,  and  are  become  secure  and  care- 
less ;  yet  I  don't  know  of  any  two  Persons,  who  gave  reasonable  Hopes  of 
a  real  Cliange  at  that  Time,  but  wliat  have  hitherto  by  their  Conversa- 
tion confirm'd  our  Hopes  of  their  saving  Conversion  to  God. 

I  would  be  very  cautious  of  any  confident  Determinations,  witii  Ee- 
spect  to  the  Conversion  of  particular  Persons ;  but  if  wo  may  judge  tlio 
Tree  by  tho  Fruits,  which  we  have  now  had  so  long  a  Time  to  observe,  wo 
have  Reason  to  suppose,  that  near  about  sixty  Persons  have  received  a 
saving  Change  in  this  Congregation  only,  (and  a  Number  in  tlio  Parii^h 

♦  Writing  to  Mr.  Foxcroft,  Sept.  4,  1740,  ho  says,— "I  have  had  more  young  People  ad- 
dress mo  for  Direction  in  their  spiritual  Concerns  within  this  three  Months  than  in  thirty 
Years  before." 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  ^4,^' 

next  adjoining  to  us,  tho'  I  daro  not  pretend  to  guess  how  many)  sinco 
the  Beginning  of  this  Work.* 

The  letter,  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken,  was  writ- 
ten Aug.  23,  1743,  to  the  Eev.  Mr.  Foxcroft,  of  Boston,  at 
his  particular  request.  It  describes  scenes  and  events  alto- 
gether unprecedented  in  the  history  of  the  town.  The  moral 
reformation,  at  that  time  wrought,  was  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable phenomena  till  then  witnessed  and  experienced  in 
the  settlement.  It  gave  to  the  town  a  peculiar  character — a 
reputation  for  moralit}''  and  religion  that  survived  the  stormy 
periods  of  war  and  political  convulsions,  and  continues,  to  the 
present  day — its  defence  and  its  glory. 

The  Revival  of  IT'iO,  it  is  well  known,  was  of  wide  extent, 
and  of  vast  influence  in  the  English  Provinces  of  America. 
But,  with  all  its  manifest  and  marvelous  benefits,  it  was  not 
unattended  with  serious  evils,  affecting,  to  no  small  extent, 
the  peace  and  purity  of  the  churches.  Ever  watchful  for  the 
interests  of  religion,  and  ready,  at  all  times,  both  for  aggres- 
sive, and  for  defensive,  measures,  Mr.  Dickinson  set  himself 
to  meet  the  demand  of  the  times.  In  1741,  he  sent  forth 
"The  True  Scripture  Doctrine  Coii.cerning  some  important 
Points  of  Christian  Faith ;  Particularly,  Eternal  Election, 
Original  Sin,  Grace  in  Conversion,  Justification  by  Faith, 
And  the  Saint's  Perseverance.  Represented  and  Applied  in 
Five  Discourses : "  an  admirable  book,  replete  with  sound 
doctrine,  logically  and  scripturally  maintained  and  defended, 
suited  to  all  classes  and  climes,  and  of  standard  value  in  all 
periods  of  the  Church.  It  has  repeatedly  been  reprinted,  in 
Great  Britain  and  America.  Foxcroft,  in  his  Preface  to  tho 
original  edition,  gives  it  unqualified  praise: — 

I'm  of  opinion,  a  book  of  tins  nature  iias  long  been  wanting  among 
us  ;  and  I  give  unfeigned  thanks  to  God,  which  put  this  same  earnest  caro 
for  us  into  tho  heart  of  our  brother ;  whose  praise  is  in  the  gospel 
throughout  the  churches,  particularly  by  means  of  his  elaborate  writings 
in  vindication  both  of  the  faith  and  order  of  the  gospel,  and  other  more 
practical  imblications. — I  look  upon  his  present  work  tho  supply  of  a  real 
d  ■ficiency  ;  and  more  especially  seasonable  at  this  juncture.     Now  as 

*  Prince's  Christian  llistory,  I.  255-S.        Gillios'  His.  Coll.  II.  112-6. 


344  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Paul  said  of  Tiiuotliy,  I  have  no  man  like-minded,  so  I  will  presume 
to  speak  it,  without  any  design  of  flattery  or  offence,  I  know  no  man 
better  accomplished  (in  my  opinion)  for  a  work  of  this  kind,  than 
Mr.  Dickinson. 

Not  content  with  this  mastei'ly  vindication  of  the  Doctrines 
of  Grace,  and  finding  the  current  of  prejudice  and  opposition 
to  "  the  Great  Awakening  "  running  strong  and  deep  in  al- 
most ever}^  direction,  he  next  prepared,  and  published  at 
Boston  in  1742, 

A  Display  of  God's  special  Grace.  In  A  familiar  Dialogue  Between  A 
Minister  &  a  Gentleman  of  his  Congregation,  About  The  Work  of  God,  in 
the  Conviction  and  Conversion  of  Sinners,  so  remarkably  of  late  begun 
and  going  on  in  these  American  Parts.  "Wherein  The  Objections  sgainst 
some  uncommon  Appearances  amongst  us  are  distinctly  consider'd.  Mis- 
takes rectify'd,  and  tlio  Work  itself  particularly  prov'd  to  be  from  the 
Holy  Spirit.  With  An  Addition,  in  a  second  Conference,  relating  to 
sundry  Antinomian  Principles,  beginning  to  obtain  in  some  Places. 

The  first  edition  was  anonymous,  but  sent  forth  with  an 
Attestation,  signed,  Boston,  Aug.  10,  17-12,  bj  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Colman,  Sewall,  Prince,  Webb,  Cooper,  Foxcroft, 
and  Gee,  all  Ministers  of  Boston.  A  second  edition  was 
published,  at  Philadelphia,  in  1743,  with  the  author's  name, 
and  an  additional  Attestation  by  Messrs.  Gilbert  and  Wm. 
Tennent,  Samuel  and  John  Blair,  Treat  and  Finley.  The 
book  was  of  convenient  form,  plain  and  practical  in  style, 
and  well-adapted  to  accomplish  its  end.  "  Xo  contempora- 
neous publication,"  says  President  Green,  "  was  probably  as 
much  read  or  had  as  much  influence."  * 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  in  17i2,  Mr.  Dickinson  was 
again  chosen  Moderator  ;  and,  in  1713,  as  such,  preached  the 
opening  sermon,  from  1  Cor.  1  :  10, — a  text  admirably 
adapted,  as,  no  doubt,  the  sermon  was,  to  the  divided  and 
convulsed  state  of  the  Synod.  The  same  year,  1713,  he  pub- 
lished— 

The  Nature  and  Necessity  of  Regeneration  considered  in  a  Sermon  from 
John  3 :  3,  preached  at  Newark,  N.  J.  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
there.     To  which  is  added  some  Remarks  on  a  Discourse  of  Dr.  Water- 

•  Green's  Discourses,  App.,  pp.  256-Cl. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  845 

land's,  entitled  "  Regeneration  stated  and  explained,  according  to  Scrip- 
ture antiquity,"  * 

Dr.  Waterlaud's  book  had  been  imported  and  circulated 
by  the  Episcopal  ministry,  and  circulated  as  an  antidote  to 
the  revival  doctrines  of  Whitefield  and  his  sympathizers. 
Dickinson's  Remarks  drew  forth,  in  1744,  from  the  Rev. 
James  Wetmore,  Rector  of  the  Parish  Church  of  Rye,  N.  Y., 
"A  Defence  of  Waterland's  Discourse  on  Regeneration." 
This  was  answered  promptly  by  Mr.  Dickinson  in 

Eeflections  upon  Mr.  Wetmore's  Letter  in  Defence  of  Dr.  Waterland's 
Discourse  of  Regeneration.  With  a  Vindication  of  the  received  Doctrine 
of  Regeneration,  and  plain  scriptural  Evidence  that  the  Notion  of  Bap- 
tismal Regeneration  is  of  a  dangerous  and  destructive  Tendency.! 

In  the  same  year,  1745,  his  prolific  pen  produced  "  Famil" 
iar  Letters  to  a  Gentleman,  upon  A  Variety  of  Seasonable 
and  Important  Subjects  in  Religion  :  "  a  work  of  very  great 
ability,  in  which  he  discusses  colloquially  and  familiarly,  with 
direct  reference  to  prevailing  prejudices,  the  evidences  of 
Christianity,  and  the  Doctrine  of  God's  Sovereign  Grace  in 
the  redemption  of  men.  The  way  of  salvation,  by  repentance 
and  faith,  is  clearly  exhibited,  and  the  Dangers  of  Anti- 
nomianism  are  fully  set  forth.  It  has  been  frequently  re- 
printed at  home  and  abroad,  and,  with  his  book  on  "  tlie  Five 
Points,"  is  on  the  Catalogue  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of 
Publication. 

In  the  agitations,  (resulting  mainly  from  tlie  Revival),  and 
in  the  exciting  discussions,  by  which  the  Synod  and  the 
Churches  were  convulsed,  extending  through  a  period  of  five 
years,  he  not  only  took  the  deepest  interest,  but  the  conceded 
position  of  a  leader  in  the  maintenance  and  defence  of  what 
he  believed  to  be  the  trutli  and  the  right.  When  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick  and  their  party  were  virtually  ex- 
cluded in  1741,  he  and  his  Presbytery  being  absent,  it  grieved 
him  deeply.  He  sought,  by  every  means  in  his  power,  to 
cast  oil  on  the  troubled  waters,  and  bring  about  a  reconcilia- 

*  Records,  P.  Chb.,  pp.  160,  8. 

t  Bolton's  Ep.  Chh.  of  "W.  Chester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  pp.  272,  3. 


3-16  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tioii  of  the  contending  parties.  In  the  spring  of  1742,  he  liad 
occcasion  to  visit  Boston  to  bring  out  his  "  Display  of  God's 
Special  Grace,"  and  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity,  to 
consult  the  Boston  ministers  and  others  in  relation  to  the 
matters  in  controversy.  Year  by  year,  he  sought  to  act,  in 
the  Synod,  the  part  of  a  mediator  and  pacificator,  in  the 
embittered  strife,  of  which  the  "Kecords"  give  painful  illus- 
tration. But  finding,  at  lengtli,  no  hope  of  an  honorable  re- 
construction of  the  old  Synod,  he  cast  in  his  lot  with  the 
aggrieved  brethren,  and  united  with  them  and  their  friends 
in  constituting  the  new  Synod  of  New  York  ;  the  former 
comprising  the  "  Old  Side,"  and  the  latter  the  "  New  Side  " 
brethren.  For  the  details  of  this  mournful  controversy, 
reference  must  be  had  to  the  authorities  in  the  margin.* 

The  first  meeting  of  the  New  Synod  was  held,  September 
19,  17-15,  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  town,  22  Minis- 
ters, and  12  Elders  being  present.  Elder  Joseph  Woodruff 
represented  this  Church — Mr.  Dickinson  was  chosen  Moder- 
ator. His  opening  sermon,  the  following  year,  at  New 
York,  was  from  Psalm  21 :  4.f 

In  the  midst  of  these  troubles  and  anxieties,  preaching, 
writing,  publishing,  and  caring  for  his  own  flock  and  the 
churches  of  the  Synod,  his  soul  was  stirred  within  him  at  the 
benighted  condition  of  the  savage  tribes  in  N.  Jersey  and  the 
adjacent  Provinces.  In  connection  with  Pemberton  of  New 
York,  and  Burr  of  Newark,  he  addressed,  in  1710,  "  the 
Honorable  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge," 
formed  at  Edinburgh  in  1709,  and  urged  them  to  send  mis- 
sionaries to  the  Indians  on  Long- Island,  in  New  Jersey  and 
Pennsylvania.  These  three  brethren  were  appointed  Corre- 
spondents of  the  Society,  and  authorized  to  employ  mis- 
sionaries to  the  Indians.  They  prevailed  on  Azariah  Ilorton, 
a  brother  of  Simon  Ilorton,  of  Connecticut  Farms,  in  this 
town,  to  undertake  a  mission  to  the  Indians  at  the  east  end 
of  Long  Island,  for  which  purpose  he  M-as  ordained  by  the 

•  Records,  P.  Cbli.  pp.  153-182.    Hodge's  His.  P.  Chh.,  II.  124-252.    Log  College,  pp.  57' 
73.    Stearns'  Newark,  pp.  166-178.    GlUett's  P.  Chh.,  I.  T8-91. 
t  Eccords,  P.  Chh.,  pp.  232-4. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  347 

Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1740.  Two  years  later,  they  en- 
gaged David  Braincrd  for  a  similar  service  among  the  In- 
dians, near  New  Lebanon,  N.  York.  In  1744,  (June  11,) 
Brainerd  was  ordained  at  Newark,  for  a  mission  at  the  Forks 
of  the  Delaware.* 

From  the  time  of  his  removal  to  N.  Jersey,  Brainerd  found, 
in  Mr.  Dickinson,  a  faithful  counselor,  and  devoted  friend ; 
and,  in  his  house,  an  ever-welcome  home.  At  the  time  of 
his  ordination,  he  spent  more  than  a  fortnight  here.  In  April 
following,  1745,  he  was  here  again.  In  August,  he  came  on 
to  consult  with  Mr.  Dickinson.  Nov.  10th,  he  occupied  the 
pulpit,  preaching,  in  the  morning,  from  2  Cor.  5  :  20,  and, 
in  the  afternoon,  from  Lu.  14  :  22  ;  and  took  up  a  collection 
for  the  Indian  mission  amounting  to  £7.  5.  0.  Of  the  morn- 
ing service  he  says : 

God  was  pleased  to  give  me  freedom  and  fervency  in  my  discourse, 
and  the  presence  of  God  seemed  to  be  in  the  assembly ;  numbers  were 
affected,  and  there  were  many  tears  among  them.  f 

lie  spent  the  next  Sabbath  here  also,  and  several  days 
afterwards,  being  deeply  exercised  for  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  the  town  : 

Had  some  longings  of  soul  for  the  dear  people  of  Elizabeth  Town,  tliat 
God  would  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon  them,  and  revive  his  work  among 
them.t 

The  first  week  in  December  he  was  here  again,  in  attend- 
ance on  the  Presbytery  at  Connecticut  Farms ;  also,  the 
third  week  in  January,  in  consultation  with  the  Correspond- 
ents, and  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Connecticut  Farms,  on  the 
26th.  The  second  week  of  April  found  him  here  again  in 
attendance  on  the  Presbytery  ;  again  on  the  29th,  for  three 
or  four  days  ;  and  the  first  week  of  July  : — 

Lord's  Day,  July  6.  Enjoyed  some  composure  and  serenity  of  mind, 
in  the  morning :  lieard  Mr.  Dickinson  preach,  in  the  forenoon,  and  was 
refreshed  with  his  discourse;  was  in  a  melting  frame,  some  part  of  the 
time  of  sermon  :  partook  of  the  Lord's  supper,  and  enjoyed  some  sense  of 
divine  things  in  that  ordinance.     In  the  afternoon  I  preached  from  Ezek. 

*  Wobater'd  P.  Clib.,  pp  35S,  51S.    E.lwards'  Works,  X.  141,  2. 
t  Ibid,  X.  ISr,  216,214,  5. 


348  THE  HISTORY  or 

33:  11.  "As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,"  &c.  God  favoured  me  with 
freedom  and  fervency,  and  helped  me  to  plead  his  cause,  beyond  my  own 
power. 

He  met  the  Presbytery  here  again  on  the  22d,  and  remained 
three  days.  He  had  the  fever  and  ague  at  Mr.  Dickinson's 
house,  for  a  fortnight  in  October.  Nov.  5th  brouglit  him 
back  again  from  liis  mission,  too  enfeebled  for  work  or  traveh 
And  here,  at  his  "home"  in  the  parsonage,  he  remained 
nearly  six  months — until  April  20th,  (with  the  exception  of 
four  or  five  days), — his  last  winter  on  earth, — in  so  low  a 
state,  much  of  the  time,  that  his  life  was  almost  despaired  of.* 

Mrs.  Joanna  Dickinson,  the  pastor's  wife,  had  been  taken 
from  him  by  death,  April  20,  1745,  in  the  63d  year  of  her 
age.  Brainerd's  intimacy  with  the  family  was  mostly  of  a 
later  date,  the  daughters  of  the  pastor  ministering  to  him  in 
his  chronic  infirmities.  The  missionary  makes  the  following 
entry  in  his  Journal  for  1747  : 

April  7.  In  the  afternoon,  rode  to  Newark,  to  marry  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Dickinson  :  and  in  the  evening  performed  that  service.  Afterwards  rode 
homo  to  Elizabethtown,  in  a  pleasant  frame,  full  of  composure  and  sweet- 
ness.t 

In  1745,  the  Rev.  John  Beach  of  Newtown,  Ct.,  and  the 
Eev.  Henry  Caner,  of  Fairfield,  Ct.,  both  preached  for  the 
Rev.  James  Honyman,  in  Trinity  Church,  Newport,  R.  I., 
and  printed  their  sermons,  in  which  they  reflected  upon  the 
revival  doctrines  of  the  day.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  John- 
son, of  Stratford,  Ct.,  also,  published,  about  the  same  time, 
"A  Letter  from  Aristocles  to  Anthades,"  designed  to  set  the 
doctrine  of  the  divine  sovereignty  and  promises  in  its  true 
light,  as  he,  and  the  other  Episcopal  ministers  of  the  day, 
understood  them.  Tliese  several  publications  were  designed 
as  antidotes  mainly  to  Mr.  Dickinson's  works  on  the  same 
subject.  He  was  not  slow,  therefore,  in  issuing,  1746,  his 
reply,  entitled, 

A  vindication  of  God's  Sovereign   Free   Grace.     In  some  Remarks 

•  Edwards'  Works,  X.  247,  2C2,  283,  200,  358,  4,  C,  871,  874-CSO,  444. 
t  Edwards'  Works,  X.  879. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  349 

on  Mr.  J,  Beach's  Sermon,  with  some  brief  Reflections  upon  IT,  Caner's 
Sermon,  and  on  a  pamphlet  entitled  A  Letter  from  Aristocles  to  Anthades. 

« 
It  called  forth  a  reponse  from  Dr.  Johnson,  to  which  Mr. 

Dickinson  wrote  a  rejoinder,  called  "  A  Second  Vindication 
of  God's  Sovereign  Free  Grace,"  which  was  published,  after 
his  death,  by  his  brother,  Moses  Dickinson,  of  Norwalk.* 

Mr.  Dickinson  had  long  felt  the  necessity  of  a  Collegiate 
Institution,  more  accessible  than  Harvard  or  Yale,  for  the 
colonies  this  side  of  ISTew  England.  Tlie  course  pursued  by 
the  authorities  of  Yale  College,  in  denying  to  his  young 
friend,  David  Brainerd,  his  degree,  on  account  of  a  slight 
irregularity,  and  for  whom  he  and  Burr  had  both  interceded 
in  vain,  determined  him  to  establish,  if  possible,  a  College 
in  New  Jersey.  Something  had  been  done,  already,  by  the 
friends  of  the  Log  College  at  ISTeshaminy,  Pa.  Mr.  Dickin- 
son, it  is  credibly  reported,  had  for  years  taught  a  Classical 
School,  or  at  least  received  young  men  into  his  house,  to  fit 
them  for  tlie  ministry.  The  Rev.  Jacob  Green,  of  Hanover, 
and  the  Rev.  Caleb  Smith,  of  Orange,  N.  J.,  both  of  them 
were  his  students.  Incipient  steps  were  taken  by  the  Synod 
as  early  as  1739,  to  obtain  aid  from  Great  Britain,  for  this 
object,  Mr.  Dickinson  being  on  the  Committee  for  this  pur- 
pose, "  but  the  war  breaking  out "  with  Spain  prevented  it. 
At  length,  application  was  made,  to  John  Hamilton  Esq., 
President  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  and  (by  reason  of  the 
death.  May  14,  1740,  of  Gov.  Lewis  Morris)  Commander  in 
Chief  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  for  "  a  Cliarter  to  in- 
corporate sundry  persons  to  found  a  college."  The  applica- 
tion was  successful,  and  it  was  granted,  under  .the  great  seal 
of  the  Province,  Oct.  22,  1746.  Notice  of  the  event  and  of 
the  intentions  of  the  Trustees  was  duly  given,  in  the  New 
York  Weekly  Post  Boy,  No.  211,  dated  February  2,  174f, 
as  follows : — 

Whereas  a  Charter  with  fiill  and  ample  Privileges,  has  been  granted 
by  his  Majesty,  under  the  Seal  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  bearing 
date  the  22d  October,  174G,  for  erecting  a  College  within  the  said  Prov- 
ince, to  Jonathan  Dickinson,  John  Pierson,  Ebenezer  Pembcrton  and 

*  Spr!iguo'8  Annals,  III.  IS,  V.  55,  63,  S5.    Chandler's  Lifo  of  Jobnson,  p.  "1. 


360  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Aaron  Burr,  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  and  some  other  Gentlemen,  as 
Trustees  of  the  said  College,  by  wliich  Charter  equal  Liberties  and 
Privileges  are  secured  to  every  Denomination  of  Christians,  any  different 
religions  Sentiments  notwithstanding. 

The  said  Trustees  have  therefore  thought  proper  to  inform  the  Public, 
that  they  design  to  open  the  said  College  the  next  Spring ;  and  to  notify 
to  any  Person  or  Persons  who  are  qualified  by  preparatory  Learning  for 
Admission,  that  some'  time  in  May  next  at  latest  they  may  be  there 
admitted  to  an  Academic  Educatiou. 

Subsequently,  in  ISTo.  222,  Ap.  20,  1747,  notice  is  thus 
given : — 

This  is  to  inform  the  Publick,  That  the  Trustees  of  the  Colledge  of 
New-Jersey,  have  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  Presidext 
of  the  said  Colledge:  which  will  be  opened  the  fourth  "Week  in  May  next, 
at  Elizabeth-Town;  At  which  Time  and  Place,  all  Persons  suitably  quali- 
fied, may  be  admitted  to  an  Academic  Education. 

At  the  time  specified  the' first  Term  of  "  tlie  College  of 
New  Jersey  "  was  opened  at  Mr.  Dickinson's  house,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Old  Ealiway  road,  directly  west  of  Race  st. 
Mr.  Caleb  Smith,  of  Brookhaven,  L.  I.,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College,  in  1743,  and  now  in  the  21:th  year  of  his  age,  was 
employed  as  the  first  Tutor.  Enos  Ayres,  (afterwards  a 
Presbyterian  minister  at  Blooming  Grove,  Orange  Co.,  N.  T.), 
Benjamin  Chesnut,  (an  Englishman,  and  subsequently  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick),  Hugh  Henry,  (afterwards  of 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle),  Israel  Reed,  (shortly  after 
the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Bound  Brook,  N.  J.), 
Richard  Stockton,  (of  Princeton,  the  well-known  civilian), 
and  Daniel  Thane,  (a  Scotchman,  and  subsequently  pastor  of 
the  Church  of  Connecticut  Farms  in  this  town),  were  the  first 
graduates  of  the  Institution,  and  were  all  of  them,  doubtless, 
under  the  instruction  of  Mr.  Dickinson  and  his  Tutor,  Caleb 
Smith  ;  with  others,  perhaps,  of  the  succeeding  class.* 

In  the  midst  of  these  useful  and  laborious  employments, 
full  of  honors  as  of  service,  Mr.  Dickinson's  career  on  earth 
was  brought  to  a  close.  He  died,  of  pleurisy,  Oct.  7,  174:7, 
in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age.  The  Rev.  Timoth}^  Johnes, 
of  Morristown,  visited  him  in  his  last  illness,  and  found  him 

•  Memoir  of  Eev.  C.  Smith,  p.  3.    Trlennlnl  of  C.  of  N.  J. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  351 

ftillj  prepared  for  tlie  event :  '*  Many  days  liave  passed  be- 
tween God  and  my  soul,  in  which  1  have  solemnly  dedicated 
myself  to  Ilim,  and  I  trust  what  I  have  committed  unto 
Him,  He  is  able  to  keep  until  that  day."  Such  was  his  testi- 
mony, in  death,  to  the  gospel  in  which  he  believed.  On  the 
occasion  of  his  burial,  a  sermon  was  preached  by  his  old 
friend  and  neighbor,  the  Rev.  John  Pierson,  of  Woodbridge, 
which  was  afterwards  published.  The  following  notice  of 
his  death  and  burial  appeared  in  the  N.  York  AVeekly  Post 
Boy,  of  Oct.  12,  1747  :— 

Elizabethtown  in  New  Jersey,  Oct.  10. 
On  Wednesday  Morning  last,  about  4  o'clock,  died  here  of  a  pleuritic 
illness,  that  eminently  learned,  faithful  and  pious  Minister  of  the  Gospel, 
and  President  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Dick- 
inson, in  the  60th  Year  of  his  Age,  who  had  been  Pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  Town  for  nearly  forty  Years,  and  was  the 
Glory  and  Joy  of  it.  In  him  conspicuously  appeared  those  natural  and 
acquired  moral  and  spiritual  Endowments  whicli  constitute  a  truly  excel- 
lent and  valuable  Man,  a  good  Scholar,  an  eminent  Divine,  and  a  serious 
devout  Christian.  lie  was  greatly  adorned  with  the  Gifts  and  Graces  of 
his  Heavenly  Master,  in  the  Light  whereof  he  appeared  as  a  Star  of  supe- 
rior Brightness  and  Influence  in  the  Orb  of  the  Church,  which  has  sus- 
tained a  great  and  unspeakable  Loss  in  his  Death,  He  was  of  uncommon 
and  very  extensive  Usefulness.  He  boldly  appeared  in  the  Defence  of  the 
great  and  important  Truths  of  our  most  holy  Religion  and  the  Gospel 
Doctrines  of  the  free  and  sovereign  Grace  of  God.  He  was  a  zealous  Pro- 
moter of  godly  Practice  and  godly  Living,  and  a  bright  Ornament  to  his 
Profession.  In  Times  and  Cases  of  Difficulty  he  was  a  ready,  wise  and 
able  Counsellor.  By  his  Death  our  infant  College  is  deprived  of  the 
Benefit  and  Advantage  of  his  superior  Accomplishments,  which  afforded 
a  favorable  Prospect  of  its  future  Flourishing  and  Prosperity  under  his 
Inspection.  His  Remains  were  decently  interred  here  Yesterday,  when 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Pierson,  of  Woodbridge,  preached  his  funeral  Sermon,  and 
as  he  lived  desired  of  all  so  never  any  Person  in  these  Parts  died  more 
lamented.  Our  Fathers  where  are  they  and  the  Prophets,  do  they  live 
forever  ? 

This  notice  was  probably  written  by  the  Rev.  Mr,  Pem- 
berton,  of  New  York,  with  whom  Mr.  Dickinson  liad  been 
intimately  associated,  for  years,  in  the  defence  of  the  truth, 
and  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Christ.  The  testimony 
thus  borne  to  his  great  work  was  fully  confirmed  by  all  who 


352  THE    HISTORY    OF 

knew  liiin.  President  Edwards  called  him  "  the  lute  learned 
and  very  excellent  Mr.  Jonathan  Dickinson."  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Bellamy  called  him  "  the  great  Mr.  Dickinson."  The  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Erskine,  of  Edinburgh,  said,  "The  British  Isles  have 
produced  no  such  writers  on  divinity  in  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury as  Dickinson  and  Edwards."  The  Rev.  David  Austin, 
of  this  town,  writing  of  him  in  1793,  gathers  up  the  traditions 
of  that  day  concerning  him  as  follows  : — 

There  are  those  alive,  who  testify  that  he  was  a  most  solemn,  weighty 
and  moving  preacher — that  he  was  a  uniform  advocate  for  the  distin- 
guishing doctrines  of  grace,  as  his  writings  prove — that  he  was  industri- 
ous, indefatigable,  and  successful  in  his  ministerial  labors — as  to  his  per- 
son, that  it  was  manly — of  full  size  :  solemn  and  grave  in  his  aspect,  so 
that  the  wicked  would  seem  to  tremble  in  his  presence.* 

His  monument  in  the  Presbj^terian  "  Burying  Ground  " 
bears  the  following  inscription : — 

Here  lyes  y^  body  of  y'  Kev*^ 

Mr  Jonathan  Dickinson,  Pastor 

of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church 

In  Elizabeth  Town,  who  Died  Oct' 
y^  7th  1747.     Aetatis  Suae  60. 
Deep  was  the  "Wound,  O  Death!  and  Vastly  wide, 
"When  he  resign'd  his  Useful  breath  and  dy'd  : 
Ye  Sacred  Tribe  witli  pious  Sorrows  mourn. 
And  drop  a  tear  at  your  great  Patron's  Urn  ! 
Conceal'd  a  moment,  from  our  longing  Eyes, 
Beneath  this  Stone  his  mortal  Body  lies : 
Happy  the  Spirit  lives,  and  will,  we  trust. 
In  Bliss  associate  with  his  precious  Dust. 

Another  monument,  by  the  side  of  his,  has  the  following  : — 

Here  is  interred  the  body  of  Mrs.  Joanna  Dickinson — Obiit.  April  20, 
1745.     Anno  Aetatis  63. 

Kest,  precious  Dust,  till  Christ  revive  this  Clay 
To  Join  the  Triumphs  of  the  Judgement  Day. 

They  had  nine  children.  (1.)  Melyen  was  born  Dec.  7, 
1709.  (2.)  Abigail,  married  to  Jonathan  Sergeant,  a  widow- 
er, of  Newark.f     Her  son,  Jonathan  Dickinson  Sergeant,  was 

*  Edwards'  Works,  X.  879.    Webster's  P.  Clih.,  p.  8G1.    Prefiico  to  the  Five  Points,  f  iii. 
1  His  first  wife  was  HaDoah,  (born,  1709,  and  died,  17-13),  tlie  daughter  of  the  Rer.  John 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  353 

born  in  1746,  and  niai-ried  Margaret,  daughter  of  Rev.  Elilm 
Spencer,  D.  D.,  Mr.  Dickinson's  successor  in  the  ministry 
here.  Their  children  were  Hon.  John  Sergeant,  Hon. 
Thomas  Sergeant,  Hon.  Elihu  Spencer  Sergeant,  and  Sarah, 
the  wife  of  Rev,  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.  (3.)  Jonathan,  born, 
Sept.  19,  1713,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1731,  and  died 
in  1735.  (4.)  Mary,  married,  (1.)  to  John  Cooper,  a  tailor, 
of  this  town,  and  had  a  daughter,  Martha,  and  two  sons, 
William  and  Caleb  Cooper.    Mr.  Cooper  died  in  March,  1753, 

and  she  was  married,  (2.)  to Plum,  of  Newark,  and  had 

Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  Martha  Plum,  the  latter  married  to 
David  Burnet.  She  died  in  1763.  (5.)  Joanna,  born,  Feb. 
27, 1716,  and  died,  May  9,  1732,.  (6.)  Temperance,  married  to 
Jonathan  Odell,  of  Ct.  Farms,  and  had  four  children :  Jona- 
than, Joanna,  Eunice,  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Odell  died,  June 
25,  1750.  His  son,  Jonathan,  was  then  a  member  of  the 
Freshman  Class  of  the  College  of  ISTew  Jersey,  at  Newark, 
where  he  graduated  in  1754 — afterwards,  entering  the  gos- 
pel ministry.  (7.)  Elizabeth,  born  in  1721,  married  to  Mr. 
Jonathan  Miller,  of  Earnet's  Mills,  in    this  town,  and  died, 

Nov.  27,  1788.     (8.) .     (9.)  Martha,  married,  Sept.  7, 

1749,  to  Rev.  Caleb  Smith,  of  Newark  Mountains,  [Orange], 
N.  J.,  and  died,  August  20,  1757,  leaving  three  daughters, 
— Nancy,  Elizabeth,  and  Jane.     Slie  is  described  as 

A  Lady  endowed  -with  mfiny  amiable  Qualities;  slie  was  superior  to 
most  of  lier  Sex  in  Strength  of  Genius,  her  intellectual  Qualities  were  quick 
and  penetrating,  she  had  a  Thirst  for  Knowledge,  and  was  greatly  delighted 
in  Reading :  Kindness,  Ease  and  Friendship  composed  her  natural  Tem- 
per; she  was  an  agreeable  Companion,  very  obliging  in  her  Behaviour, 
and  admired  and  loved  by  all  who  had  the  Happiness  of  her  Acquaint- 
ance: As  she  was  blessed  with  an  early  religious  Education  so  the  things 
of  Eternity  began  betimes  to  exorcise  her :  She  had  serious  Impressions  upon 
her  Mind  even  from  her  Childhood,  and  began  a  Course  of  secret  Prayer 
while  Young.  She  was  a  most  faithful  Friend,  an  amiable  and  affection- 
ate Companion,  and  the  Heart  of  her  Husband  safely  trusted  in  her.* 

Nutman  of  Hanover,  N.  J.  Ilor  daughter,  nannah,  was  married,  about  1759,  to  the  Eev.  John 
Ewing,  [afterwards,  D.  D.],  ofPhiladelpbia.  Mr.  Sergeant  removed  at  an  early  day  to  Prince- 
ton, N.  J. 

♦  Murray's  Notes,  p.  60.  Sprague'a  Ann:ils,  III.  IT.  Uu'.l's  Trenton,  p.  2S9.  Memoir  of 
Eev.  Caleb  Smith,  p.  4S. 

23 


35:1:  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

Mrs.  Maiy  Dickinson  snrvived  her  husband,  and  died, 
August  30th,  17G2,  in  the  GSth  year  of  her  age.  Iler  remains 
repose  in  the  Cemetery  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Xewark,  N.  J.  She  was  the  widow  of  Elihu  Crane,  and  the 
mother  of  Lewis,  Christopher,  Charles,  Elder  Elihu,  Isaac, 
Hannah  (married  to  Dr.  Moses  Scott),  and  Phebe  (the  wife 
of  Rev.  John  Carmichael,  of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.).  Her  grand- 
daughter, Martha  Crane  (daughter  of  Elihu),  was  the  wife  of 
the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Croes,  of  N.  Jersey.* 

Mr.  Dickinson  was,  by  common  consent,  the  greatest  man, 
whose  name  adorns  the  Annals  of  the  town.  Tracy,  in  his 
"  Great  Awakening,"  p.  404,  calls  him  "  one  of  the  greatest 
and  safest  men  of  that  age  ;  "  and  Dr.  Sprague  ventures  the 
assertion, — 

It  may  bo  doubted  whether,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  elder 
Edwards,  Calvinism  has  ever  found  an  abler'or  more  efficient  champion 
in  this  country,  than  Jonathan  Dickinson. 

This  peculiar  prominence  is  a  sufficient  apology  for  giving 
him  so  large  a  place  in  this  history.  His  name,  during  the 
nearly  forty  years  of  his  ministry,  gave  tlie  town  itself  a 
prominence  both  in  the  province  and  in  the  country. 

*  Bicentenary  of  Newark,  p.  116      Sprague's  Annals,  III.  231. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY  355 


CEAPTER    XVI. 

A.  D.  1708-1'74'7. 

r 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  Edward  Vaughau,  Episcopal  Missionary,  arrives  from 
England  —  Call  to  Jamaica,  L,  I.,  declined  —  Poverty  of  his  People  — 
Preaches  at  Rahway,  Woodbridge,  and  P.  Amboy  —  Marries  Mrs.  Emott 
—  Removes  to  Amboy  —  Returns  —  Church  Edifice  not  finished  for  years  — 
Annual  Reports  to  the  "Society  "  —  Chh.  Glebe  —  Opposes  Mr.  Whitefield — 
His  Death  and  Character  —  Increase  of  Religious  Congregations  in  40  years. 

REV.  EDWARD  VAUGHAN. 

After  the  departure  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brooke,  Kov.,  1707, 
for  England,  the  Episcopal  Congregation  were  left  without  a 
preacher  nearly  two  years.  They  were  dependent  entirely 
on  missionary  service  from  England.  Urgent  representa- 
tions were  made  to  "  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  ;"  and,  in  the  summer  of  1709,  the 
Rev.  Edward  Vaughan  was  appointed  their  missionary  for 
this  region.  Occasionally  the  Rev.  John  Talbot,  of  Burling- . 
ton,  extended  his  ministrations  as  far  as  this  town,  as  maybe 
learned  from  a  letter  written  by  him  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Society,  Sept.  27,  1709  : 

I  hear  Mr.  Vaughan  is  arrived  at  Boston,  but  is  not  yet  come  into  this 
province,  he  will  have  enough  to  do  to  supply  Mr.  Brook's  charge  at 
Elizabeth  Town,  Amboy,  Piscataway,  who  have  had  none  since  he  left 
them  ;  but  I  have  done  for  them,  maybe  once  in  a  quarter,  or  so  ;  some- 
body occasionally  passing  by  that  way.* 

Mr.  A^aughan  arrived  shortly  after  the  date  of  this  letter 
and  commenced  his  ministry  here  and  in   the  neighboring 

»  Clark's  St.  John's  Cbh.,  p.  S4. 


356  TOE    HISTORY    OF 

towns.  He  was  from  the  West  of  England,  and  a  brother  of 
the  Rev.  Robert  Vanghan,  Rector  of  Llantewy  and  Vicar  of 
Llantrissent,  Monmouthshire,  "Wales,  and  of  Jane,  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Godden,  of  Leather  Lane,  near  Ilolborn,  London. 
His  prospects  were  by  no  means  flattering.  "Writing  from 
Amboj,  Dec.  4,  1709,  he  says  : — 

I  believe  that  the  most  invcrate  enemies  of  our  mother  church  would 
recant  their  pernicious  notions  were  there  a  faithful  pastor  in  every  town 
to  instil  better  principles  into  their  minds ;  here  are  a  vast  number  of 
Deists,  Sabbatarians,  and  Eutychians,  as  also  of  Independants,  Anabap- 
tists, and  Quakers,  from  which  absurdities  Mr.  Brooke  brought  a  consid- 
erable number  of  them  to  embrace  our  most  pure  and  holy  Religion,  and 
I  hope  that  my  labors  also  will  be  attended  with  no  less  success,  and  ob- 
serve that  those  late  converts  are  much  more  zealous  for  promoting  the 
interests  of  our  church,  and  more  constant  in  the  public  worship  of  God, 
than  those  who  sucked  their  milk  in  their  infancy. 

Referring  to  the  decease,  in  August,  1709,  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Urquhart,  of  Jamaica,  he  adds, — 

Whose  cure  I  have  been  solicited  to  supply,  but  declined  it  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  Society's  instructions,  whose  leave  and  approbation  for  my 
removal  to  that  cure  I  must  humbly  beg  for  these  following  reasons  :  1st. 
That  there  is  not  one  family  in  Elizabeth  Town  that  can  accommodate  me 
with  an  ordinary  lodging  excepting  Colonel  Townly,  who,  upon  the  ac- 
count of  some  difiereuco  with  Mr.  Brooke  (though  a  gentleman  of  an 
unblemished  character),  hath  declared  never  to  entertain  any  missionary 
after  him.  Secondly.  That  my  salary  of  £50  per  annum  will  not  afford 
me  a  competent  subsistence  in  this  dear  place  where  no  contributions  are 
given  by  the  people  towards  my  support,  and  where  I  am  continually 
obliged  to  be  itinerant  and  consequently  at  great  expenses,  especially  in 
crossing  Ferries.* 

Mr.  Vaughan  seems  not  to  have  obtained  the  desired  leave, 
but  proceeded  to  cultivate  diligently  the  field  assigned  him. 
At  the  expiration  of  a  year,  Dec.  4,  1710,  he  informs  the 
Secretary,  that, — 

The  people  have  not  contributed  any  thing  towards  my  subsistence 
since  I  came  amongst  them,  and,  indeed,  to  desire  it  from  them,  or  to 
show  an  inclination  for  it,  would  very  much  tend  to  the  dis-service  of 
the  Church,  in  causing  our  proselytes  to  start  from  us  ratlier  than  bear 
the  weight  of  such  burthens,  which  to  their  weak  shoulders  and  poverty, 

*  Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.,  pp.  35,  6, 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  357 

would  seem  intolerable.  I  frequently  visit  the  Dissenters  of  all  sorts  in 
their  houses,  and  I  experimentally  find  that  an  affable  even  temper  with 
the  force  of  arguments  is  very  prevalent  to  engage  their  affections  and 
conformity  to  holy  mother,  the  Church,  which  I  do  assure  you  is  con- 
siderably increased  by  late  converts  from  Quakerism  and  Anabaptism.* 

It  is  mainly  from  liis  periodical  reports  to  the  Societ}',  that 
his  life  and  labors  are  to  be  sketched.  He  writes,  Sept.  12, 
1711,  a  few  months  after  the  decease  of  Col.  Richard  Town- 
ley,  (the  main  pillar  of  St.  John's,  at  that  early  period),  as 
follows : — 

I  preach  to  them  in  the  fore  and  afternoon  of  every  Lord's  day  and  ad- 
minister the  blessed  Sacrament  monthly  to  twenty  eight  or  thirty  com- 
municants. I  have  baptized  since  my  arrival  to  this  government  seventy- 
two  children,  besides  eleven  adult  persons,  unfortunately  brought  up  in 
dark  Quakerism  and  Anabaptism,  and  are  now  so  happy  as  to  be  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Christ,  whose  worship  they  constantly  frequent 
with  great  devotion  and  seeming  delight,  t 

In  the  summer  of  1711,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Halliday  was 
sent  by  the  Society  to  take  charge  of  Amboy  and  Piscata- 
way,  and  Mr.  Yaughan  divided  his  labors  between  the  town 
proper  and  that  part  of  it  called  Rahway — a  monthly  lecture 
being  given  to  the  latter  place.  Shortly  after  the  decease  of 
Col.  Townley,  the  Congregation  obtained  from  his  son,  Charles, 
a  clear  title  to  the  church  lot,  for  want  of  which  the  interior 
of  the  Church  had  not  been  "  fitted  according  to  the  rules  of 
decency  and  order." 

Owing  to  a  serious  disaffection  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Woodbridge,  a  few  families  withdrew,  and  formed  an 
Episcopal  Society.  Mr.  Yaughan  was  requested  to  officiate 
there  occasionally — in  a  house  built  for  the  purpose — "prob- 
ably the  smallest  you  have  ever  seen,  but  amply  sufficient 
for  the  congregation  at  this  day." 

Though  I  reside,  (he  says,  Feb.  28,  17U),  at  Elizabeth  Town,  whoso 
distance  is  ten  miles  from  Woodbridge,  yet  I  promise  through  God's  bless- 
ing to  supply  both  cures  by  officiating  on  every  Lord's  day,  in  the  fore- 
noon in  the  former  and  once  a  fortnight  in  tlip  afternoon  in  the  latter, 
wliich  I  liop3  to  perform  in  tlie  summer  time  when  the  days  arc  long, 

*  Clark's  St.  John's  Chli.,  p.  36.  t  Ibid,  p.  33. 


358  THE    HISTORY    OF 

but  in  the  winter  season  T  shall,  as  I  now  do,  divide  my  service  between 
both  congregations  by  preaching  alternately.* 

JVTr,  Halliday  proved  to  be  utterly  unworthy  of  his  office, 
and,  in  1T13,  was  obliged  to  leave  Amboy,  when  Mr.  Yaughan 
was  requested  to  include  that  place  within  his  parochial  dis- 
trict. Mrs.  Mary  Emott,  the  widow  of  James  Emott  of  New 
York,  and  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Philip  Carteret,  had  been, 
doubtless,  a  frequent  visitor  at  the  house  of  her  step-father. 
Col.  Townley.  Her  husband  had  died  in  April  1713,  leaving 
her  with  four  sons  and  a  handsome  "fortune  of  £2000."  She 
was  about  48  years  old,  and  of  high  social  standing.  Mif 
Yaughan  was  accepted  as  her  second  husband.  They  were 
married  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  of  her  widowhood. f 

By  his  marriage,  he  came  into  possession  of  the  house  and 
grounds,  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Col.  Wm.  Rick- 
etts,  on  the  Point  Road ;  which,  thenceforth,  became  his 
home  ;  also,  of  lands  held  by  Proprietary  rights ;  and,  as 
already  related,  to  secure  a  portion  of  this  jjroperty,  he 
brought,  in  ITltt,  the  year  of  his  marriage,  an  Action  of 
Ejectment  against  Joseph  "Woodruff,  one  of  the  Elders  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  its  reception  into  the  Presbytery 
in  1717,  and  probably  a  Deacon  previously.  It  is  likely,  that 
Mr.  Yaughan  bore  niuch  the  same  relation  to  the  Proprietary 
part}',  that  Mr.  Dickinson  did  to  the  Associates ;  and  that 
the  two  congi-egations  were  separated  very  nearly  by  the 
same  lines. 

At  or  soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  A^aughan  removed  to 
Amboy,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  "  which,"  he  says, 
"  was  much  impaired  during  my  abode  in  Elizabeth  Town 
where  I  still  do  and  shall  continue  to  officiate  in  the  fore  and 
afternoon  three  Lord's  days  successively  in  every  month," 
the  other  being  given  to  Amboy.  The  Society  seem  not  to 
have  favored  this  plan  of  non-residence,  and  to  have  inti- 
mated to  him,  that  some  one  else  w'ould  be  seut  to  take  his 
place  here  ;  as  he  expresses,  Sept.  28,  1716,  a  desire  to  be 
restored  to  his  former«chargc  at  Elizabeth  Town.:}: 

•  Clark's  St.  John's  Clih.,  pp.  38-11.  Whitehead's  P.  Amboy,  pp.  216,  7,  88T.  Webster's 
P.  Chh.,  pp.  888,  4.  t  Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.,  p.  42.  I  Ibid.,  p.  43. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  359 

How  the  matter  was  finally  arranged  the  correspondence 
does  not  show,  nor  how  long  he  continued  to  reside  at 
Amboy  ;  save  the  fact,  that  he  returned  to  his  former  charge, 
and  was  residing  here  in  1721.  He  continued  to  divide  his 
time  between  the  several  stations  as  before,  giving  the  chief 
attention  to  this  town.     Writing,  July  8,  1717,  he  says, — 

Elizabeth  Town  itself  is  a  considerable  village  and  equals  if  not  exceeds 
any  in  the  Province  as  well  in  bigness  as  in  number  of  Inhabitants,  custom 
and  education  has  engaged  them  for  the  most  part  in  the  Congregational 
way,  but  notwitlistanding  they  are  not  so  very  rigid  in  that  persuasion  as 
altogether  to  deny  their  attendance  on  my  ministry.* 

The  Church,  which  had  been  erected  of  brick,  in  1706, 
had  not  yet  been  finished.  ••  Mr.  Halliday,  who  seems  to  have 
resided  here  at  the  time,  and  to  have  been  retained  as  a  mis 
sionary  in  the  service  of  the  Propagation  Society,  wrote  to 
the  Secretary,  Aug.  1,  1717,  of  the  building  of  St.  John's 
Church,  in  these  words  : — 

There  was  £400  raised  by  subscription  of  Charitable  People.  Mr. 
Brooks  received  most  of  the  money  and  as  Mr.  Townly  informs  me  he 
went  to  England  before  he  made  up  his  accounts,  several  subscriptions 
remaining  in  his  hands  unpaid,  but  as  his  father  [Col.  Townley]  being  en- 
gaged for  the  payment  of  the  workmen,  he  had  made  up  the  deficiencies 
and  given  bond  for  £20  to  Elizabeth  Town  Church  however  this  is,  the 
Bond  is  now  in  Mr.  Willock's  hands  but  I  think  ought  rather  to  be  em- 
ployed for  the  use  of  the  Church,  there  being  only  the  shell  of  Brick,  no 
pews,  Pulpit,  notwithstanding  so  much  money  has  been  raised  for  it.f 

In  such  circumstances,  it  is  not  strange,  that  the  congrega- 
tion grew  but  slowly,  and  that  the  most  they  could  raise  for 
their  minister  was  £30,  without  a  glebe  or  parsonage.  That 
they  were  pleased  with  his  ministrations  is  testified  by  a  let- 
ter sent  in  their  name  to  the  Society,  in  the  course  of  the 
same  year : — 

We  esteem  ourselves  happy  under  his  pastoral  care,  and  have  a  thor- 
ough persuasion  of  mind  tbat  the  Church  of  Christ  is  now  planted  among 
us  in  its  purity.  Mr.  Vaughan  hath,  to  the  great  comfort  and  edification 
of  our  families,  in  these  dark  and  distant  regions  of  the  world,  prosecuted 
the  duties  of  his  holy  calling  with  the  utmost  application  and  diligence ; 

•  Clark's  St.  John's  Chb.,  pp.  44,  5.  t  lb.,  pp.  45,  6. 


360  THE    HISTORY    OF 

adorneJ  his  character  with  an  esemplary  Ufo  and  conversation ;  and  so 
behaved  liiinself  with  all  due  prudence  and  fidelity  ;  showing  uncorrupt- 
ness,  gravity,  sincerity,  and  sound  speech  ;  that  thoy  who  are  of  the  con- 
trary part  have  no  evil  thing  to  say  of  him.* 

In  1721,  his  audience  bad  increased  to  200  souls,  and  the 
communicants  were  more  than  40  in  number.  For  ten  years 
no  memorial  of  him  is  found.     But,  Oct.  6,  1731,  be  writes : 

My  congregation  cncreasetli  not  only  in  this  Town,  but  in  tho  neigh- 
bouring Towns  of  Newark^  Whippany  and  the  Mountains  [Orange]  where 
I  visit  and  preach  to  a  numerous  assembly  occasionally  and  in  the  wilder- 
ness and  dispense  tho  Sacrament  to  them.  I  have  Baptized  here  and 
elsewhere  within  the  compafs  of  two  years  last  past  556  children  besides 
64  adults,  and  find  in  the  people  a  general  disposition  to  receive  the  Gos- 
pel according  to  the  way  and  manner  •'taught  and  established  in  the 
Cimrch  of  England.t 

At  the  close  of  1733,  he  reports  the  baptism,  for  the  year, 
of  88  children  and  five  adults  ;  and  for  1734,  "  13  Adults  6 
of  whicli  were  negroes,  and  162  children."  The  communi- 
cants were  sevent}^  In  the  year,  ending.  May  29,  1739, 
he  baptized  129  Infants  and  3  adults,  and  the  number  of 
communicants  was  84.  A  glebe  "  of  nine  acres  of  good  land, 
with  a  fine  orchard  thereon,"  had  been  acquired  "  by  the 
Piety  and  favor  of  a  verj'  worthy  widow  Mrs.  Anne  Arskins 
[Erskine]  of  Elizabeth  Town.;}: 

"  Mrs.  Arskins  "  was  the  widow  of  John  Erskine, .  who 
came  over  in  the  Scotch  immigration  of  1684-5,  who  was,  in 
all  probability,  originally  a  Presbyterian. 

TVhen  Mr.  Whitefield  visited  the  town  in  1739  and  1740, 
Mr.  Vaughan  stood  aloof  from  him,  and  wrote  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Society  giving  an  account  of  his  preaching  with 
strictures  on  his  doctrine.§ 

Mr.  Yaughan  continued  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  as  the 
Rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  until  his  decease  about  the  12tli 
of  October,  1747,  "  far  advanced  in  years."  It  has  been 
said,  on  high  authority,  that  Mr.  Yaughan  and  Mr.  Dickin- 
son "  both  lay  corpses  on  the  same  day,  the  latter  having 

•  Hninphrey's  nist.  of  tho  S.  P.  Q.  F.,  p.  77.  t  Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.,  pp.  4S,  9. 

i  Ibid.,  pp.  60,  1,  6.  §  Clark's  St.  John's  Clih.,  p.  65. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  361 

died  a  few  hours  the  first."  But  in  a  letter,  written  less  than 
three  months  after  the  event,  in  the  name  of  the  Church 
"Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  John's  Church,  it  is  said,  "  A  few 
days  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Vaughan,  Mr.  Dickinson  late 
Dissenting  Teacher  in  this  place  departed  this  life."  As  the 
latter  died  on  the  7th,  it  is  probable  that  Mr.  Vaughan  died 
on  or  about  the  12th.* 

It  is,  also,  reported,  that  when  tidings  reached  Mr.  Vaug- 
han, then  old  and  feeble,  and  nigh  unto  death,  that  Mr.  Dick- 
inson was  dead,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh  that  I  had  liold  of  the 
skirts  of  Brother  Jonathan  !  "  As  their  "  personal  relations 
were  always  of  the  most  pleasant  character,"  the  report  is 
not  improbable.  It  must  have  been  a  season  of  great  desola- 
tion, when  the  town  was  thus  deprived,  at  the  same  time,  of 
both  of  its  pastors — settled  at  the  same  period,  continuing 
with  them  nearly  forty  years,  and  then  stricken  down  the 
same  week.f 

Mr.  Vaughan's  Will  was  dated,  July  30,  1T47 :  in  which 
he  speaks  of  his  brother-in-law,  Charles  Townley,  his  niece, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Townley,  and  her  sister,  Mary  Townley  (subse- 
quently married  to  Stephen  Burrows) ;  also,  his  sister-in-law, 
Mrs.  Shackmaple.  To  Sarah  Townley  (afterwards  the  wife 
of  John  Harriman,  3d)  he  left  his  negro-man  Jack,  his  plate, 
his  carriage,  and  the  use  of  his  dwelling  house.  His  books 
he  gave  to  Walter  Dongan,  one  of  his  Executors.  To  the 
Propagation  Society  for  the  use  of  a  Church  of  England 
minister  in  Elizabeth  Town,  he  gave  his  nine-acre  lot.  His 
wife  was  the  half-sister  of  Charles  Townley,  but  about  20 
years  older. 

The  memory  of  Mr.  Vaughan,  as  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Dick- 
inson was  very  precious  to  the  people  of  his  charge.  From 
the  information  received  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rudd,  from  Gen. 
Matthias  "Williamson,  who  died  Nov.  8,  1807,  at  the  age  of 
91  years,  and  whose  recollections  of  Mr.  Vaughan  were  very 
distinct  and  grateful, 

•  Clarlc'B  St.  John's  Chh.,  p.  56.    Eev.  Dr.  Kudd's  nist.NoticcB  of  St.  John's  Clih.,  p. 
10.    Dr.  Chandler  says,  that  they  "  died  in  the  samo  month  of  the  year— 47." 
t  Rev.  Dr.  Murray's  Notes,  p.  129. 


362  THE    HISTORY    OF 

It  would  appear  that  ho  was  liappily  constituted  for  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  sphere  of  his  labours.  lie  was  sprightly  and 
engaging  as  a  companion,  as  a  friend  and  neighbour  kind  and  liberal,  and 
his  public  ministrations  were  marked  by  great  solemnity  and  tenderness, 
especially  the  administration  of  the  holy  Supper. 

At  tlie  time  of  the  settlement  of  these  two  patriarchs,  their 
two  congregations  were  the  only  ones  in  the  town,  and  the 
Episcopal  congregation  had  just*  been  gathered,  including 
but  a  very  few  families.  At  the  time  of  their  decease, 
Presbyterian  congregations  had  been  gathered  and  ministers 
settled  over  them,  at  "Westfield,  at  Connecticut  Farms,  at 
Turkey  or  ISTew  Providence,  at  Pahwny,  at  Basking  Ridge, 
at  Rocsiticus  [Mendham],  at  West  Hanover  [Morristown], 
and  at  Springfield, — all  of  which  were  included  within  the 
original  township  of  Elizabeth. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  363 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

A.  D.  1740-1'764. 

Xegro  Plot  —  Land  Conflicts  —  Appeal  to  the  Crown  —  Tumults  —  Secret  Meet- 
ings—  E.  T.  Bill  in  Chancery  —  Answer  —  Death  of  Gov.  Morris  —  Jonathan 
Belcher,  Gov.  —  Issue  of  the  long  Conflict  with  the  Proprietors  —  Death  of 
Mayor  Bonnel  —  Lottery  Mania  —  Two  Lottery  Schemes  —  Prof.  Kalm's 
Notices  of  the  Town  —  Col.  Rickett's  Affair  in  N.  Y.  Harbor  —  Notices  of  Gov. 
Belcher  —  Removes  to  E.  T.  —  His  Hospitality  and  Piety  —  Befriends  the  Col- 
lege —  Gives  it  a  new  Charter  —  Incorporates  the  Presbyterian  Chh.  —  Makes 
E.  T.  the  Seat  of  Government  —  His  Death  and  Character  —  Judge  Ross  — 
Addresses  of  the  Corporation  —  Town  Officers  —  Newspaper  Notices  —  The 
Barracks  —  First  Centenary  Celebration. 

The  Incorporation  of  the  Borough,  Feb.  8,  17|f,  was  fol- 
lowed, the  same  year,  by  the  scenes  and  excitements  of  "  the 
Great  Revival,"  absorbing  the  attention  and  interest  of  nearly 
the  whole  community.  The  year  following,  1741,  witnessed 
one  of  those  remarkable  panics  to  which  a  slaveholding  com- 
munity are  ever  liable.  The  city  of  New  York,  in  the 
spring  and  summer  of  that  year,  was  terribly  agitated  by  the 
report  of  a  Negro  Conspiracy  to  bui»n  the  city  and  murder 
the  white  population,  the  particulars  of  which,  by  Recorder 
llorsmanden,  have  been  so  minutely  and  faithfully  described 
in  his  "  Ilistoiy  of  the  Negro  Plot."  To  the  disgrace  of 
humanity, 

During  the  progress  of  this  affair,  one  hundred  and  fifty  four  negroes 
were  committed  to  prison  ;  of  whom  fourteen  were  burnt  at  the  stake  ; 
eighteen  hanged  ;  seventy  one  transported,  and  the  rest  pardoned  or  dis- 
charged for  want  of  proof.  Twenty  white  persons  were  committed,  of 
whom  four  were  executed.* 

Two  were  burned  on  the  3d  of  May,  and  the  remaining 

•  Valontlne'3  N.  York,  p.  2T5. 


364:  THE    HISTORY    OF 

twelve  in  June  following.  Horrible  as  these  transactions 
were,  tliej  were  not  confined  to  New  York.  The  panic  ex- 
tended to  this  neighborhood,  whither  some  of  the  suspected 
blacks  had  fled  for  safety.  Two  at  least  of  the  poor  creatures 
were  arrested,  within  the  County  of  Essex,  tried,  found  guilty, 
and  condemned  to  the  same  inhunjan  fate.  The  Account 
Book  of  the  Justices  and  Freeholders  of  the  county  contains 
the  following  records : 

June  4,  1741.  Daniel  Harrison  Sent  in  his  account  of  wood  Carted  for 
Burning  two  Negros  allow*  Cur^.  0.  11.  0. 

February  25,  174^.  Joseph  Heden  ace'  for  Wood  to  Burn  the  Negros 
M''  Farrand  paid  allowed.  .  0.  7.  0.  Allowed  to  Isaac  Lyon  4/  Curr^  for 
a  load  of  "Wood  to  burn  the  first  Negro  .  .  0.  4.  0. 

At  the  latter  meeting  were  present,  "  Matthias  Hatfield 
Justice  for  Eliz'''  town,  John  Halsted  freeholder  for  Eliz*"* 
town."  At  the  former,  "  John  Ogdeu,  Justice,  John  Halsted 
and  John  Stiles  freeholders  for  Elizebethtown."  Zophar 
Beech  was  allowed  7s.  for  "  Irons  for  y®  Negro  that  was 
Burnt."  The  latter  seems  to  have  been  allow^ed,  Feb.  27, 
17|f ,  and  probably  refers  to  a  prior  event.  Possibly,  there 
were  three  burned  at  the  stake.  The  Sheriflf  on  whom  it  de- 
volved to  to  execute  the  judgments  of  the  Court,  at  this  pe- 
riod, was  "William  Chetwood  of  this  town. 

Whether  these  executions  had  any  connection  with  the 
so-called  "  Negro  Conspiracy  "  at  New  York,  or  not,  they 
show  a  feature  of  the  times  not  to  be  overlooked  by  the  faith- 
ful historian. 

The  troubles  with  the  "Proprietors"  were  perpetuated, 
and  soon  after  the  occurrences  just  mentioned  greatly  in- 
creased. In  1740,  the  Town  Committee  consisted  of  John 
Crane,  Jonathan  Dayton,  John  Megie,  Thomas  Clarke,  An- 
drew Joline,  Joseph  Man,  and  Andrew  Craige,  Robert 
Ogdcn,  (the  second  of  the  name)  a  young  lawyer,  2-i 
3'ears  old,  was  chosen,  Oct.  2,  174:0,  "  Town  Clark."  He 
became,  subsequently,  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in 
the  town.* 

The   two   Actions  of  Ejectment,    brought   by    the  Penn 

•  E.  Town  Book,  B.  21,  2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  365 

brothers,  agaiust  Chambers  and  Alcorn,  in  1735,  (as  already 
noticed),  came  on  for  trial,  at  Amboj,  Aug.  14,  1741 ;  result- 
ing, on  the  IGth,  in  a  general  verdict  for  the  plaintiffs,  on 
the  ground  that  the  lands  in  question  were  not  included  in 
the  E.  Town  Purchase.  To  meet  the  expenses  of.  this  suit,  it 
was  resolved  at  a  town  meeting,  Dec.  15,  1741, 

That  the  Committeo  of  said  Town  should  have  full  Power  and  Athor- 
ity  Given  To  them  By  Us  To  Sell  and  Dispose  of  all  that  three  Hundred 
Acres  of-  Upland  Lying  near  Ash  Swamp  which  was  Layed  Out  in  the 
Year  One  thousand  Six  Hundred  and  Ninety  Nine  (Alias)  Seven  Hun- 
dred for  the  Town  Aforesaid  :  in  Order  to  Defray  the  Cost  and  Charge  of 
the  Sute  Between  AVilliam  Pen  Thomas  Pen  and  Others :  and  the  Said 
Town.* 

An  Action  of  Ejectment  had,  also,  been  brought,  August, 
1737,  in  the  name  of  James  Jackson,  on  the  right  of  Joseph 
Halsey,  one  of  the  Associates,  against  John  Yail,  holding  by 
a  Proprietary  right,  which  came  to  trial,  March  17,  174^^, 
resulting,  on  the  19th,  in  a  general  verdict  for  the  plaintiff; 
which  was  carried,  by  appeal,  before  tlie  Governor  and 
Council. f 

The  case  of  Cooper  vs.  Moss  and  others,  also,  came  to  trial 
in  August  1742,  resulting  in  a  verdict,  by  a  Morris  County 
Jury,  for  the  plaintiff.  Other  Actions  were  brought,  of  a 
similar  character,  some  of  which  were,  by  compromise,  with- 
drawn ;  and  others  went  to  trial  with  like  results.  "  To  enume- 
rate all  the  Actions  of  Trespass,  and  Trespass  and  Ejectment, 
which  have  been  occasioned  by  the  difierent  claims  of  the  Peo- 
ple of  Elizabeth-Town  and  the  Proprietors,"  would  occupy  too 
much  si)acc  in  this  Memoir.  It  was  alleged,  that  the  County 
of  Morris  had  been  so  formed,  March  15, 173  5,  and  the  County 
of  Somerset  had  been  so  altered,  Nov.  4, 1741,  as  to  bring  much 
of  the  land  in  question  into  those  counties,  so  that,  these  cases 
might  be  tried  before  Somerset  or  Morris  Co.  jurors,  known 
to  be  inimical  to  the  claims  of  the  E.  T.  Associates.  So, 
also,  it  was  alleged,  that  the  Judges  were  mostly  in  tlie  in- 
terest of  their  persecutors.:}: 

*  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  43.    Ans.  to  Do.,  p.  84.    E.  T.  Book,  B.  23. 

t  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  48,  9.    Ans.  to  Do.,  p.  34.  %  Ans.  to  E.  T.  Bill,  pp.  85,  6. 


366  -THE    HISTORY    OF 

In  these  circumstances,  it  was  determiued  to  cany  the 
matter  directly  to  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty.  Solo- 
mon Boyle,  of  Morris  Co.,  \vrites,  Nov.  16,  1743,  to  James 
Alexander,  (both  of  them  in  the  interest  of  the  Proprietary 
party),  that  he 

Had  been  to  Elizabethtown  tlie  week  before,  and  been  informed  that 
the  people  of  that  place  and  the  people  of  Newark  had  come  to  a  written 
agreement  relative  to  their  boundary — the  Newarkers  to  join  in  sending 
home  against  the  Proprietors,  but  Col.  Ogden  said  it  was  not  ■finished, 
and  that  none  of  the  Ogdens  would  agree  to  it. 

David  Ogden,  also,  of  Newark,  one  of  the  counsel  of  the 
Proprietors,  writes,  Dec.  12,  1743,  to  Jftmes  Alexander,  his 
fellow  counselor,  confirming  what  Boyle  had  written,  with 
additional  information  about  the  proposed  agreement  between 
the  two  towns,  and  stating  further,  that 

Mr.  Fitch,  from  Norwalk,  had  met  the  Elizabeth  Town  Committee,  and 
left  with  them  a  petition  to  the  King  for  relief  against  the  Proprietors, 
with  which  they  were  much  pleased  ;  that  Matthias  Iletfield  and  Stephen 
Crane  had  been  chosen  by  them  to  go  to  Engkind  during  the  winter,  and 
lay  it  before  the  King.* 

It  is  somewhat  strange  that  the  Associates  should  have  em- 
ployed a  lawyer  of  Norwalk,  (afterwards  Governor  of  Ct.)  to 
draw  their  petition,  as  it  is  not  known,  that  he  had  any  in- 
terests or  connections  here.  They  had  no  reason,  however, 
to  regret  it,  as  the  work  was  well  done.  It  recites  very 
clearly  and  fully  the  matters  in  controversy  ;  narrates  suc- 
cinctly the  history  of  the  Indian  Purchase  and  of  the  opposing 
claims ;  refers  to  the  litigations  determined,  and  others  not 
3'et  issued  ;  shows  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  an  impartial 
hearing,  as  the  courts  and  the  country  are  constituted  ;  and 
appeals  to  his  Majesty  for  relief  and  redress.f 

This  Appeal  was  signed  by  304  persons,  purporting  to  be 
*'  the  Proprietors,  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  a  Tract  of 
Land  now  called  Elizabeth-Town,  whose  Names  are  hereunto 
subscribed,  in  Behalf  of  themselves  and  others  their  Asso- 
ciates,  Proprietors,   Freeholders,   and    Inhabitants   of  said 

*  Analytical  Index,  pp.  ISS,  9.  t  K.  T.  Bill,  pp.  121,  2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  367 

Tract."  A  large  portion  of  the  actual  inhabitants,  known  to 
be  of  the  same  party,  are  not  included  in  the  list.  No  one 
of  the  ministers  of  the  seven  congregations  signed  the  paper, 
except  John  Cleverly,  at  Morristown,  and  he  had  retired 
from  active  service. 

The  Petition  was  forwarded  to  his  Majesty,  George  II., 
probably  by  the  hands  of  the  persons  appointed,  Messrs. 
Hatfield  and  Crane,  and  read  in  Council,  July  19,  1744  ; 
when  it  was  referred  to  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Coun- 
cil for  Plantation  Affairs ;  by  whom,  Aug.  21st,  it  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations. 
Its  subsequent  fate  is  not  known.* 

The  people  of  Newark,  especially  those  who  lived  at 
Newark  Mountains  [Orange],  in  1744,  began  to  have  trouble 
with  the  Pi'oprietary  party,  similar  to  that  which  the  people 
of  this  town  had  experienced  for  three  fourths  of  a  century. 
Acts  of  violence  were  committed,  arrests  made,  and  offenders 
imprisoned.  In  1745-6,  the  jails  were  broken  oj)en,  and  the 
prisoners  released.  Indictments  were  found  against  the 
rioters,  and  society  was  convulsed.  The  Government,  under 
Hamilton,  was  "  too  weak  to  put  a  stop  to  "  the  riotous  as- 
semblages of  the  opposition ;  and,  as  Jas.  Alexander  and  -R. 
H.  Morris  wrote,  Dec.  4, 1746,  "  the  infection  of  insubordina- 
tion was  daily  spreading  ;  " — all  "  on  account  of  the  disputed 
title  to  the  lands  "  purchased  of  the  Indian  owners  of  the  soil. 
Party  spirit  ran  higli.  The  excitement  spread  far  and  wide. 
Deep  sympathy  was  felt,  of  course,  for  the  aggrieved  settlers, 
by  the  popular  party  in  this  town,  though  they  were  only 
indirectly  concerned  in  the  issue.  Gradually,  however,  the 
field  of  contention  widened.  Collisions  ensued  between  the 
people  of  Turkey,  who  had  drawn  lots  in  1736-7,  near  tlie 
Passaic  river,  and  others  occupying  portions  of  the  same 
ground  by  leases  or  purchase  from  the  Proprietary  party. 

Secret  meetings,  or  caucuses,  were  held  by  both  parties  to 
devise  measures  to  carry  into  efiect  their  purposes,  and  to 
gain  advantages  over  their  opponents.    Secret  communications 

♦  E.  T.  Bill,  p.  128. 

t  Hoyt's  Orange,  pp.  C5-75.    E.  T.  Bill,  App.,  pp.  1-39.    Annl.  Index.,  pp.  19S,  208. 


368  THE    HISTORY    OF 

were  passing  back  and  forth,  the  intercepting  of  which  at 
times  created  no  little  trouble.  William  Chetwood,  of  this 
town,  and  Sheriff  of  Essex  County,  finds  an  open  letter  on  a 
table  in  one  of  his  rooms,  from  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  pop- 
ular part}^,  and  forthwith  transmits  it,  May  7,  174-7,  to  C. 
Justice  Morris,  one  of  the  lawyers  of  the  aristocratic  party, 
with  a  note,  in  which  he  gives  a  little  personal  history  as 
follows : — 

I  intended  to  have  waited  on  you  myself,  but  have  for  some  time  past 
and  am  still  so  troubled  with  a  swelled  face,  and  cold  I  have  got  that  I 
cant  possibly  do  it.* 

•  A  copy  of  an  afiidavit  by  Solomon  Boyle  aforesaid,  before 
C.  Justice  Morris,  in  relation  to  some  of  these  meetings  and 
plottings,  is  found,  singularly  enough  among  the  Colonial 
Papers  of  K  York.  It  bears  the  date  of  May  13,  1747.  He 
lived  on  a  part  of  the  laud  claimed,  by  Daniel  Cooper,  of 
whose  suit  against  John  Crane  and  others  mention  has  been 
made.     He  testifies,  that — 

About  the  end  of  October  last  being  at  the  house  of  Samuel  "Woodruff 
Alderman  in  Elizabeth  Town,  he  was  there  desired  by  several  persons, 
particularly  one  they  called  Lawyer  Daniel  Clarke  and  one  John  Osbom 
both  of  Elizabeth  Town,  to  acquaint  Daniel  Cooper  that  in  a  fortnights 
time  the  Mob  intended  to  pay  him  a  visit.  lie  came  to  Dalrymple's  place, 
[Boyle's  tenant],  just  after  the  house  was  broke  open  and  the  said  Dal- 
ryrople  with  his  wife  and  children  turned  out  of  doors  on  the  8th  of  April 
last  by  a  number  of  persons  with  Clubs,  that  he  saw  several  of  the  persons 
concerned  in  that  Eiot,  carrying  the  Man's  goods  out  of  the  House,  some 
in  particular  he  remembers  to  have  been  present  and  active  therein  to 
witt:  Nath"  Davis  (who  was  called  their  Capt")  Abraham  Hendricks, 
Daniel  Little  of  Turkey,  Nath"  Rogers,  Wm  Johnston,  W'"  Breasted,  and 
James  Hampton  of  Morris  Town.  He  heard  on  the  last  training  day  being 
the  sixth  day  of  April  on  Monday,  the  day  appointed  by  Act  of  Assembly, 
the  Company  at  Turkey  gave  out,  that  they  had  liberty  to  chuse  new 
officers,  and  that  they  either  chose  or  were  about  to  chose  the  said  Nath" 
Davis  for  their  Capt"  and  one  Badgely  Lieutenant. 

Further,  that 

He  with  the  said  Joseph  Dalryrnplo  on  the  second  day  of  this  instant, 
had  occasion  to  go  to  Turkey,  where  they  saw  at  Abraham  Hendricks 

•  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmt?.,  VIII.  345. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  369 

house  the  said  Abr :  Hendricks  Daniel  Little  and  he  thinks  Isaac  Hen- 
dricks and  some  men  that  were  present  a  turning  Dalrymple  out  of  posses- 
sion and  as  this  informant  has  been  told  by  Daniel  Cooper  and  Moses 
Ayres,  that  since  their  turning  Dalrymple  out  of  possession,  they  said  they 
were  misled  and  Avere  sorry  for  it.  (When  questioned,  they  said),  if  the 
thing  was  to  do  again  and  if  we  had  the  same  information,  wliich  we  now 
have,  we  would  do  it  yet. 

The  affidavit  is  drawn  out  to  a  great  length,  with  much 
more  to  the  same  effect,  showing  that  the  people  of  Turkey, 
claiming  by  E.  Town  right,  had  taken  the  law  into  their  own 
hands,  and  were  determined  to  drive  off  all  other  claimants ; 
and  that  they  "  said  the  Land  at  Turkey  and  much  further  was 
theirs  and  they  would  have  it  as  far  as  they  claimed,  and 
that  there  would  be  more  such  doings  by  the  Mob  than  ever 
yet  has  been  done  in  the  Country.  '^ 

It  was  an  unhappy  state  of  aftairs,  without  much  prospect 
of  improvement.  The  trouble  had  been  prolonged  for  eighty 
years,  and  become  more  aggravated  from  generation  to 
generation.  The  law  was  powerless  with  a  people  who 
knew  the  justice  of  their  claims  and  how  to  defend  them.. 
It  would  have  been  far  better  for  the  Carteret  party  from  the 
first  had  they  acknowledged  these  claims,  and  been  content 
with  the  vast  domain  beyond  the  town.  The  course  actually, 
pursued  was  sure  to  end  in  rupture  and  revolution. f 

All  this  while,  for  at  least  three  years,  the  so-called  Pro- 
prietors had  been  preparing,  with  great  pains  and  expense,, 
a  complete  and  labored  argument  in  defence  of  their  long- 
litigated  pretensions  to  the  soil  of  this  town,  by  the  Duke  of 
York's  Grant  to  Carteret.  It  purports  to  have  been  filed, 
April  13th,  1745.  It  was  written  on  about  1500  sheets.  It 
bears  the  name's  of  James  Alexander  and  Joseph  Murray,  as 
"  Of  Counsel  for  the  Complainants,"  eminent  lawyers  of  N. 
York.  Murray  was  one  of  the  first  lawyers  of  the  land. 
Alexander,  the  father  of  "  the  Earl  of  Stirling,"  was  at  the 
head  of  his  profession.  The  Bill  was,  undoubtedly,  the 
product  of  his  pen — "  one  of  the  ver}^  few  literary  remains 
of  a  man  highly  distinguished  in  his  day,  but  who  has  left,"' 

*  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  VIII.  318-9.  t  Mulford's  N.  Jersey,  pp.    349-51,     Gor- 

don's N.  J,,  pp.  108-11. 

24 


370  THE    HISTORY    OF 

saj's  Scdgwiclc,  "  but  scanty  testimonials  of  his  character  and 
ability  behind  liim/'     This  bill  is  any  thing  but  "scanty."* 
It  bears  the  Ibllowing  imposing  Title  : 

A  Bill  in  the  Chancery  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  Suit  of  John  Earl  of 
Stair,  and  others,  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern-Division  of  New-Jersey ; 
Against  Benjamin  Bond,  and  some,  other  Persons  of  Elizabeth-Town, 
distinguished  by  the  Name  of  the  Clinker  Lot  Right  Men.  "With  Three 
large  Maps,  done  from  Copper-Plates.  To  which  is  added ;  The  Publica- 
tions of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  East  New-Jersey,  and  Mr.  Nevill's 
Speeches  to  the  General  Assembly,  concerning  The  Riots  committed  in 
New-Jersey,  and  The  Pretences  of  the  Rioters,  and  their  Seducers. 
These  Papers  will  give  a  better  Light  into  the  History  and  Constitution 
of  New-Jersey,  than  anything  hitherto  published,  the  Matters  whereof 
have  been  chiefly  collected  from  Records.  Published  by  Subscription. 
Printed  by  James  Parker,  in  New-York,  1747;  and  a  few  copies  are  to  be 
sold  by  him  and  Benjamin  Franklin,  in  Philadelphia ;  Price  bound,  and 
Maps  coloured,  Three  Pounds ;  plain  and  sticht  only,  Fifty  Shillings, 
Proclamation  Money. 

The  printing  ^Yas  finished,  July  21,  1747.  It  is  a  folio, 
\vith  double  columns,  and  contains,  besides  the  Maps,  124 
pages,  with  an  Appendix  of  40  pages.  So  plausible  is  the 
plea,  that  nearly  all  the  historians  of  the  State  have  relied 
almost  implicitly  on  its  statements,  and,  in  many  cases,  have 
thus  been  led  into  error.  It  is  a  special  and  one-sided  plea, 
and,  as  in  all  such  cases,  is  to  be  received  with  caution,  and 
its  statements  of  facts  are  to  be  subjected  to  a  rigid  scrutiny.f 

The  preparation  of  an  Answer  to  this  formidable  Bill  was 
entrusted,  by  the  Town  Committee,  to  "William  Livingston 
and  AVilliam  Smith,  Jun.,  as  their  Counsel.  Livingston  was 
the  pupil  of  Alexander,  and,  if  employed,  as  is  likely,  in 
1750,  was  only  in  the  27th  year  of  his  age;  but  he  had  al- 
ready acquired  a  high  reputation  at  the  bar  in  New  York. 
The  interest  that  he  took  in  this  case  was,  probably,  one  of 
the  reasons  that  induced  him,  a  few  years  later,  to  become  a 
resident  of  this  town.  Smith  was  still  3'ounger,  in  his  23d 
year.  Yet  he  was  associated,  that  same  year,  Nov.,  1750, 
with  others,  in  preparing  the  first  Digest  of  the   Colonial 

♦  Sedgwick's  Llfo  of  Wm.  Livingston,  pp.  49,  61. 

t  Anal.  Index,  p.  205.—"  luOO  gcres  of  rights  had  l-ccn  eold  to  bear  the  cxrcnee  of  Eliza 
bethtown  BUit."    lb.,  p.  280. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  371 

Laws  of  New  York.  lie  wrote  the  History  of  the  Province, 
and,  after  the  He  volution,  was  made  Chief  Justice  of  Canada.'^' 
The  "  Answer"  was  read  in  town  meeting,  Aug.  27,  1751, 
and  filed  a  few  days  afterwards.  It  was  put  in  print  the 
following  year,  1752,  in  similar  form  with  the  Bill  itself  (but 
contains  only  48  pages),  with  the  following  Title  : 

An  Answer  to  a  Bill  In  the  Chancery  of  New  Jersey.  At  the  Suit  of 
John  Earl  of  Stair,  and  others,  commonly  called  Proprietors  of  the  East- 
ern Division  of  New-Jersey,  Against  Benjamin  Bond,  and  others  claim- 
ing under  the  original  Proprietors  and  Associates  of  Elizaheth-Town.  To 
which  is  added;  Nothing  either  of  The  Puhlications  of  the  Council  of 
Proprietors  of  East  New-Jersey,  or  of  The  Pretences  of  the  Eioters,  and 
their  Seducers  ;  Except  so  far  As  the  Persons  meant  hy  Rioters,  pretend 
Title  Against  The  Parties  to  tlie  above  Answer ;  But  A  great  Deal  of  the 
Controversy,  Though  much  less  Of  the  History  and  Constitution  of 
New-Jersey,  than  the  said  Bill.  Audi  alteram  partem.  Published  by 
Subscription.  New  York  :  Printed  and  Sold  by  James  Parker,  at  the 
New  Printing-office,  in  Beaver-Street.     1752.t 

It  professes  to  be  "  The  joint  and  several  Answer  "  of  449 
Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  Elizabeth  Town,  recorded  in 
alphabetical  order. 

Tlie  Town  Committee,  on  whom  was  devolved  the  responsi- 
bility of  conducting  the  Defense,  were,  for  1750,  Messrs. 
John  Crane,  Andrew  Craige,  "William  Miller,  John  Halsted, 
Stephen  Crane,  Thomas  Clarke,  and  John  Chandler. 

At  the  time  of  the  preparation  and  the  filing  of  the  Bill 
in  Chancery,  Lewis  Morris  was  Governor  of  the  Province; 
He  had  long  been  conversant  with  the  matters  in  litigation, 
and  was  deeply  interested  in  the  issue  of  this  most  important 
case — holding  a  large  part  of  his  property  in  I*^.  Jersey  by 
Proprietary  rights.  Gov.  Morris  had  presumed,  without,  as 
was  alleged,  due  authority,  to  erect  a  Court  of  Chancery,  and 
to  exercise  the  prerogatives  of  Chancellor.  Could  the  Bill 
in  question  have  been,  with  its  Answer,  submitted  to  his 
adjudication,  the  plaintiffs  would,  undoubtedly,  have  obtained 
just  such  a  decision  as  they  desired. 

But  this  favorable  prospect  was  blighted  by  the  decease  of 
the  Governor  in  May,  174G.     Unfortunately  for  the  advocates 

♦  Scdgrwlck's  Livingston,  pp.  43,  CO,  8.    Smith's  N".  Tork,  pp.  i.,  ix.-xvl. 
t  Anal.  Index,  p.  277. 


372  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  friends  of  the  Bill,  Jonathan  Belcher,  a  famous  old  Pu- 
ritan, of  Boston,  Mass.,  was  entrusted  with  the  executive 
functions,  and  entered  upon  his  office  as  Governor  of  New- 
Jersej,  in  August,  1747.  Before  the  Answer  to  the  Bill 
could  be  printed.  Gov.  Belcher  became  a  resident  of  this 
town,  and  immediately  identified  himself  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  and  congregation,  with  which,  and  its 
branches  in  the  back  country,  the  defendants  in  the  Bill  were 
nearly  all  connected.  The  sympathies  of  Gov.  Belcher, 
therefore,  would,  most  naturally,  be  given  to  the  Presbyterian 
party,  for  such,  in  fact,  the  defendants  were.  Owing  to  these 
or  other  similar  reasons,  Gov.  Belcher  seems  not  to  have 
adjudicated  the  case;  Alexander,  who  had  the  principal 
management  of  the  Bill,  died,  April  2,  1756.  Murray  died, 
April  2, 1757,  before  the  death  of  Gov,  Belcher.  The  French 
War  succeeded.  Then  came  the  Stamp  Act  Excitement,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Bcvolution.  No  place  was  found  for  the  E. 
Town  Bill,  and  it  fell  by  its  own  weight.  Such  was  the  end 
of  this  famous  struggle,  continued  for  a  whole  century,  and 
resulting  in  the  vindication  of  the  original  purchasers  of  the 
soil,  and  the  defeat  of  their  opponei.ts. 

Other  matters,  in  the  meantime,  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  people,  for  the  moment.  Joseph  Bonnel,  Esq.,  the  first 
Mayor  of  the  Borough,  at  the  close  of  the  winter  of  174-1, 
was  removed  by  death.  lie  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Connecticut  Farms,  where,  in  the  graveyard  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  his  remains  were  buried.  A  monument  was 
erected  over  his  grave  with  this  Inscription  : 

Who  knew  him  living  must  lament  him  tleaJ, 
Whoso  corfise  heneath  this  A'erdant  Turf  is  laid. 
Bound,  in  Private  Life,  in  Public  Trust, 
Was  Wise  and  Kind,  was  Generous  and  Just. 
In  Virtue's  rigid  I'atli  UMuioved  he  trod, 
To  Self  Imjiartial,  pious  to  his  God. 
Keligion's  Patron,  and  a  Patriot  True, 
A  general  Good,  and  ])rivate  blessing  too. 
What  Bonnel  was,  and  what  his  Virtues  were, 
The  Resurrection  day  will  best  declare. 
Joseph  Bonnel,  Esq.,  deceased  ^Nlarch  3"  14,  17-4T-8,  in  y"  G3J  year  of 

his  aire. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  3Y3 

He  was  repeatedly  cliosen,  from  1716  to  1743,  to  represent 
tliG  town  in  the  General  Assembly.  In  1738,  he  was  chosen 
Speaker,  and  the  same  year  appointed  Second  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  < 

In  1748,  the  Lottery  mania  infected  all  classes  of  the  com- 
munity. Not  less  than  eight  different  schemes,  for  raising 
money  for  public  purposes  in  'Nqw  Jersey,  were  advertised 
in  the  papers  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  Two  of  them 
related  entirely  to  this  town.  TJie  first  was  called  "the 
Elizabeth-Town  Raway  Lottery."  The  object  was  "  To  raise 
a  Sum  of  Money  [£1050]  for  building  a  Parsonage-House," 
at  Eahway.  It  consisted  "of  1500  Tickets  at  14:S.  each." 
The  prizes  were  £60,  and  £40,  one  each ;  3,  of  £20  ;  4,  of 
£17  ;  5,  of  £10  ;  10,  of  £7 ;  20,  of  £5  ;  60,  of  £2.  10.  0,  and 
200,  of  £1.  8.  0.  It  was  drawn  at  Rahway,  on  Tuesday  and 
"Wednesday,  Aug.  2  and  3,  1748,  "  under  the  Care  and  Man- 
agement of  John  Ross,  Esq.,  Thomas  Clark,  Esq.,  Jonathan 
Freeman,  Elifelet  Frazee,  Stephen  Burrows  and  Josiah 
Terrill."  * 

A  similar  "  Scheme  of  a  Lottery  in  Turkey,  in  Elizabeth 
Town,"  was  advertised,  Aug.  8,  1748,  "  to  raise  a  sum  of 
Money  [£152.  5.  0.]  for  building  a  Parsonage-House,  consist- 
ing of  1450  Tickets  at  14s.  each.^'  The  highest  prize  was 
£30  :  "  The  Drawing  to  commence  on  or  before  the  first 
Tuesday  in  November  next,  at  the  House  of  Benjamin  Petti t. 
Esq ;  in  Turkey,  if  filled  by  that  Time,  under  the  Care  and 
Management  of  Messrs.  Benjamin  Pottit,  David  Day,  Elnathan 
Cory,  John  Badgley,  Nathaniel  Davis  and  Josiah  Broad- 
well."  t 

To  such  an  extent  was  society  demoralized  by  this  per- 
nicious custom,  that  the  Legislature  of  the  Province,  near 
the  close  of  the  year,  Dec.  16,  1748,  passed  a  stringent  act 
against  Lotteries  and  all  other  kinds  of  gambling ;  prefixing 
to  the  Act  the  following  admirable  Preamble : 

Whereas  Lotteries,  playing  of  Cards  and  Dice,  and  other  Gaming  for 
Lucre  of  Gain,  are  become  of  late  frequent  and  common  within  this  Colony, 

♦  JI.  Y.  Weekly  Post  Boy,  Nos.  273,  4,  8,  2SS,  290. 
t  N.  Y.  "Weekly  Post  Boy,  No.  290. 


374  THE    HISTORY    OF 

whereby  many  Persons  have  unjustly  gained  to  themselves  great  Sums  of 
Money  from  unwary  Persons,  as  well  as  Children  and  Servants,  tending  to 
the  manifest  Corruption  of  Youth,  and  the  Euin  and  Impoverishment  of 
many  poor  Families:  And  whereas  such  pernicious  Practices  and  Desire 
of  unlawful  Gain  may  not  only  give  frequent  Opportunities  to  evil-minded 
Persons  to  cheat  and  defraud  divers  of  the  honest  Inliabitants  of  this 
Colony,  but  may  in  Time,  if  not  prevented,  ruin  the  Credit  thereof,  and 
be  a  Hindrance  to  Trade  and  Industry,  and  a  great  Temptation  to  Vice, 
Idleness  and  Immorality,  and  consequently  against  the  common  Good, 
"Welfare  and  Peace  of  his  Majesty's  Government :  Wherefore,  &c.  * 

The  law,  however,  was  evaded  by  drawing  the  lotteries  in 
a  neighboring  province,  though  tlie  tickets  were  sold  and 
purchased  in  this  province. 

The  celebrated  Swedish  Katuralist,  Prof.  Kalni,  in  his 
Botanical  Explorations  of  these  provinces,  visited  this  part  of 
the  country  in  1748.  On  his  way  from  Pliiladelphia  to  i!s  ew 
York,  he  tarried  here  a  night  and  was  gone  in  the  morning. 
He  came  to  ISTew  Brunswick,  at  noon  on  Saturday,  the  2Dth 
of  October,  and  proceeded  north  the  same  afternoon.  After 
passing  the  forks  of  the  road,  eight  miles  this  side  of  New 
Brunswick,  at  "Fairfield,"  he  says: — 

The  country  now  made  a  charming  appearance  ;  some  parts  being  high, 
others  forming  vallies,  and  all  of  them  well-cultivated.  From  the  hills 
you  had  a  prospect  of  houses,  farms,  gardens,  cornfields,  forests,  lakes, 
islands,  roads,  and  pastures.  In  most  of  the  places  where  we  traveled 
this  day  the  colour  of  the  ground  was  reddish.  I  make  no  doubt,  but 
there  were  strata  of  the  before-mentioned  red  limestone  under  it.  Some- 
times the  ground  looked  very  like  a  cinnabar  ore. 

"WooD-nEiDGE  is  a  small  village  in  a  plain,  consisting  of  a  few  houses : 
we  stopped  here  to  rest  our  horses  a  little.  The  houses  were  most  of 
them  built  of  boards  ;  the  walls  had  a  covering  of  shingles  on  the  outside ; 
these  shingles  were  round  at  one  end,  and  all  of  a  length  in  each  row : 
some  of  the  houses  had  an  Italian  roof,  but  the  greatest  part  had  roofs 
with  pediments ;  most  of  them  were  covered  with  shingles.  In  most 
places  Ave  met  with  wells,  and  buckets  to  draw  up  the  water. 

Eltzabetii-towx  is  a  small  town  about  twenty  English  miles  distant 
from  New  Brunswick :  wo  arrived  there  immediately  after  sun-setting. 
Its  houses  are  mostly  scattered,  but  well-built,  and  generally  of  boards, 
with  a  roof  of  shingles,  and  walls  covered  with  the  same.  There  were 
likewise  some  stone  buildings.     A  little  rivulet  passes  through  the  town 

*  Alllnson's  Laws  of  N.  J.,  p.  18T. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  375 

from  west  to  cast;  it  is  almost  reduced  to  nothing  when  tlio  water  ebbs 
away,  but  with  the  full  tide  they  can  bring  up  small  yachts.  Here  were 
two  fine  churches,  each  of  which  made  a  mucli  better  appearance  than 
any  one  in  Philadelphia.  That  belonging  to  the  people  of  the  church  of 
England  Avas  built  of  bricks,  had  a  steeple  with  bells,  and  a  balustrade 
round  it,  from  which  there  was  a  prospect  of  the  country.  The  meeting- 
house of  the  presbyterians  was  built  of  wood,  but  had  both  a  steeple  and 
bells,  and  was,  like  the  other  houses,  covered  with  shingles.  The  town 
house  made  likewise  a  good  appearance,  and  had  a  spire  with  a  bell.  The 
banks  of  the  river  were  red,  from  the  reddish  limestone ;  both  in  and 
about  the  town  were  many  gardens  and  orchards  ;  and  it  might  truly  be 
said,  that  Elizabeth-town  was  situated  in  a  garden,  the  ground  hereabouts 
being  oven  and  well-cultivated. 

At  night  we  took  up  our  lodgings  at  Elizabeth-town  Point,  an  inn, 
about  two  English  miles  distant  from  the  town,  and  the  last  house  on  this 
road  belonging  to  New  Jersey.  The  man  who  had  taken  the  lease  of  it, 
together  with  that  of  the  ferry  near  it,  told  us  that  he  paid  a  hundred  and 
ten  pounds  of  Pennsylvania  currency  to  the  owner. 

Oct.  30th.  "We  were  ready  to  proceed  on  our  journey  at  sun-rising. 
Near  the  inn  where  we  had  passed  the  night,  we  were  to  cross  a  river, 
and  we  were  brought  over,  together  with  our  horses,  in  a  wretched  half- 
rotten  ferry.  The  country  was  low  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  con- 
sisted of  meadows.  But  there  was  no  other  hay  to  be  got,  than  such  as 
commonly  grows  in  swampy  grounds;  for  as  the  tide  comes  up  in  this 
river,  these  low  plains  were  sometimes  overflowed  when  the  water  was 
high.  The  i)eople  hereabouts  are  said  to  be  troubled  in  summer  with 
immensfe  swarms  of  gnats  or  musquetoes,  which  sting  them  and  their 
cattle.  This  was  ascribed  to  the  low  swampy  meadows,  on  which  the?e 
insects  deposit  their  eggs,  which  are  afterwards  hatched  by  the  heat.* 

An  exciting  incident  occurred  in  1750,  which  deeply 
stirred  the  grovring,  though  yet  latent,  hostility  to  British 
domination.  It  is  best  related  in  the  words  of  the  weekly 
chronicler  of  that  period : — 

N.  York,  June  11,  1750.— Thursday  last  [7th]  as  Col.  William  Packets 
of  Elizabeth  Town,  with  his  Wife  and  Family  were  going  home  from  this 
City  in  his  own  Boat,  accompanied  by  some  of  his  Friends,  they  unfor- 
tunately left  the  Burgee  flying  at  their  Mast  Head ;  and  on  their  coming 
abreast  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  Greyhound,  then  lying  in  the  North  River,  a 
Gun  was  fired  from  on  board  her ;  but  they  not  apprehending  it  to  be  at 
them,  took  no  Notice  of  it,  on  which  a  second  directly  followed  ;  and  the 
Sliot  passing  through  the  Boat's  Mainsail,  struck  a  young  Woman,  Nurse 

•  Pctor  Kalm's  Travels  in  North  Ani.,  I.  lSl-3. 


376  THE    HISTORY    OF 

to  one  of  Col.  Ricket's  Children,  in  the  Uead,  and  killed  heron  the  Spot; 
she  had  the  Cliild  in  her  Arms,  which  luappily  received  no  Ilnrt.  The 
Boat  on  this  immediately  put  hack  to  this  City.  And  the  Coroner's  In- 
quest being  summon'd,  and  Evidences  on  both  Sides  examin'd,  they 
brought  it  in      Wilful  Murder.  * 

The  name  of  tlie  nurse  was  Elizabetli  Stibben  ;  it  turned 
out,  that  "  she  expired  a  few  hours  afterwards."  Tlie  Grey- 
hound was  a  Ship  of  War,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Robert  Roddara,  a  son-in-law  of  George  Clinton,  Governor  of 
the  Province  of  ISTew  York.  The  Captain  was  on  sliore  at 
the  time,  having  left  the  vessel  in  charge  of  Lieut.  John 
How,  by  whom  the  swivel  gun  was  pointed.  The  gun  was 
fired  by  James  Park,  the  Gunner's  Mate.  Col.  Wm.  Rickets 
was  the  son  of  Capt.  Wm.  Rickets,  dec*^,  of  New  York.  Clin- 
ton speaks  of  him,  as  "  a  hot  headed  rash  young  man  :  "  in 
other  words,  probably,  a  young  man  of  spirit,  little  inclined 
to  bow  down  to  the  British  officials  of  the  day,  and,  like  a 
multitude  of  other  such  young  Americans,  exceedingly  galled 
by  the  lordly  exactions  of  their  imported  rulers.  Clinton 
says,  that  he  had  passed  the  Greyhound  the  day  before  with- 
out lowering  his  pendant,  and,  bctWe  leaving  the  city  wharf, 
on  his  return,  had  declared  that  he  would  do  it  again  in  spite 
of  the  man-of-war.  The  affair  took  place  "between  Nutten 
[Governor's]  Island  and  the  great  Battery." 

The  democratic  party,  of  which  Chief  Justice  Delancy  was 
the  head,  took  advantage  of  the  sad  event,  to  bring  the  ad- 
ministration into  disrepute,  and  awaken  popular  indignation 
against  the  despotism  by  which  the  ])eople  were  oppressed. 
Delancy  imprisoned  the  Gunner's  Mate  for  Murder ;  and  a 
Habeas  Corpus,  demanded  by  Capt.  Roddam,  was  refused 
by  Bradley,  the  Attorney  General.  Lieut.  How  was  sent 
"  home  "  for  trial,  while  Parks  was  kept  in  prison  at  jSTew 
York,  as  late  as  July  2Tth.  How  his  case  terminated  does 
not  appear.  The  indignation  and  excitement  of  Ricketts' 
townsmen,  of  course,  was  intense.  Much  of  it  was  smoth- 
ered, only  to  break  forth,  in  due  time,  with  greatly-increased 
power.f 

♦  N.  Y.  Weekly  Post  Doy,  No.  3SC. 

t  N.  Y.  Col.  Dooints.,  VI.  671-C;  5S3-0.    N.  J.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.    IV.  64. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  377 


GOV.  JONATHAN  BELCHER. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1751,  Gov,  Belcher  became  a  resi- 
dent of  this  town.  He  had  been  appointed  Governor  of 
New  Jersc}',  in  1717,  to  succeed  Gov.  Morris.  He  arrived, 
in  the  Scarboro'  man  of  war,  at  New  York,  Aug.  8,  1747,  an 
old  man,  in  the  GGth  year  of  his  age,  having  been  born,  at 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  Jan.  8,  168^.  He  was  the  son  of  Andr.nv 
Belcher,  (a  Boston  merchant,  and  a  gentleman  of  groat 
wealth),  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1699,  second 
on  the  roll.  He  married,  at  Piscataway,  JST.  H.,  Jan.  4, 
170|,  "  Mrs.  Mary  Partridge,  daughter  of  L.  Gov.  Wm.  Part- 
ridge." He  became,  at  an  early  day,  an  active  m.ember  of 
the  church,  and  ever,  through  life,  honored  his  profession. 
He  spent  six  years  abroad,  was  admitted  to  court,  and  was 
treated  with  great  respect  by  the  best  society.  On  his 
return,  he  engaged  in  merchandise.  He  visited  England 
again,  in  1729  ;  and,  Nov,  29,  was  appointed  Governor  of 
Mass.  and  New  Hampshire.  He  returned  in  Aug,  1730, 
and  continued  in  office  until  1741,  when  he  was  superseded. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  Whitefield  to  Boston  in  1741, 
he  openly  and  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  that  eminent 
preacher,  and  became  his  personal  friend  and  correspondent. 
He  went  abroad  again,  in  1744,  to  vindicate  himself,  at 
Court,  from  the  aspersions  of  his  opposers,  reinstated  him- 
self in  the  royal  favor,  and  returned  as  Governor  of  N. 
Jersey,'"'' 

He  published  his  commission  at  Perth  Amboy,  Aug.  10, 
1747,  met  the  Legislature,  at  Burlington,  Aug,  20,  and  soon 
after  became  a  resident  of  that  place — living,  at  first,  with 
Eichard  Smith,  the  Quaker,  and,  after  Dec.  4th,  in  his  own 
house.  While  he  was  delighted  with  the  air,  soil,  and  situa- 
tion, he  was  much  tried  with  the  moral  and  religious  state  of 
tlie  people.  He  described  it,  as  "  a  land  flowing  with  milk 
and  honey,"  but  the  people  had  no  relish  for  virtue  and  true 
religion  ;  "  they  pay  little  regard  to  the  Sabbath," — according 

*  Allen's  Blog.  Diet. 


378  THE    HISTORY    OF 

to  tliG  Quaker  tenets — "the  men  journey — the  women  divert 
—the  children  phiy  in  tlie  streets  without  reproof — these  are 
the  most  uncouth  and 'unpleasant  things  of  my  present  con- 
dition," He  occasionally  went  to  the  Quaker  meeting  and 
Episcopal  worship,  "  and  at  other  times  officiated  as  priest 
in  his  own  house."  Having  a  coach  and  four,  he  proposed 
to  drive  down  (20  miles)  to  Philadelphia,  and  spend  "  the 
Lord's  Day  often  there,  with  his  friend  Mr.  Tennent ; " — Eev. 
Gilbert  Tennent,  with  whom  he  became  acquainted,  in  1741, 
at  Boston,  and  who,  at  this  time,  was  pastor  of  a  Presb. 
church  in  Piiiladelphia." 

His  wife  had  died  before  he  went  abroad,  in  174:4  ;  and, 
while  in  England,  he  became  acquainted  with  alady  to  whom 
he  offered  himself  in  marriage.  She  came  over  to  this  coun- 
try, about  Sept.  1,  1748,  and  was  married  to  him  on  the  8th, 
at  Philadelphia.  While  in  attendance  on  the  Commence- 
ment of  the  College  of  jSTew  Jersey,  at  Newark,  September  26, 
1750,  he  was  afflicted  with  paralysis,  from  the  eflects  of  which 
he  suffered  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  says,  July  3, 
1752,  that  "for  eighteen  months  he  had  not  been  able  to  hold 
a  pen."  f 

Finding  that  Burlington  air  did  not  agree  witli  him,  he 
made  arrangements  to  remove  to  this  town.  A  house  was 
prepared  for  his  residence,  in  Jersey  st.,  (occupied  in  later 
years  by  Dr.  Davis),  and  his  wife,  with  her  daughter,  came 
on,  March  19, 1751,  to  examine  it.  To  Mayor  Samuel  "Wood- 
ruff, who  took  a  great  interest  in  his  removal,  he  wrote,  April 
11,  that  Mrs.  Belcher  approved  of  the  house,  and  desired  to 
have  it  made  as  commodious  as  possible.  His  removal,  how- 
ever, was  delayed  until  the  following  autumn.:}: 

That  the  anticipated  event  excited  a  considerable  sensation 
appears  from  a  letter,  written,  Aug.  28,  1751,  by  Capt.  Jona- 
than Hampton,  of  this  town,  to  James  Alexander,  at  New 
York :— 

Our  Prime  Minister  has  sent  two  boats  to  Burlington  for  Governor 
Belcher's  Goods — when  he  Comes  We  Expect  every  thing  will  he  Done 

*  Anal.  Index,  pp.  207,  11,  13,  24,  5.  t  Ibid.  p.  29t. 

t  Ibid.,  pp.[263,.9,.2Sl,  8,  4."  MurrayXNotes,  p.Jl. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  379 

in  our  favour  but  I  pray  tlio  Lord  may  Send  bis  lieabu3  Corpus  and  Dis- 
cbarge our  Borougb  of  sucb  a  beavy  Load  of  (Ilonour)  (as  our  People  Call 
it)  to  b^ve  a  Numerous  Train  of  Bostonians  wbineing,  Praying,  &  Cant- 
ing, Continually  about  our  Streets,  from  Sucb  evils  (Deliver  us) 

I  bope  I  sball  not  be  caried  by  Sberiff  Hetfield  before  Governor 
Belcber  for  not  answering,  &c.* 

Gov.  Belcher  writes,  Sept.  10,  1751,  tliat  "Mr.  Hatfield 
is  come  hither  by  Mr.  "Woodruff 's  request,  to  assist  in  getting 
inj  House  Furniture  to  Elizabeth  Town,  and  wants  a  sloop 
of  about  30  or  40  tuns  to  complete  the  matter."  Again, 
Sept.  12, — that  he  "  is  engaged  in  putting  his  clothing  and 
furnitui'e  on  board  of  three  small  sloops  to  take  them  round 
to  Elizabethtown."  On  the  19th,  he  writes  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Woodruff,  that  the  men,  "  with  the  coach  and  the  cows,  and 
the  three  sloops,  with  what  they  have  on  board,"  were  "  to 
leave  to-day,"  and  that  his  daughter  (Mrs.  Elizabeth  Teale) 
"  would  soon  be  in  Elizabfithtown  to  assist  in  mipacking." 
She  left  Burlington  on  the  23d.  In  a  subsequent  letter  to 
Mr.  Woodruff,  Oct.  17th,  he  says,  "  I  regret  to  learn  that  one 
of  the  vessels,  laden  with  the  effects,  has  carried  the  small 
pox  to  Elizabethtown,"  and  expresses  the  hope  that  it  may 
not  spread. f 

In  a  letter  of  Oct.  7th,  he  says,  that  he  would  "  be  70 
years  old  the  next  8th  January,"  and  that  he  commonly 
drank  "besides  water  and  small  beer,  about  half  a  bottle 
of  old  Madeira  a  day."  And  again,  'Nov.  4th,  that  he  had 
arrived  at  Elizabethtown  on  the  1st  instant,  "heart  whole, 
tho'  money-less."  At  a  later  date,  Ap.  11,  1752,  he  says, 
— "  For  you  must  know  if  I  indulge  my  taste  in  any  one 
thing  more  than  another,  it  is  in  malt  drink."  Subse- 
quently, May  30th,  he  asks  Mr.  Samuel  Woodruff,  who 
had  a  vessel  going  to  Madeira,  "  to  import  for  his  own 
use  three  pipes  of  the  best  Madeira  wine,  and  a  quarter 
cask  of  Malmsey."  :{: 

The  removal  of  the  seat  of  government  to  this  town  was 
deemed  an  event  of  too  much  consequence  not  to  be  appro- 
priately noticed.     A  respectful  Address  was  prepared  by  the 

•  Kutlierford  Ms9.  f  Anal.  Index,  pp.  277,  8,  9,  81.  J  Ibid,  pp.  279,  231,  290,  8. 


380  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Corporation,  and  presented  to  the  Governor  on  his  arrival, 
Nov.  1,  1751,  signed  by 

John  Stites,  John  Chandler,  Thomas  Clark, 

John  Eadley,  Samuel  "Woodruff,  John  Ilalsted.* 

Stephen  Crane,  Eobert  Ogden, 

Previous  to  his  being  afflicted  with  paralysis,  Gov.  Belcher 
"  possessed  uncommon  gracefulness  of  person  and  dignity  of 
deportment."  "While  Governor  of  Massachusetts  and  ]^ew 
Hampshire,  "  his  style  of  living  was  elegant  and  splendid," 
and  he  was  distinguished  for  hospitality.  As  his  fortune  had 
been  impaired  by  his  profuseness,  it  was  not  in  his  power  to 
maintain  as  much  style  here  as  at  Boston,  and  the  growing 
infirmities  of  age  made  it  still  more  impracticable.  But  the 
urbanity  of  his  demeanor  never  forsook  him ;  and,  while  he 
lived,  it  was  his  delight  to  extend  the  benefits  of  his  large- 
hearted  hospitality  as  widely  as*  possible.  None,  however, 
were  so  welcome  to  his  home  as  the  pious  and  godly.  A 
sincere  and  devout  Christian  himself,  he  gathered  about  him, 
and  welcomed  to  his  board  mostly  such  as  were  of  like  sym- 
pathies with  himself.  The  passing  missionary,  the  traveling 
preacher,  the  pious  visitor,  were  sure  of  a  hearty  reception 
at  his  comfortable  home.  The  incomparable  Whitelield 
writes,  to  Lady  Huntington,  from  "  Elizabeth-Town  (New-Jer- 
sey), Sept.  30,  1754,"— 

I  am  now  at  Governor  Belcher's,  who  sends  your  Ladyship  the  most 
cordial  respects.  His  outward  man  decays,  hut  his  inward  man  seems  to 
be  renewed  day  by  day.  I  think  he  ripens  for  heaven  apace.  (To  another 
correspondent,  he  says, — )  I  write  this  from  Governor  Belcher's,  who  is 
indeed  singularly  good,  and  whose  latter  end  greatly  increases  as  to 
spirituals.     Oh  that  this  may  bo  my  happy  lot !  f 

President  Edwards,  also,  describing  a  journey  that  he  took, 
in  September,  1752,  into  New  Jersey,  says, — 

I  had  considerable  opportunity  to  converse  with  Governour  Belcher ; 
and  was  several  times  at  his  house  at  Elizabethtown.  lie  labours  under 
many  of  the  infirmities  of  age,  but  savours  much  of  a  spirit  of  religion, 
and  seems  very  desirous  of  doing  all  the  good  he  can,  while  he  lives.  J 

•  Now  York  "Weekly  Post  Hoy,  No.  4C2. 

t  Allen'i  Biog.  Diet.    Whitcfleld's  Works,  III.  103,  5.  *  Edwards'  Works.  I.  510. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  381 

'"■From  Ills  first  coming  into  the  province,  be  proved  himself 
the  stamich  friend  of  education  and  rehgion.  To  the  infant 
College  of  New  Jersey,  he  not  only  gave  a  new  Charter  with 
enlarged  privileges,  but  used  the  whole  weight  of  his  personal 
and  official  influence  in  behalf  of  its  endowment  and  perma- 
nent establishment.  After  his  removal  to  this  town,  at  the 
request  "of  a  great  number  of"  the  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Congregation,  a  Charter  of  Incorporation  was 
granted  them,  by  the  Governor,  August  22,  1753,  appointing 
Stephen  Crane,  Cornelius  Hatfield,  Jonathan  Dayton,  Isaac 
Woodruff,  Matthias  Baldwin,*  Moses  Ogdcn,  and  Benjamin 
Winans,  the  first  Trustees  of  the  Congregation,  with  power 
"  to  erect  and  repair  Public  Buildings  for  the  Worship  of 
God  and  the  Use  of  the  Ministry,  and  School-Houses  &  Aims- 
Houses,  &  Suitably  to  Support  the  Ministry  &  the  Poor  of 
their  Church  :  and  to  do  &  perform,  other  Acts  of  Piety  & 
Charity;"  a  boon,  which  was  so  long  and  pcrsistly  denied, 
by  the  Royal  Governors,  to  tlie  First  Presbyterian  Congre- 
gation of  the  City  of  New  York,  f 

Through  thefavor  of  Governor  Belcher,  also,  on  application 
of  "  divers  of  the  Inhabitants  and  Freemen  "  of  the  Borough 
and  Town,  an  Act  was  passed,  June  21, 1754,  by  the  General 
Assembly  at  Perth  Amboy,  "to  enable  the  Mayor,  Recorder, 
Aldermen  and  Common  Council-men  of  the  free  Borough  and 
Town  of  Elizabeth,  to  build  a  Poorhouse,  Workhouse  and- 
House  of  Correction,  within  the  said  Borough  ;  and  to  make 
Rules,  Orders  and  Ordinances  for  the  governing  of  the  same ; 
and  to  repair  the  Gaols  of  the  said  Borough  ;  ...  to  the  Intent 
the  Poor  of  the  said  Borough  may  be  better  employed  and 
maintained  ;  poor  Children  educated  and  brought  up  in  an 

♦  Mr.  Baldwin  was  tho  pon  of  Jonathan,  and  the  grandsoaof  John  Baldwin,  of  Newark.  His 
father  died,  wlien  ho  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  1719,  married  Mary,  a 
daughter  of  Alderman  John  Koss  of  this  town,  and  thus  became  a  resident  here.  His  only 
sister,  Joanna,  married  Isaac  Nuttman,  who,  also,  removed  to  this  town,  where  ho  died,  Nov., 
1749, leaving  thrco  children:  John,  Pliebo,  and  Sarah.  His  wife  survived  him.  He  died 
July  1,  17.'j9,  leaving  his  wife,  and  several  children.  Tho  late  Matthias  W.  Baldwin,  of  Phila- 
delphia, so  memorable  both  for  his  wealth  and  muniflcence,  was  bis  grandson.  The  stone  that 
marks  the  resting-place  of  his  remains  is  inscribed  with  the  following  Epitaph  :  "  He  was  a 
good  Neighbour;  |  a  generous  Friend;  |  an  earnest  prnmoter  of  the  |  PUBLIC  GOOD;  \  A 
Kind  Father,  a  tender  Husband,  |  In  short  ho  was  |  A  CHRISTIAN.  |  PASSEXGEIi  | 
Imitate  him,  &  bo  for  ever  |  UAVP  Y.  \  t  Murray's  Notes,  pp.  G2-9 


382  THE    HISTORY    OF 

honest  and  industrious  Way  ;  as  also  for  setting  to  work  and 
punishing  all  Vagrants,  Vagabonds,  Pilferers,  and  all  idle 
and  disorderly  Persons,  Servants  and  Slaves  within  the  said 
Borough  ;  .  .  .  for  the  Encouragement  of  Honesty  and  In- 
dustry, and  siippressing  of  Vice  and  Immorality,  and  better 
Government  of  said  Borough,* 

During  the  excitement  and  alarm  consequent  on  Braddock's 
defeat,  July  9,  1755,  and  the  consternation  created  by  the 
Indian  outrages  on  the  western  borders  of  New-Jersey,  Gov. 
Belcher  did  all  in  his  power  to  rouse  the  province  in  defence 
of  their  habitations.  The  Nineteenth  General  Assembly,  on 
account  of  his  growing  infirmities,  held  their  second  session, 
Feb.  24,  1755,  and  their  six  subsequent  sessions,  during  the 
next  two  years,  in  this  town, — giving  the  town  peculiar 
prominence,  at  the  time,  in  provincial  aliairs.  The  principal 
legislation  of  the  period  had  respect  to  the  arming  of  the 
militia,  and  making  provision  for  their  support  while  in 
active  duty  against  the  French  and  the  savage  tribes  of  the 
interior.  Of  the  armed  force,  sent  out  of  the  province  on 
this  service,  a  full  proportion  went  forth  from  this  town.f 

A  letter  from  this  town,  July  28,  1756,  gives  the  following 
information  : 

This  Day  was  publislied  here,  by  Order  of  his  Excellency  the  Governor, 
His  Majesty's  Declaration  of  "War  against  the  French  King ;  at  which  was 
present  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  attended  by  the  Mayor  and  Corpora- 
tion of  this  Borough,  together  with  five  Companies  of  Foot,  and  two 
Troops  of  Horse,  who  on  the  Occasion  fired  three  handsome  Vollies.  | 

Governor  Belcher  did  not  long  survive  these  agitations. 
He  departed  this  life,  at  his  home  in  this  town,  on  Wednes- 
day, Aug.  31,  1757,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age.  As  Mr. 
Kettletas,  the  youthful  minister  of  the  congregation  had  not 
yet  been  ordained,  and  doubtless  felt  incompetent  for  the 
service.  President  Burr  was  called  upon  to  preach  the 
Governor's  funeral  sermon.  A  vast  congregation  assembled 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Lord's  Day,  Sept.  4,  when 
Mr.  Burr  (just  20  days  before  his  own  decease)  preached 
from  Dan.  xii :  13, — "But  go  thou  thy  way  till  the  end  be,  for 

•  Alliion's  Laws  of  N.  J.,  pp.  193-501.  »  Ibid.,  I.  p.  203-14. 

N.  Y.  Mercury,  No.  209. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  383 

thou  slialt  rest,  and  stand  in  thy  lot  at  the  end  of  the  days." 
The  discourse  was  published,  with  the  Title, — "  A  Servant 
ot  God  dismissed  from  Labor  to  Rest."  He  spake  of  him  as 
having  had,  before  he  was  deformed  by  paralysis,  "  a  peculiar 
Beauty  and  Gracefulness  of  Person,  in  wliich  he  was  excelled 
by  no  Man  in  his  Day."    lie  adds  : — 

The  Scholar,  the  accomplislied  Gentleman,  and  the  true  Christian,  were 
seldom  ever  more  happily  united,  than  in  him.  His  unshaken  Integrity 
and  Uprightness,  in  all  his  Conduct,  his  Zeal  for  Justice,  and  Care  to  have 
it  equally  distributed,  have  rendered  him  the  Admiration  of  the  present 
as  they  will  of  future  Generations.  The  Prospect  of  worldly  Interest, 
earnest  Solicitations  of  Friends,  or  Fear  of  Loss,  seem  to  have  had  no 
Influence  to  move  him  from  what  appeared  to  he  his  Duty.  .  .  No  Man 
was  ever  more  thoroughly  Proof  against  all  Kinds  of  Corruption  and 
Bribery.  .  .  His  distinguished  and  unaffected  Piety,  spread  a  Glory  over  all 
his  other  Endowments,  and.  rendered  him  a  peculiar  Blessing  to  the 
World.  .  .  By  his  sacred  Regard  to  the  Lord's  Day,  his  steady  and  conscien- 
tious Attendance  on  all  the  publick  Ordinances  of  his  House ;  he  has  left 
a  noble  Example,  worthy  of  the  Imitation  of  all  Rulers  in  a  Christian 
Land.  .  .  This  Practice  he  continued  even  when  his  great  Weakness  of 
Body,  and  growing  Infirmities  would  have  heen  thought  by  every  Body 
a  sufficient  Excuse  for  his  Absence.  .  .  In  his  declining  DaySj  he  seemed  to 
ripen  fast  for  the  heavenly  State  ;  had  his  Conversation  much  in  Heaven, 
and  would  frequently  speak  of  the  Things  of  another  World,  as  Things 
that  were  quite  familiar  to  him.  .  .  His  approaching  Dissolution  he  kept 
daily  in  view,  lived  in  a  continual  Expectation  of  it,  and  would  often  ex- 
press his  Desires,  that  it  might  be  hastened.* 

His  will  was  dated,  July  14,  1755.  It  refers  to  the  Mar- 
riage Articles  between  him  and  his  wife  Louisa,  executed, 
Sep.  9,  1748 ;  makes  mention  of  his  son  Andrew  (whom  he 
appoints  his  Executor),  his  son,  Jonathan  (Chief  Justice  of 
Kova  Scotia),  and  his  daughter,  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Byefield 
Lydc,  Esq.  Elizabeth,  tlie  wife  of  his  son,  Andrew,  is  also 
remembered.  Samuel  Woodruff  and  Robert  Ogdeu,  Esqs., 
arc  appointed  Executors  in  trust,  until  AndrcAV  can  come  on 
from  Mass.  Matthias  Hatfield,  Esq.,  Cornelius  Hatfield, 
Esq.,  and  John  Radley  arc  witnesses. 

His  decease  created  a  great  chasm  in  the  town,  folLnved 
as  it  was  by  the  removal,  also,  of  tlie  seat  of  government. 

♦  Burr's  Sermon,  pp.  14—19. 


384  THE    HISTORY    OF 

He  was  universally  lamented,  as  his  administration  bad  been 
eminently  successful,  and  bis  personal  character  had  com- 
manded unbounded  respect. 

Of  another  distinguished  citizen,  who  preceded  him,  about 
three  years,  to  the  world  of  spirits,  the  following  notice  was 
taken  at  the  time  : 

Elizabeth-Town,  August  15,  1754.  "Wednesday  morning  last  [7th] 
departed  this  Life,  after  a  short  but  painful  Illness,  Jonx  Ross,  Esq  ;  one 
of  the  Judges  of  Essex  County  Court,  and  a  Master  in  Chancery :  He 
was  a  Gentleman  of  a  very  affable  and  obliging  Disposition,  of  steady 
and  unshaken  Principles,  a  strict  Observer  of  Law  and  Justice,  and  a 
truly  honest  Man.  In  his  Death  the  Country  have  really  a  sensible  Loss, 
and  a  worthy  Family  an  irreparable  Damage ;  which  nothing  can  so 
much  alleviate,  as  the  lively  Uopo  and  Assurance  of  his  being  translated 
into  a  State  of  blessed  Immortality : — This  Testimony  is  now  given  of 
him,  by  a  Friend  to  his  Person  and  a  Lover  of  his  Virtues.* 

Judge  Ross  was  the  son  of  George  Ross,  who  died  in 
October,  1750  ;  and  the  grandson  of  Deacon  George  Ross, 
who  came  here  from  New  Haven,  about  1670,  having  mar- 
ried there,  in  1658,  Constance  Little.  The  grandson  was  one 
of  the  original  Aldermen  of  the  Uorough,  so  named  and  ap- 
pointed in  the  Charter  of  Feb.  8,  17||. 

The  concluding  years  of  the  first  centi*iry  of  the  town  pre- 
sent but  little  of  particular  interest,  save  in  respect  to  its 
religious  history,  yet  to  be  related.  On  the  death  of  Gov. 
Relcher,  the  government  of  the  Province  devolved  on  Lieut. 
Governor  Pownall,  ad  interim.  At  the  time,  he  was,  also, 
Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  residing  at  Boston. 
Learning  that  the  old  Governor  was  dead,  he  came  hither  to 
look  after  the  royal  interests  in  the  Province,  and  to  prevail 
npon  the  Senior  member  of  Council,  Mr.  John  Reading,  to 
act  as  Governor.  On  his  arrival  here,  Sept.  21st,  he  was 
formally  received  and  made  welcome,  by  the  Corporation, 
on  which  occasion,  an  Address,  signed  by  Robert  Ogden, 
Recorder,  was  presented  him,  in  which  they  speak  of  the 
place,  as  "the  oldest  and  largest  town  in  the  Government  of 
Kew  Jersey."  f 

♦  N.  T.  Weekly  Post  Boy,  No.  204.  t  N.  T.  Mercury,  No.  2C9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  385 

In  like  maimer,  when  Francis  Bernard,  Esq.,  was  pro- 
claimed, at  Amboy,  Governor  of  ISTew- Jersey,  a  formal 
Address  was  presented,  to  liis  Excellency,  June  17,  1758,  by 
the  Corporation  of  the  Borough  of  Elizabeth.  When  Cliief 
Justice  Nathaniel  Jones  came  to  reside  in  this  town,  he  was 
made  welcome  by  an  Address  from  the  Corporation,  Samuel 
Woodruff,  Mayor,  "  a  genteel  Entertainment  "  having  been 
provided  on  the  occasion.  Governor  Thomas  Boone  was  re- 
k  ceived,  July  3,  1760,  at  E.  Town  Point  by  Capt.  Ten-ill's 
troop  of  horse  and  escorted  to  the  Woodbridge  line  on  his 
way  to  Amboy.  On  the  7th,  the  Corporation  of  E.  Town 
presented  their  Address  and  were  jDublicly  entertained  by 
the  Governor.  So,  too,  his  successor,  Josiali  Hardy,  Esq., 
on  his  landing  at  E.  Town  Point,  Oct.  29, 1761,  was  received 
by  the  Council  and  some  of  the  chief  gentlemen  and  magis- 
trates of  the  Borough,  and  escorted  by  Capt.  Terrill's  troop. 
The  presentation  of  the  Address  followed,  as  in  the  former 
cases.* 

From  the  County  Account  Book,  it  apjiears,  that,  during  the 
last  thirty  years  of  the  first  century  of  the  town,  the  follow- 
ing persons  sat  in  the  Justice's  Court  as  Chosen  Freeholders  : 
Cornelius  Hatfield,  John  Halstead,  Samuel  Woodrufii",  Daniel 
Potter,  Wm.  Winans,  John  Stiles,  John  Chandler,  Joseph 
Morse,  and  Ephraim  Terrill. 

The  following  were  Justices  :  Andrew  Joline,  Joseph  Bon- 
ncU,  Thomas  Price,  Matthias  Hatfield,  John  Halstead,  Jo- 
seph Mann,  John  Blanchard,  John  Stiles,  Samuel  Woodrufi", 
Thomas  Clark,  and  Jacob  DeHart. 

The  ofiice  of  High  Sheriff  was  filled  successively  by  Wm. 
Chetwood,  Matthias  Hatfield,  Stephen  Crane,  and  Matthias 
Williamson.  The  following  were  Collectors  for  the  county  : 
Cornelius  Hatfield,  John  Harriman,  and  Ephraim  Terrill. 

The  old  Account  Book  shows,  that.  May  8,  17'±o,  they 
"  allowed  to  William  Chetwood  for  hanging  Negro  John  and 
Burning  Harry  Hartwel's  Hand,  £5.  0.  0,  proc."— May  13, 
1752  :  "  Allowed  to  Samuel  Meeker  4/proc°  a  day  for  y'^  39 

*  N.  T.  Mercury,  Nos.  306,  982.    Whitehead's  Amboy,  pp.  171,  7, 1S3. 

25 


3SG  THE    HISTORY    OF 

dfiys  which  he  spent  in  taking  the  list  of  y®  Estates  of  Eliz"' 
town  to  be  paid  out  of  y°  next  County  tax  proc°  £7.  16.  0." — 
Dec.  18,  1753  :  "Allowed  to  ]\P  hatfield  the  high  Sheriff  for 
the  Indightment  ct  Whiping  Jolm  "Williams  proc°  £3.  6.  3. 
Allowed  to  the  Widow  Conger  33/4  for  Getting  a  100  loads 
of  Stone  at  /4p.  on  her  land  for  Eliz*^  town  brig,"  [bridge]. 
—Feb.  20,  1759  :  "  allowed  Cap*,  terrel  for  plank  &  Work 
on  a  brig  over  Ilaway  Eiver  by  John  Morises  Cur^  £10.  2.  0." 
—June  19,  1759  :  "  allowed  Ezekiel  Ball  for  Building  a  Pil-  ' 
lory  at  Elizabeth  Town,  £2.  2.  0." 

The  Provincial  Tax  for  1753  was  for  E.Town,  £116. 16. 1. ; 
for  Newark,  £79.  2.  6. ;  for  Acquacknong,  £35.  2.  10.  Of 
the  £200.  County  Tax,  E.  Town  paid  £99.  6.  11.  Of  155 
"  arms  "  to  be  furnished  by  the  county,  78  were  required  of 
E.  Town. 

Of  the  Advertisements  and  JS[otices  in  the  Kcw  York 
"Weeklies,  the  following  pertain  to  this  town  : — 

(Dec.  24, 1744.)  An  Indian  "Wench  named  SaraL,  absented  sometime 
ago  from  her  Master  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simon  Ilorton,  at  Connecticut  Farms : 
She  formerly  belonged  to  Mr.  Samuel  Bayard,  Merchant  in  K'ew  York, 
and  has  been  seen  lately  in  this  City :  She  is  a  short  thick  "Wench, 
about  24  Years  of  Age,  and  has  lost  some  of  her  Fore  Teeth.  Whoever 
can  take  up  the  said  "Wench  and  commit  her  to  the  "Workhouse,  or  other- 
wise secure  her,  shall  be  well  rewarded  by  Simon  Horton.* 

(x\pril  27,  1747.)  To  be  Sold,  The  Mill  in  Elizabeth  Town,  near  the 
Bridge,  with  the  bolting  Cloths,  and  other  TJtensils  thereto  belonging ; 
and  also  a  House  and  Lot,  convenient  for  the  same.  "Whoever  has  a  Mind 
to  purchase  the  aforesaid  Mill  and  Lot,  may  enquire  at  the  House  of  "Wil- 
liam Chetwood  near  the  Premises,  and  be  informed  of  the  Title  and  Con- 
ditions of  Sale.t 

(Nov.  23,  1747.)  Aaron  Miller,  Clock  Maker,  In  Elizabeth  Town,  East 
New-Jersey,  Makes  and  sells  all  Sorts  of  Clocks,  after  the  best  Manner, 
with  Expedition: — He  likewise  makes  Compasses  and  Chains  for  Survey- 
ors; as  also  Church  Bells  of  any  size,  he  having  a  Foundry  for  that  Pur- 
pose, and  has  cast  several  who  have  been  approved  to  be  good ;  And  will 
supply  any  Persons  on  a  timely  Notice,  with  any  of  the  above  Articles,  at 
very  reasonable  Piates.  | 

(Jan.  25,  174J.)  To  be  Sold,  a  very  good  House  and  Lot,  lying 
in  Elizabeth  Town,  containing  7  Acres,  and  a  good   Orchard,  in  the 

*  N.  T.  Weekly  Post  Doy,  Xo.  101.  t  Ibid,  No.  223. 

:  Ibid.  No.  258. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  3S7 

Heart  of  the  Town,  near  the  Churcli,  very  well  situated  for  a  Store ; 
and  also  a  one  Horse  Chaise,  at  a  reasonable  Price.  Enquire  of  Elias 
Grazeillier.  * 

(Jan.  2,  174^-.)  Whereas  about  6  or  7  Weeks  ago  one  Samuel  Smith,  of 
the  Borough  of  Elizabeth,  in  New-Jersey,  came  to  this  city,  and  bought 
sundry  Goods  ;  but  in  his  Way  home  was  lost  near  Elizabeth-Town  Point : 
The  Persons  who  sold  him  the  said  Goods  are  desired  to  inform  the 
Printer  hereof,  that  his  Friends  may  know  their  Contents  and  which  of 
them  remain  unpaid  for.  t 

(June  26,  1749.)  Through  the  excessive  hot  Weather  of  Sunday  last, 
many  fish  died  on  Monday  in  Elizabeth  Town  Creek.  J 

(Feb.  19,  175I.)  William  Pool's  plantation  is  to  bo  sold,  on  Tuesday, 
the  27th  inst.  about  a  mile  from  to.wn  on  the  Woodbridge  road.  § 

(July  16,  1750.)  AYe  have  an  Account  from  Ash  Swamp,  near  Elizabeth 
Town,  that  about  ten  Days  ago,  a  Shower  of  Hail,  hicredibly  large,  fell  in 
a  Vein  of  some  Miles  in  those  Parts,  which  laid  waste  and  entirely  con- 
sumed every  Field  of  Wheat  and  Corn  that  was  within  its  Compass ; 
Limbs  of  Trees  broke  to  Pieces,  and  Birds  and  Fowles,  scarce  one  within 
its  lleach  escaped.  'Tis  said  some  of  the  Hail  Stones  were  as  big  as 
Hen's  Eggs.  || 

(Sept.  24,  1750.)  Pan  away  the  10th  of  September,  Inst.,  from  Johcr 
Cooper,  of  Elizabeth  Town,  in  East  NcAV-Jersey,  a  young  Negro  Man,, 
named  Cajsar,  between  20  and  25  years  of  Age ;  is  small  of  Stature,  and 
speaks  good  English  ;  he  is  as  black  as  most  any  in  the  Land.  Had  on 
when  he  went  away,  a  grey  Linsey  Woolsey  Waist-Coat,  with  one  or  two 
Buttons  on  the  Sleeve,  a  Pair  of  Tow  Trowsers,  and  a  Leather  Jockey 
Cap  instead  of  a  Hat.  IT 

Mr.  Cooper,  Cesar's  master,  was  the  son-in-law  of  Rev, 
Mr.  Dickinson. 

(Aug.  12,  1751.)  We  hear  from  Elizabeth  Town,  that  two  Women  have- 
been  killed  within  these  few  Weeks  past,  near  that  Place,  by  falling  out  of 
riding  Chairs.** 

As  specimens  of  tlic  domestic  Slave  Trade,  the  following 
advertisements,  hy  one  of  tlie  most  prominent  citizens,  an 
active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  cliurch,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  subsequently,  an  Elder,  for  many 
years,  are  worthy  of  notice  : — 

(April  27,  1752.)  A  likely  Parcel  of  Negro  Boys  and  Girls  from  12  to 
20  Years  of  Age,  who  have  all  had  the  Small  Pox,  To  be  sold  by  Cornelius 
Hetfield,  in  Elizabeth  Town. 

•  N.  Y.  "Weekly  Post  Boy,  No.  202.  t  Ibid.  No.  311.  t  Ibid.  No'.  336. 

§  Ibid,  No.  870.  [  Ubid.  No.  891.  *i  Ibid.  No.  401,  *♦  Ibid.  No.  4-iT. 


388  THE    HISTORY    OF 

(June  4,  1753.)  To  bo  sold  very  reasonable  by  Cornelius  Hatfield,  at 
Elizabeth  Town,  East  New  Jersey,  A  Parcel  of  likely  healthy  Negro  Men 
and  Women,  from  between  14  and  22  Years  of  Age.* 

(June  8,  1752.)  Matthias  Williamson  offers  for  sale  his  Dwelling  House 
and  Kitchen,  Garden,  Yard,  Barn,  Stables  and  Chair  House.t 

(Nov.  20,  1752.)  Run  away  from  Dr.  Matthias  Dehart  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  an  Irish  Servant  Man  named  William  Davis,  but  changes  his  name 
to  Davison,  a  small  Fellow,  lanthorn  jaw'd,  his  left  shoulder  out  of  joint, 
pretends  to  be  an  Englishman  and  a  Sailor,  red  complexion,  red  Hair  and 
Beard,  about  24  Years  old,  had  on  an  old  Bever  Hat  cut  across  the  Crown, 
a  light  Ratteen  Jacket,  a  striped  under-Jacket,  new  Shirt,  Leather 
Breeches  and  new  Shoes  ;  'tis  liko  he  has  Tar-Spots  on  most  of  his  Cloaths, 
as  he  workt  on  board  a  Vessel  for  some  Time. 

Also  run  away  with  him,  a  Servant  Irish  Woman,  named  Mary  Kelley, 
belonging  to  Capt.  Jonathan  Hampton,  of  the  same  Town,  a  likely  Girl, 
about  20  Years  old ;  'tis  supposed  they  will  pass  for  Man  and  Wife ;  She 
is  short  and  well-set;  had  on  an  old  short  red  Cloak,  old  brown  Calli- 
manco  Gown,  no  Bonnet,  and  otherwise  but  very  poorly  cloathed.  They 
were  lately  advertised  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  have  ran  away  twice 
before  this  since  last  May,  once  from  Newcastle,  and  once  from  Glouces- 
ter County.  They  used  to  travel  by  Night  and  steal  Fowl,  &c.  for 
Sustenance.  Any  Person  that  shall  bring  them  back  to  their  Masters, 
shall  have  Three  Pounds  Reward,  and  all  reasonable  Cliarges,  paid  by 

Matthias  Dehart  and  Jonathan  Hampton. J 

(Dec.  25,  1752.)  Robert  Milburn,  Blacksmith,  advertises  a  Runaway 
Servant,  Samuel  Cooper,  &  a  journeyman,  Daniel  Eaton. 

(Oct.  1,  1753.)  Cooper  has  run  away  again,  and  Richard  Brown  an 
Irishman,  has  also  absconded  from  Milburn. § 

(Juno  4,  1753.)  Imported  in  the  Samuel  and  Judith,  Capt.  Griffiths, 
from  London,  and  the  Grace,  Capt.  Noidson  from  Bristol,  and  to  be  sold 
by  Capt.  Jacob  Dehart,  in  Elizabeth  Town,  A  large  Assortment  of 
European  and  East  India  Goods.f 

(April  5,  1756).  Last  Monday  morning  [5th]  about  8  o'clock,  the  House 
of  Mr.  Edward  Sears  of  Elizabeth-Town,  in  New-Jersey,  was  burnt  to 
Ashes,  occasioned,  'tis  Conjectured,  by  some  Sparks  of  Fire  getting  through 
a  Crack  in  tho  chimney,  and  falling  on  the  Roof. IT 

(Aug.  27,  1757.)  Three  affidavits,  before  Robert  Ocden,  Esq.,  are  pub- 
lished, from  which  it  appears  that  Samuel  Woodruff,  of  Elizabeth  Town, 
was  part  owner  of  the  Schooner  "  Charming  Betsey,"  Wm.  Luce,  Capt., 
which  was  loaded  at  E.  Town,  in  Feb.,  1757,  with  provisions  and  lumber 
and  sailed  from  the  Point  to  St.  Christophers,  W.  I.  Joseph  Jolf,  at  that 
time,  was  of  full  age,  and  had  been  Clerk  and  Book-keeper,  upwards  of 

♦  N.  Y.  Weekly  Post  Boy,  Nos.  484,  540.  t  Ibid.  Xo.  490.  t  Ibid.  No.  512. 

§  ll)ld.  Ko8.  517,  657.       J  Ibid.  No.  510.  ^  N.  Y.  Mercury.  No.  192. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  389 

three  years,  for  Mr.  'Woodruff.  Soon  afterwards  lie  became  liis  partner 
in  business.* 

(Oct.  24,  1757.)  On  Tuesday,  the  first  Day  of  November,  Will  be  sold 
at  public  auction,  at  Elizabeth  Town,  in  New-Jersey,  the  househould 
furniture,  plate,  cattle,  &c.,  of  his  late  excellency  governor  BELCIIER. 
Also,  if  not  before  disposed  of  at  private  sale,  a  good  coach,  and  four  very 
fine  black  coach-horses.f 

(June  24,  1758.)  Captain  Jonathan  Uanipton,  of  Elizth-Town,  writes 
from  Cole's  Fort,  on  the  Frontiers  of  New  Jersey,  giving  an  account  of 
the  progress  of  the  war  against  the  Indians.! 

(Aug.  21,  1758.)  Run  away  On  the  13th  of  August,  from  William  Per- 
tree  Smith,  Esq. ;  of  Elizabeth-Town,  in  New- Jersey,  a  Negro  Man,  called 
Prince,  &c. 

The  same  date,  is  advertised  a  Horse  Race  to  take  place 
at  Elizabetli-Town,  in  East  Kew  Jersey,  on  Tuesday,  Oct. 
30tli ;  three  two  mile  heats  ;  for  £20.  Horses  entered  by 
William  Euen.§ 

(Jan.  8,  1759.)  To  be  Let,  the  noted  Tavern,  in  Elizabeth-To\m,  kept 
by  the  late  Widow  Chetwood,  known  by  the  Sign  of  the  Hogshead,  being 
very  convenient  for  a  Tavern,  Merchant,  Shop-keeper,  or  Tradesman. 
Apply  to  Matthias  Williamson  in  Elizabeth  Town  near  the  Premises. 
Mr.  Williamson  has,  also,  to  sell  a  good  House,  Barn,  Storehouse,  Garden 
and  sis  acres  near  the  Bridge  in  Elizabeth  Town.|| 

(Dec.  31,  1759.)  A  Lottery  for  making  an  Addition  to,  and  repairing 
St.  John's  Church,  in  Elizabeth-Town :  Erected  and  to  be  drawn  near 
Schutcr's  Island,  about  two  miles  from  Elizabeth-Town  Point.  3334 
Tickets,  {it  $4  each.  One  Prize  of  $1000  ;  2,  of  $500;  4,  of  $200;  8,  of 
$100 ;  16,  of  $50 ;  and  30,  of  $20.  Drawing  to  begin,  Feb.  5, 1760,  under 
the  Direction  and  Management  of  Jonathan  Hampton  and  John  De  Hart, 
Esqs. 

(Feb.  4,  1760.)  The  Drawing  of  the  above  Lottery  postponed  to  March 
14.  Tickets  to  be  had  of  (among  others)  the  Reverend  Mr.  Chandler,  in 
Elizabeth-Town.ll 

It  was  contrary  to  law  to  draw  a  lottery  in  the  Province ; 
and  to  evade  the  law,  it  was  common  to  have  lotteries  drawn 
at  or  near  Schuter's  Island. 

(Feb.  18,  17G0.)  Choice  Deer  Skins,  of  all  Sorts  to  be  sold  by  David 
Ball  and  Matthias  Swain,  at  Springfield,  in  the  Borough  of  EUzabetli, 
New-Jersey,  for  cash  only. 

*  N.  T.  Mercury,  No.  265.  t  Tbid.  No.  271.  ;  Ibid.  No.  308. 

i  Ibid,  No.  814.  II  Ibid.  No.  334.  n  Ibid.  Nob.  385, 390. 


390  THE    HISTORY    OF 

(The  same  date).  To  bo  Sold,  a  likely  Negro  Wench,  about  18  Years 
old  ;  enquire  of  William  P.  Smith,  Esq.,  at  Elizabeth  Town.  She  has  had 
the  Small  jiox  and  Meazels.* 

(.June  10,  1760.)  Last  "Wednesday  evening  [oth]  the  Son  of  Robert 
Ogden,  Esq.,  of  Elizabeth-Town,  a  Boy  of  about  10  Years  old,  was 
drowned  in  the  Creek,  in  the  Place,  as  he  was  bathing.t 

(Dec.  8,  17G0.)  Edward  Arnold,  near  the  Bridge  in  Elizabeth-Town, 
lias  imported  a  general  Assortment  of  Goods  fit  for  the  Season,  (&c.),  all 
which  he  will  sell  wholesale  and  retail,  as  cheap  as  they  are  to  be  had  in 
New  York.f 

(Feb.  1,  1TG2).  To  be  sold  at  publick  Vendue,  on  Monday  the  14th 
Instant,  at  Mr.  Thomas  Tobines  in  Elizabeth-Town,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
Creditors,  an  Assortment  of  Goods  fit  for  the  Season.§ 

(Feb.  22,  1762.)  To  be  let  and  entered  upon  the  first  day  of  May 
next,  at  Elizabeth-Town  in  the  province  of  New-Jersey,  a  large  commo- 
dious Dwelling  house  in  which  Cornelius  Hetfield,  Esq  :  now  lives  :  Said 
house  is  two  story  high,  has  sis  rooms  on  a  floor,  with  seven  fire-places, 
and  a  very  good  cellar  under  the  whole  house,  with  a  large  kitchen,  and 
a  good  garden,  about  six  acres  of  good  land,  a  young  orchard  on  the  same, 
and  an  excellent  good  living  spring  near  the  house,  and  is  very  pleasantly 
situated  in  the  Town.  Said  Hetfield  has  to  dispose  of  a  good  assortment 
of  Dry  Goods,  Ironmongery  and  Cutlery  ware,  which  he  will  sell  at  prime 
cost,  for  Cash  ;  and  all  persons  that  are  indebted  to  him,  are  desired  to  dis- 
charge their  respective  accounts  in  a  short  time.  N.  B.  He  has  likewise 
to  dispose  of  a  quantity  of  choice  seasoned  two  inch  jdanks.! 

(Sep.  13,  1762.)  On  Tuesday,  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  5th  Cth  & 
7th  of  October,  horse  races  are  to  be  run  on  the  Course  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  in  the  Field  of  Isaac  Hatfield,  about  a  mile  from  the  Bridge. 11 

(Nov.  15,  1762.)  Moses  Ogden  of  Elizabeth  Town  advertises  three 
Apprentice  Lads,  who  had  run  away  on  Sunday  evening,  Oct.  31st. : — 
James  Anderson,  Tanner,  19  years  old,  5  feet,  7  inches  high  ;  TJzal  Wood- 
ruff, shoemaker,  18  years  old,  5  feet  6  inches  high  ;  and  Epenetus  Beecli, 
shoemaker,  5  feet,  5  inches  high.     Reward,  £15.** 

(May  16,  1763.)     Samuel  Meeker's  Negro,  Sampson,  has  run  away. 

(Sept.  19,  1763.)  Margaret  Johnston  (Formerly  the  Widow  Cliet- 
wood).  Who,  for  many  Years,  kept  the  Nag's  Head  Tavern,  near  the 
Bridge  in  Elizabeth  Town,  begs  leave  to  inform  her  old  Customers  and 
Friends  that  she  now  keeps  a  Public  House  near  said  Bridge,  in  Elizabeth- 
Town,  in  the  large  and  commodious  House,  lately  belonging  to  the  Estate 
of  Col.  Peter  Schuyler,  deceased,  commonly  called  tlie  White  House,  at 
the  Sign  of  the  Nag's  Head,  (&c.)  ft 

•  N.  Y.  Mercury,  No.  302.  t  Ibid.  No.  409.                i  Thid.  No.  434. 

S  Ibid.  496.  «  Ibid.  No.  499.               ^  Ibid.  No.  628. 

♦♦  N.Y.Mercurv,No.53T.  tt  N.Y.  0.178110,  Nos.  231,249. 

f  • 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  391 

Ellzabetli  Town  (in  New  Jersey)  Jan.  23,  1764.  Last  Friday  departed 
this  life.  Miss  Mary  Eldrington,  an  old  virgin,  in  the  109th  year  of  her  age. 
She  was  of  an  ancient  family,  born  at  Eldrington-IIall,  in  Northumberland, 
Old  England,  and  on  the  next  day  she  was  decently  interred  in  St.  John's 
Church-yard,  at  Elizabeth-Town. — It  is  remarkable,  that,  notwithstand- 
ing her  great  age,  she  was  very  desirous  of  getting  a  husband  before  she 
died ;  and  not  two  years  since,  nothing  could  offend  her  so  highly  as  to 
tell  her  that  she  was  too  old  to  be  married.* 

(Jan.  30,  1764.)  Last  Friday,  as  Robert  Ogden,  Esq.,  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  with  his  wife,  Son,  and  President  Finley's  wife,  &c.,  were  passing 
over  on  the  ice  at  New  Brunswick,  it  gave  way  with  them,  and  it  was 
with  the  greatest  difficulty,  their  lives  were  saved. f 

(May  14,  1764.)  John  Graham,  who  formerly  kept  the  sign  of  the 
Duke  of  York  at  "Whitehall,  in  New  York,  now  keeps  the  Sign  of  the 
Marquis  of  Grandby  in  Elizabeth  Town,  in  the  most  publick  part  of  said 
town,  and  the  most  noted  tavern  for  many  years  past.  It  was  formerly 
kept  by  Mrs.  Ohetwood,  but  latterly  by  Mr.  John  Joline.J 

During  the  troubles  consequent  on  the  long  war  with  the 
French,  extending  from  1754  to  1763,  repeated  calls  were 
made  on  the  town  for  recruits ;  and  these  requisitions  were 
answered  by  numerous  enlistments.  A  military  policy,  also, 
was  adopted,  requiring  that  soldiers  should  be  quartered  in 
some  of  the  principal  towns  of  the  province,  ready  for  the 
emergencies  of  war.  At  first,  the  troops,  while  in  winter 
quarters,  were  billeted  upon  private  families ;  but,  it  being 
"  found  by  Experience,"  that  this  practice  was  "  not  only  at- 
tended with  a  very  heavy  publick  Expence,  but  many  other 
pernicious  Consequences  to  private  Families,"  an  Act  was 
passed,  by  the  Legislature,  April  15,  1758,  providing  that 
substantial  Barracks,  each  sufiicient  to  accommodate  three 
hundred  men,  should  be  constructed  at  Burlington,  Perth- 
Amboy,  Elizabeth-Town,  ISTew  Brunswick  and  Trenton.  The 
Act  was  carried  into  eifect  in  the  course  of  1759. § 

The  Barracks  in  this  town  were  erected  on  the  rising 
ground  fronting  on  Cherry  st.,  near  Jersey  st.,  and  extended 
from  the  street  east  towards  the  Creek,  fronting  the  South. 
They  were  constructed  in  a  substantial  manner,  and  were 
probably  not  much  unlike  the  Barracks  at  Perth  Atnboy, 

*  Mass.  Gazette  and  News  Letter,  of  Feb.  16,  17G4. 

t  N.  Y.  Mercury,  No.  641.  J  N.  York  Gazette,  No.  2S4. 

§  AUinson's  Laws  of  N.  J.,  p.  218!     Wliitelioad's  Amboy,  pp.  *6,  7. 


392  THE    HISTORY    OF 

which  survive  to  the  present  day.  They  were  occupied,  soon 
after  their  completion,  by  British  soldiers,  some  of  whom 
were  almost  constantly  quartered  here — the  44:th  and  47th 
regiments  in  particular — until  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
The  presence  of  the  troops  had,  for  the  most  part,  a  demoral- 
izing effect  on  the  society  of  the  town.  The  Barracks  were 
destroyed  by  the  British  during  the  war.* 

At  the  close  of  the  first  century  of  the  town's  history,  the 
event  was  celebrated,  Oct.  28,  1764,  by  a  centennial  dinner, 
on  which  occasion  an  ox,  roasted  whole,  in  tlie  centre  of  the 
town,  opposite  Barnaby  Shute's  house,  was  served  to  the 
guests,  t 

*  Murroy's  Notes,  p.  99.  t  Ibid.  p.  164. 


•ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  393 


CHAPTEE    XYIII. 

A.  D.  174'7-l'7CO. 

Ecclesiastical. — Rev.  Elihu  Spencer  —  Early  Life  —  Ordination  and  Installa- 
tion—  His  Marriage  —  Public  Services  —  Removal  —  Subsequent  History  — 
His  Death  —  His  Family  — Rev.  Abraham  Keteltas  —  Early  Life  —  Licensure, 
Call  and  Ordination  —  Chh.  Clock — Removal  to  Jamaica,  L.  I.  —  Subse- 
quent History  —  Death  —  Children. 

The  death  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Dickinson  was  a  sad  and 
deplorable  event  in  the  history  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church.  It  was  not  to  be  expected,  that  a  successor  could 
be  obtained  of  equal  capacity.  The  church  "Wardens  of  St. 
John's  wrote  "  home,"  Dec.  26,  1Y47, — "  The  Dissenters  can 
with  great  ease  be  supplyed  with  a  Teacher ;  but  alas  !  our 
infelicity  is  such  that  we  must  have  recourse  to  a  distant  aid." 
The  facts  were  that  St.  John's  was  supplied,  at  least  in  part, 
almost  without  delay, — while  the  "  Dissenters  "  M'cre  with- 
out a  pastor,  or  stated  supply,  nearly  two  years.* 
.  No  record  remains,  by  which  it  can  be  learned,  who  sup- 
plied the  Presbyterian  church  during  the  first  of  these  two 
years.  The  eccentric  James  Davenport  was  settled  over  the 
church  at  Connecticut  Farms  at  this  period,  and  probably 
officiated  here  occasionally.  The  Eev.  Elihu  Spencer  began 
to  supply  the  pulpit  in  the  spring  of  17^9.  Pres.  Edwards 
writes,  May  20,  1749,— 

Mr.  Spencer  is  now  preacliing  at  Elizabethtown  in  New  Jersey,  in  Ihe 
pulpit  of  the  late  Mr.  Dickinson, — and  I  believe  is  likely  to  settle  there. 
He  is  a  person  of  very  promising  qualifications :  and  wiil  hopefully  in 
some  measure  make  up  the  great  loss,  that  people  have  sustained  by  the 
death  of  their  former  pastor.t 

*  Clart'8  St.  John's,  p.  68.  t  Edwards'  Works,  I.  2T4. 


39i  THE    HISTORY    OF 


THE  REV.  ELIHU  SPENCER 

was  a  townsman  and  a  beloved  kinsman  and  friend  of  David 
Brainerd.  He  was  the  son  of  Isaac  Spencer  and  Maiy  Selden, 
and  was  born  at  East  Haddam,  Ct.,  Feb.  12,  1721.  lie  was 
the  seventh  child  of  his  parents.  His  father  was  the  grand- 
son of  Jared  Spencer,  who  came  to  Haddam  as  earlj  as  1665. 
Samuel,  the  son  of  Jared,  was  his  grandfather,  and  Hannah, 
the  daughter  of  Jared,  was  the  grandmother  of  David  and 
John  Brainerd,  who  consequently  were  his  second  cousins. 
Jerusha  Brainerd,  sister  of  David  and  John,  was  the  wife  of 
his  eldest  brother  Samuel ;  and  Martha  Brainerd,  a  third  sis- 
ter, was  the  wife  of  his  second  brother,  Joseph  Spencer,  after- 
wards Maj. -General  of  the  Army  of  the  Revolution,  and  Mem- 
ber of  Congress.  A  peculiarly  close  intimacy,  therefore, 
existed  between  Elihu  Spencer  and  the  two  Brainerds.  It 
was  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Spencer,  Jerusha's  husband,  that 
David  Brainerd  found  a  home,  whenever,  in  his  public  life,  he 
visited  his  native  town.  To  this  sister  Brainerd  was  greatly 
attached,  and  the  news  of  her  death,  brought  him  shortl}'  be- 
fore his  own  departure,  deeply  affected  him.  John  Brainerd 
.  was  about  one  year,  and  David  about  three  years,  older  than 
Elihu  Spencer.  They  grew  up,  and  fitted  for  College,  to- 
gether. Spencer  and  John  Brainerd  entered  Yale  College  at 
the  same  time,  and  graduated  in  17-16,  in  the  same  class  with 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles,  subsequently  President  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, and  with  Lewis  Morris  and  John  Morin  Scott,  after- 
wards members  of  Congress.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Thos.  B.  Chandler 
of  this  town,  and  the  Hon.  Wm.  Smith,  the  historian,  pre- 
ceded them  one  year.* 

Three  or  four  weeks  only  before  his  decease,  David  Brai- 
nerd recommended,  to  the  Commissioners  at  Boston,  his  be- 
loved kinsman,  Elihu  Spencer,  as  a  missionary  to  the  Six 

*  Goodwill's  Gonoal.  Notes,  p.  203.  HaU's  Trenton,  pp.  203-9.  Brainerd's  Lifo  of  John 
Brainerd,  pp.  25-35.  Spraguc's  Annals,  III.  1G5.  Jcrusba  Brainerd  was  the  mother  of  Col. 
Oliver  Spencer,  at  a  later  day  a  citizen  of  this  town,  of  hich  social  position,  introduced  here, 
doubtless,  by  his  uncle,  the  Rev.  Elihu  Spencer.  He  married  Anna,  the  2d  daughter  of 
Robert  Ogdon  and  Phebo  Ilatfleld,  and  the  sister  of  the  distiDguishcd  Robert,  Matthias  and 
Aaron  Ogden. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  395 

Kations,  together  with  Mr.  Job  Strong,  of  Northampton, 
Mass.  They  were  accordingly  appointed,  and  directed  to 
spend  the  winter  following,  with  John  Brainerd,  at  Bethel, 
N.  J.,  among  the  Christian  Indians,  the  better  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  Indians.  They 
came  to  Brainerd's  house,  early  in  January,  ITiS,  and  re- 
mained until  the  spring,  when  they  returned  to  Boston  for 
further  instructions.  They  were  then  directed  to  repair  to 
Northampton  to  pursue  their  studies  with  the  Kev.  Jonathan 
Edwards,  during  the  summer ;  and  to  be  present  at  the  Con- 
ference in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  July  23,  1748,  between  the  Gov- 
ernors of  N.  York  and  Massachusetts  and  the  Chiefs  of  the 
Six  Nations;  with  which  instructions"  they  complied.  Ar- 
rangements were  made  at  this  Conference  for  the  reception 
of  missionaries  among  the  Orieidas. 

Mr.  Spencer,  wdio  had  probably  been  licensed  by  one  of 
the  Mass.  Associations,  returned  to  Boston,  and  was  there 
ordained,  Sept.  14,  1748,  as  a  Missionary  to  the  Oneidas. 
Shortly  after,  he  entered  upon  his  missionary  work  at  Ono- 
hohguaga,  [Unadilla],  on  the  Susquehannah  Eiver,  where  he 
spent  the  winter.  Meeting  with  many  discouragements  by 
reason  of  the  incapacity  and  unfaithfulness  of  the  interpreter, 
he  returned  to  Boston,  to  obtain  a  better  interpreter  and  a 
colleague.  In  the  meantime,  he  was  providentially  directed 
to  this  town,  soon  after  his  return,  and  was  employed,  about 
the  1st  of  May,  1749,  as  a  Stated  Supply  of  the  pulpit,  and  a 
candidate  for  settlement.* 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  New  York,  at  Maidenhead, 
N.  J.,  May  17,  1749,  Mr.  Spencer  was  present  as  a  Corre- 
sponding member,  and  was  appointed,  with  Messrs.  Prime. 
Davenport  and  Youngs,  to  write  to  the  Fairfield  County 
Association,  East,  to  induce  them  to  send  ministers  to  Yir- 
ginia,  in  response  to  an  appeal  by  the  Eev.  Samuel  Davies. 
This  would  indicate,  that  his  connection  with  the  Synod,  as 
the  prospective  ])astor  of  Elizabeth  Town,  was  even  then 
regarded  as  quite   certain.     He  was  in  attendance  at  the 

*  Edwards'  Works,  I.  2G8-70,  2T4.  Brainerd's  John  Brainerd,  p.  1-lS.  Hall's  Trenton,  p. 
911.    Webster's  Presb.  Chh.,  p.  588. 


39G  THE    HISTORY    OF 

College  commencement  in  New  Brunswick,  Sept.  27,  and 
had  a  pleasant  time  with  his  kinsman  John  Brainerd,  with 
whom  lie  spent  the  evening.  Brainerd  visited  him  in  this 
town,  on  Wednesday,  November  8th,  and  found  iiim  enjoy- 
ing the  hospitality  of  Mr.  Samuel  Woodruff.  Two  or 
three  days  they  spent  very  lovingly  together,  and  on 
Saturday,  Mr.  Spencer  went  down  to  Bethel  to  spend  the 
Sabbath  with  his  old  friends,  the  Christian  Indians,  and 
Mr.  Brainerd  remained  here  to  supply  the  pulpit  on  the 
Sabbath,  Nov.  12th.* 

As  the  prospect  of  returning  to  his  work  among  the  Oneida 
Indians  was  not  hopeful,  a  call  was 'extended  to  him  to  become 
the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this  town,  which  he 
accepted.  He  was  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
February  7,  1749-50 ;  of  which  he  made  the  following  record 
in  his  family  Bible  : — 

This  day  was  installed  E.  Spencer,  and  took  the  great  charge  (onus 
humeris  angelorum  forraidandiim)  of  the  ministry  in  Elizabethtown, 
setatis  sufo  28.     The  Lord  help  me.t 

In  the  Diary  of  the  Rev.  John  Brainerd,  occurs  this  pas- 
sage : 

Monday,  Sept.  25. — Spent  the  forenoon  at  Mr.  Eaton's  (it  being  rainy), 
partly  in  reading  and  partly  in  conversation. J 

This  was  at  Shrewsbury,  at  Eatontown,  near  the  present 
Long  Branch,  and  about  25  miles  East  of  Bethel  near  Cran- 
berry. Tlie  village  took  its  name  from  Mr.  Thomas  Eaton, 
who  was  settled  here  as  early  as  1685.  It  was  at  the  house 
of  John  Eaton,  the  son  of  Thomas  most  probably,  that  Brai- 
nerd was  a  welcome  guest.  And  here,  quite  likely,  during 
the  winter  that  Spencer  spent  with  Brainerd  at  Bethel,  ho 
too  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  Mr.  Eaton,  and  first  saw  and 
loved  his  daughter,  Joanna,  tlien  a  blooming  girl  of  19  years. 
She  became  his  wife,  Oct.  15,  1750.  § 

Scarcely  any  memorials  remain  of  his  pastoral  work  in 
this  town.     That  he  was  a  fluent  and  attractive  preacher  is 

*  Records  of  Presb.  Chh.,  p.  237.     Braincrd's  John  Brainerd,  pp.  1S7,  218,  9. 

t  Uall'a  Trenton,  pp.  211, 2.        I  John  Brainerd,  p.  1S5.        §  Sprague's  Annals,  III.  1C6. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  397 

well  attested.  That  lie  lived  in  peace  with  his  congregation 
is  most  probable.  That  he  secured  the  respect  of  the  Gov- 
ernor and  the  people  generally  cannot  be  cpiestioned.  But 
of  the  fruits  of  his  ministry,  in  the  absence  of  the  Chm'cti- 
Records,  nothing  can  now  be  learned.  His  ministry  termi- 
nated in  1756,  about  seven  years  from  the  time  of  its  com- 
mencement. It  does  not  appear  why  he  left.  It  could  not 
have  been,  because  of  a  call  to  Jamaica,  L.  I. ;  for  his  Avork 
there  seems  not  to  have  commenced  until  May  22,  1758,  at 
which  time,  as  appears  from  the  Eecords  of  the  Synod  of 
New  York,  he  was  expecting  an  appointment  as  Chaplain  of 
the  New  York  forces.* 

After  leaving  this  town,  he  supplied  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  and  Shrewsbury,  N.  J. ;  after 
which  he  became  pastor,  first,  of  St.  George's,  Delaware,  and 
then  of  Trenton  and  Maidenhead,  N.  J.,  where  he  continued 
until  his  death,  Dec.  27,  1781.  In  1782,  he  was  honored,  by 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  with  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  was  buried  at  Trenton,  and  a  mon- 
umental stone  was  placed  over  his  remains,  with  the  follow- 
ing inscription,  commemorating  as  well  the  virtues  of  his 
spouse : 

Beneath  tins  stone  lies  the  body  of  the  Eev.  Elihu  Spencer,  D.  D.,  " 
Pastor  of  the  Presbyteriaa  Church  in  Trenton,  and  one  of  the  Trustees 
of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  December,  17S4,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 

Possessed  of  fine  genius,  of  great  vivacity,  of  eminent  and  active 
piety,  his  merits  as  a  minister  and  as  a  man  stand  above  the  reach  of 
flattery. 

Having  long  edified  the  Church  by  his  talents  and  example,  and  finished 
his  course  with  joy,  he  fell  asleep  full  of  faith,  and  waiting  for  the  hope 
of  all  saints. 

Mrs.  Joanna  Spencee, 

Relict  of  the  above,  died  November  1st,  1791,  aged  sixty-three  years. 

From  her  many  virtues  she  lived  beloved,  and  died  lamented.  The 
cheerful  patience  with  which  she  bore  a  painful  and  tedious  disease  threw 
a  lustre  on  the  last  scenes  of  her  life,  and  evinces  that  with  true  piety 
death  loses  its  terrors.f 

*  Records,  P.  Clih.,  p.  2S3.    McDonnld'B  Jamaica,  p.  17C. 

t  IlaU'B  Trenton,  pp.  216-22S,  278,  287-3.    Spiague'a  Annals,  III.  lCT-8. 


398  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Their  adult  children  were  one  son  and  seven  daughters ; 
one  or  two  sons  having  died  in  infancy. 

1.  John,  graduated,  1784,  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
practised  law,  married,  and  died,  leaving  several  children. 

2.  A  daughter,  who  died  unmarried. 

3.  Sarah,  born,  1756,  married  Stephen  Lowrey,  a  Mary- 
land merchant,  and  died,  May  1780,  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  leav- 
ing at  least  one  daughter, 

4.  Margaret,  married,  as  early  as  1778,  Jonathan  Dickin- 
son Sergeant  (grandson  of  President  Dickinson),  an  eminent 
jurist,  and  member  of  Congress,  who  was  born  at  iN'ewark, 
N.  J.,  in  1746,  graduated  at  the  College  of  IS'ew  Jersey,  in 
1762,  studied  law  willi  Richard  Stockton,  Princeton,  N.  J., 
and  died  at  Philadelphia,  in  1793.  Of  their  children  were, 
(1.)  the  Hon.  John  Sergeant,  born  in  1779,  graduated,  C.  N. 
J.,  1795,  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  a  distinguished  statesman, 
who  died  at  Philadelphia,  Nov.  23,  1852  ;  (2.)  Hon.  Thomas 
Sergeant,  who  graduated,  C.  N.  J.,  1798,  became  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in 
1860;  (3.)  Sarah,  married,  1801,  to  Rev.  Samuel  Miller, 
D.  D.,  of  New  York,  and  had  ten  children,  of  whom  the 
eldest  became  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  John  Breckinridge,  D.D., 
two  of  the  sons  became  ministers  of  the  gospel,  one  a  surgeon 
in  the  Navy,  and  one  a  lawyer. 

5.  Elizabeth  married  George  Merchant,  who  graduated, 
C.  N.  J.,  1779,  became  a  distinguished  classical  teacher,  and 
left  several  children. 

6.  Valeria  married  Richard  Fullerton,  a  broker  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  left  no  children. 

7.  Lydia  married  Wm.  M.  Piddle,  broker,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  had  several  children.  She  outlived  all  her  father's 
family. 

8.  A  daughter,  who  died  unmarried,* 

KEV.  ABRAHAM  KETELTAS. 

Shortly  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  S])cncer,  the  pulpit  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  was  supplied  by  Mr.  Abraham 

♦  Spraguo'a  Annals,  III.  1C9. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  399 

Ketcltas.  lie  "was  the  son  of  Abraham  Keteltas,  a  well- 
known  merchant  of  New  York  City,  who  emigrated  thither 
from  Holland  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
son  was  born  at  JSTew  York,  December  26,  1732.  In  his 
youth  he  resided,  a  considerable  time,  among  the  Huguenots 
at  ]^ew  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  and  thus  acquired  a  great  familiarity 
with  the  French  language.  lie  was  educated  at  Yale  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1752,  with  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Josiah  Whitney  and  Elizur  Goodrich.  He  received  license 
to  preach,  Aug.  23, 1756,  from  the  Fairfield  East  Association 
of  Congregational  Ministers,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  winter, 
or  early  in  the  spring  following,  began  to  preach  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  this  town.  The  Account  Book  of  the 
Trustees  shows  that  he  was  paid,  on  Monday,  May  23,  1757, 
the  sum  of  £19.  10.  0.  for  preaching;  as  he  was  to  receive 
£1.  10.  0.  per  Sabbath,  this  would  indicate  that  he  had  al- 
ready preached  13  Sabbaths,  and  that  he  must  have  come 
here  as  early  as  Feb.  22,  1757.  Another  entry  in  the  same 
book  tells  where  he  lived: 

July  5,  1757,  then  i)aiJ  to  the  widow  Koss  for  M""  Kcttlctas  Board 
£4.  10.  0.* 

This  was,  doubtless,  the  widow  of  Judge  John  Eoss,  of 
whose  death,  Aug,  7,  1751:,  notice  has  already  been  taken. 

Mr.  Keteltas,  having  preached  as  a  candidate  for  six 
months,  to  the  acceptance  of  the  people,  received  a  call  to 
the  Pastorate,  on  a  salary  of  £130  "  Lite  Monej'',"  per  year, 
and  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  congregation,  on  "Wednesday, 
Sept.  11,  1757,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York— just  a  fort- 
night after  the  decease  of  Gov.  Belcher.  He  was,  at  the  time, 
in  the  25tli  year  of  his  age.f 

Previous  to  his  licensure,  he  had  been  married,  Oct.  22, 
1755,  to  Sarah,  the  third  daughter  of  the  Hon.  William  Smith, 
member  of  the  Council,  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  King's 
Bench.  She  was  born  in  1732,  four  years  after  her  brother 
William,  the  historian.     Mr.  Keteltas  and  his  wife  both  occu- 

♦  Thompson's  L.  Isld.,  II.  111.     Ecc.  Con-  +  Trustees'  Book  of  Prcs.  Clih. 

tributions  to  the  Ecc.  Uis.  of  Ct.,  p.  300. 


400  THE    HISTORY    OF 

pied  a  high  social  position,  consorting  with  the  most  dis- 
tinguisbed  families  of  the  two  provinces."- 

The  accounts  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  congregation,  Samuel 
Woodruff,  show,  that  the  salary  of  Mr.  Kcteltas  was  paid  by 
regular  weekly  contributions  on  the  Sabbath,  averaging,  for 
the  years  1758  and  9,  about  £2.  16.  0.  each  Sabbath.  They, 
also,  s1k)w,  that,  in  the  spring  of  1759,  the  belfry  of  the 
church  was  provided  with  a  public  clock,  probably  for  the 
first  time, — the  handiwork,  doubtless,  of  Aaron  Miller,  who, 
as  has  been  seen,  had  established  himself  in  the  town,  as  a 
clock-maker.  At  whose  expense  it  was  provided,  is  left  to 
conjecture ;  as  no  charge  for  it  is  found  in  the  Treasurer's 
accounts.  It  had  but  one  face,  for  the  making  and  painting 
of  which,  were  paid  to  Mr.  Ball,  carpenter,  and  Joseph 
"Woodruff,  painter,  £10.  6.  9.  Mr.  Abraham  Woodruff  was 
paid,  £1,  8.  9.  for  "  a  clock  rope." 

The  same  old  Account  Book  tells  other  tales.  Bepeatedly 
the  charge  is  made — "  To  1  quart  of  rum  1/4  ; "  supplied  to 
the  men  repairing  the  old  church :  "  June  24, 1758 ;  2  quarts 
of  rum  @  2/8  for  y®  people  to  pry  up  the  sleepers  :  "  from . 
which  it  would  appear,  that  the  floor  of  the  old  edifice  had  be- 
gun very  seriously  to  feel  the  effects  of  age.  "  June  18, 1759, 
paid  David  meeker  Riding  to  Collect  m""  Spencer  Arrerejes, 
£0.  5.  0."  Mr.  Spencer's  account  was  not  settled  until  May 
21,  1760.  Abraham  Woodruff  was  paid  6s  "  for  Eideing  one 
Day  to  Collect  yn  the  Scribtion." 

At  a  later  date,  Sept.  10,  1760,  occurs  the  following  : 

To  Cash  for  bigliering  a  man  Calling  the  Deakens  and  Elders  a  Bout 
m'  Ketteltass,  £0.  2.  0. 

Also,  Sept.  17,  the  following  : 

Paid  Thomas  Woodruff  for  himself  &  Expencos  to  Prince  Town  & 
shewing  a  hors  for  to  cary  Letter  to  y"  prcssbetiry,  £1.  0.  8, 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Keteltas  continued  nearly  three  and  a 
half  years,  terminating  with  the  month  of  July,  1760.  Tlie 
meeting  of  the  Elders  and  Deacons  noticed  above  had  respect 

*  N.  York  Marriages,  p.  212. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  401 

to  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  ;  as,  also,  the  re- 
quest to  the  Presbytery,  for  their  concurrence. 

Something  had  appeared  in  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Keteltas, 
that  led  the  Presbytery,  in  dissolving  the  i)astoral  relation,  to 
pass  a  vote  of  admonition  very  much  like  a  censure  ;  of 
which  Mr.  K.  complained  to  the  Synod,  at  their  next  meet- 
ing, in  Philadelphia,  May  23,  17G1.  The  action  taken  was 
so  mild  and  so  carefully  expressed,  that  nothing  can  be 
learned  of  the  nature  of  the  offence.  It  could  not  have  been- 
regarded  as  very  flagrant,  or  the  Presbytery  and  Synod 
would  not  have  passed  it  over  so  lightly.  lie  soon  after 
withdrew  from  the  Presbytery.* 

Leaving  this  town,  after  a  short  stay  in  New  York,  he  took 
up  his  abode,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1760,  at  Jamaica,  L.  I., 
where,  for  the  most  part,  he  continued  to  live,  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  preaching  as  occasion  offered,  but  with- 
out a  pastoral  charge.  Ilis  familiarity  with  both  the  Dutch 
and  French  languages,  as  well  as  the  English,  made  him  a 
Avelcome  preacher  among  the  Dutch  and  French  in  and 
about  IS'ew  York.  Certificates,  dated,  April  11,  1769,  and 
Oct,  6,  1775,  are  on  record,  in  which  he  signs  his  name  as 
"  minister  of  the  French  Protestant  church  of  New  York." 
A  Charity  sermon,  which  he  preached  in  the  same  church, 
Dec.  27,  1773,  M^as  published,  by  James  Rivington,  in  1774, 
the  preface  being  dated  at  Jamaica,  Feb.  25,  1771.f 

In  the  political  contests  of  the  day  he  took  a  deep  interest, 
espousing  heartil}",  and  advocating  warmly,  his  country's 
Cause,  against  the  British  Government.  In  March,  176S,  he 
was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  Assembly  of  N.  York. 
He  was  appointed,  by  his  townsmen,  Dec.  6,  1771,  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Observation.  He 
was,  also,  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention 
in  1777 ;  and,  by  his  political  essays  and  patriotic  efforts, 
made  himself  so  obnoxious  to  the  enemy,  and  the  Tories  of 
Long  Island,  that,  after  the  battle  of  Flatbush,  Aug.  27, 1776, 
he  was  obliged  to  seek  refuge  in  New  England,  until  the  close 
of  the  contest,  leaving  his   property  to  be  occupied^  and 

•  Records,  Preab.  Clih.,  pp.  311,  2,  0.  333.  t  Cal.  of  N.  Y.  UU.  Mss.,  Eng.,  pp.  77G,  S84. 

26 


402  THE    HISTORY    OF 

greatly  injured,  bj  tlie  British.  lie  supplied  the  pulpit  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Newburyport,  Mass.  for  a 
season  ;  also  of  the  Congregational  church  of  New  Fairfield, 
Ct.,  in  1Y82,  and,  probably,  was  frequently  called  upon  to 
preach  among  the  Ct.  churches,  during  the  period  of  bis 
exile.* 

His  last  days  -were  passed  in  peace,  in  the  midst  of  his 
family  and  friends  at  Jamaica.  In  the  grave-yard  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  there,  a  memorial  tablet  makes 
the  following  record  : — 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Abraham  Kettleta?.  Obt.  30tli  Sept. 
1708,  A.  E.  G5  years,  9  mos.  and  4  days.  He  possessed  imusual  talents, 
that  were  improved  by  profound  erudition,  and  a  heart  firmly  attached 
to  the  interests  of  his  country.  Ilis  mind  was  early  impressed  with  a 
sense  of  religion,  which  fully  manifested  itself  in  the  choice  of  the  sacred 
ofiice,  in  which  he  shone  as  the  able  and  faithful  divine.  It  may  not 
perhaps  be  unworthy  of  record  iu  this  inscription,  that  he  frequently  offi- 
ciated in  three  different  languages,  having  preached  in  the  Dutch  and 
French  Churches  in  his  native  city  of  iTew  York. 

Kest  from  thy  labors  now  thy  work  is  o'er  : 
Since  Death  is  vanquislied,  now  free  grace  adore ; 
A  crown  of  glory  sure  awaits  the  just, 
"Who  served  their  God,  and  in  their  Saviour  trust. 

Ilis  children  M'ere  Jane  (1st),  Mary,  Jane  (2d),  Sarah, 
Abraham,  William,  John,  Elizabeth  Scott,  Ann,  Philip  Dod- 
dridge, and  Clarissa.  Sa^aK  married  John  Fish,  of  Newtown, 
L.  I.,  who  was,  subsequently,  a  merchant  of  New  York, 
whence  he  removed  to  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in 
1807.  Ann  married,  in  1T9D,  Thomas  Hackett,  who  had 
come,  in  1794,  from  Holland.  She  was  the  mother  of  James 
Henry  Hackett,  the  actor,  who  was  born,  March  15,  ISOO. 
William  died  suddenly,  Nov.  19,  1812.  Clarissa  was  never 
married.  She  died,  greatly  lamented,  July  21,  1810.  Jane^ 
the  first  born,  died  in  infanc3\  C)n  the  occasion  of  her  death, 
the  father  composed  fifteen  stanzas  of  elegiac  poetry,  which 
are  still  cxtant.f 

•  Prime's  L.  Isld.,  rP-  31Si  ^-  Onderdonk's  Qaecns  Co.,  pp.  83,  40.  McDonald's  Jamaica, 
pp.  191,  2,  3.    Contrib.  to  the  Ecc.  His.  of  Ct.,  pp.  4ai,  521. 

t  Aldcn'fl  Epitaplis,  IV.  180-0.  Thompson's  Long  Island,  II.  111-3.  Eikci's  Nevrtown, 
p.  308. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  403 


CIIAPTEE  XIX. 

A.  D.  lICi-lTllD. 

Rctrencbraents  at  Funerals  —  Death  of  Alderman  Thos.  Clark  —  Non-Importation 
Leagues  —  Patriotism  of  the  Town  —  Stamp  Act  —  Gen.  Congress  —  Robert 
Ogdaa,  Speaker  of  N.  J.  Congress,  resigns  his  seat  —  Stephen  Crane  succeeds 
him  —  Opposition  to  Stamp  Act  —  Its  Repeal  —  Non- Importation  Leagues 
revived  —  County  Meeting  at  E.  T.  —  Patriotic  Action  —  British  Regulars 
quartered  here  —  "  Boston  Tea  Party  "  —  Boston  Port  Bill  —  Great  Indigna- 
tion everywhere  —  Principal  Patriots  of  the  Town  —  Lines  drawn  —  County 
Meeting  at  Newark  —  Town  Meeting  —  Congress  sustained  —  Committee  of 
Safety  —  Non-Intercourse  with  Staten  Island  —  Exciting  Affair  —  Case  of  the 
Beulah  —  Sheriff  Barnct  implicated  —  Battle  of  Lexington  —  Uprising  of  the 
People  —  Aaron  Burr  and  Matt.  Ogden  —  General  Congress  —  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, Com.  in  Chief — Battle  of  Bunker-Hill  —  Powder  sent  from  E.  T.  to  the 
Am.  Army  —  Mrs.  Washington  at  E.  T.  —  Earl  of  Stirling  in  command  here  — 
Capture  of  the  ship  Blue  Mountain  Valley  —  Names  of  the  Captors  —  Military 
OflScers  —  MiUtary  Preparations  —  Fortifications  at  the  Point  —  Washington 
and  the  Am.  Army  at  N.  Y.  —  Appearance  of  the  Town  in  1776. 

TuE  opening  of  the  second  century  of  the  town's  history 
found  the  people  in  a  state  of  great  agitation  and  apprehen- 
sion. The  following  incidents  will  serve  to  introduce  the 
whole  subject.  They  are  taken  from  the  current  news  of  the 
day  :— 

December  24,  17C4:  "Wc  hear  from  Elizabetli-Tou-n,  that  upon  the  29th 
of  last  Month,  near  fifty  Heads  of  the  principal  faniilics,  in  and  about  that 
Place,  entered  into  an  Engagement  to  retrench  the  present  usual  anil  un- 
necessary Expenses  of  Funerals  and  ^Mourning,  as  the  giving  of  Scarfs, 
Gloves,  and  Liquor  at  Funerals,  and  wearing  black  Apparel  as  Mourning, 
nothing  but  a  black  Crape  round  the  Arm  being  allowed  for  the  Future. 

Elizabeth-Town,  September  14,  17G5.  On  Wednesday  evening  last, 
[11th],  died  here  after  a  severe  illness,  TnoMAS  Clakk,  Esq.,  ona  of  the 
judges  of  the  county  court;  who  has  been  unanimously  elected  a 
magistrate  in  this  Corporation,  ever  since  we  had  a  Charter ;  and  Friday 


404  THE    HISTORY    OF 

was  decently  buried,  in  the  plain  manner,  by  bis  own  directions,  accord- 
ing to  the  new  mode — none  of  his  relations  or  friends  appearing  in.  mourn- 
ing, though  he  was  universally  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him,  as  he  left 
the  character  of  an  honest  man.  "We  flatter  ourselves  that  this  laudable 
example,  so  very  seasonably  set  by  peo[)le  of  fortune,  will  be  imitated  by 
all ;  especially  by  those  in  slender  circumstances,  (no  liquor  was  given  at 
the  funeral).* 

Mr.  Chirk  was  one  of  the  first  Aldermen  of  the  Borough, 
father  of  the  Signer,  Abraham  Chark,  and  a  man  of  great 
personal  worth.  He  was,  also,  an  erahient  patriot,  and  had 
entered  heartily  into  the  agreement  of  the  previous  Xovem- 
ber.  It  was  customar}'-,  in  those  days,  at  the  funeral  of 
respectable  persons,  to  distribute  gloves,  scarfs  and  badges 
of  crape,  by  the  dozens,  with  liquors  in  great  abundamie  for 
all  comers.  Mourning-rings  were,  also,  given,  in  the  case  of 
wealthy  persons.  The  expense  was  often  so  considerable,  as 
to  impose  great  burdens  on  the  surviving  members  of  the 
family.  It  was  not  everybody  that  could  afford  to  die  and 
be  buried  according  to  the  prevailing  custom. f 

The  principle  of  taxation  without  representation,  so  per- 
sistently maintained  at  tliis  ])eriod  by  the  British  ministry, 
and  so  resolutely  opposed  by  the  colonics,  nowhere  met 
with  more  determined  opposition  than  in  the  English  towns 
of  East  Jersey.  Descended  from  an  ancestry  of  Puritan 
origin  and  principles,  they  had  cherished  those  principles, 
from  generation  to  generation,  with  jealous  care*  and  kept 
themselves  in  full  sympathy  with  their  Kew  England  breth- 
ren. The  love  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  the  hatred  of 
despotism,  they  had  inherited  as  almost  their  only  birthright. 
Their  fathers  had  fled  from  bitter  persecution  at  home,  and 
the  story  of  their  wrongs  had  sunk  deep  into  the  hearts  of 
the  children  of  the  exiles.  These  wrongs  were  associated 
with  the  British  monarchy ;  and  the  only  knowledge  which 

*  N.  Y.  Mercury,  No.  C87.  liarbcr's  His.  Coll.  of  N.  J.,  p.  4S.  Holt's  X.  Y.  Journal. 
No.  1185. 

t  Whitehead's  Amboy,  pp.  8D,  145.  Wntson's  Annals  of  N.  Y.,  pp.  308,  9.  Ind.  Re- 
flector, No.  29.  The  Old  Merchants  of  N.  Y.  City,  III.  263-4.  At  the  funeral  of  Philip 
liivingston,  Ksq.,  of  New  York,  X500  were  expended  for  the  occasion  of  his  burial.  His 
son,  Gov.  Wm.  Livingston,  (afterwards,  and  for  ninny  year;",  a  resident  of  this  town),  made 
an  appeal  to  the  public,  as  early  as  June,  1753,  in  favor  of  putting  an  end  to  this  kind  of 
oxtravngance. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  405 

tlic  second  and  tliird  generations  of  these  colonists  had,  of 
that  monarchy,  was  of  injury  and  wrong.  They  were  far 
removed  from  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  courts,  sur- 
rounded everywhere  by  staunch  republicans,  and  accustomed 
always  to  institutions,  in  church  and  state,  thoroughly  demo- 
cratic. The  ties  that  bound  them  to  the  throne  were  of  the 
slenderest  kind,  and  were  constantly  losing  strength.  These 
constituted  the  great  majority  of  the  people  of  these  towns. 

But,  in  addition  to  all  this,  a  fundamental  principle  of  the 
Constitution,  under  which  they  and  their  fathers  had  been 
born  and  nurtured,  was  perfectly  identical  with  that  which 
the  British  government  were  now  seeking  to  overthrow.  It 
was  provided,  by  the  "  Concessions  "  of  Berkeley  and  Car- 
teret, in  respect  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  that — 

They  aro  not  to  impose,  nor  suffer  to  be  imposed,  any  tax,  custom, 
subsidy,  tallage,  assessment,  or  any  other  duty  whatsoever,  upon  any 
colour  or  pretence,  upon  the  said  province  and  inhabitants  thereof,  other 
than  what  shall  be  imposed  by  the  Authority  and  consent  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  then  only  in  manner  as  aforesaid.* 

In  all  periods  of  their  histor}^,  under  the  Proprietary  Gov- 
ernment, and  under  the  Crown,  the  people  of  'New  Jersey, 
botli  East  and  West,  had  resolutely  and  couEistently  guarded 
this  natural  and  covenanted  right,  and  refused  all  induce- 
ments to  part  with  this  corner-stone  of  their  free  institutions. 

Still  further  :  the  people  of  this  town,  as  iias  been  shown 
in  this  history,  had.  as  early  as  1670,  or  almost  from  the  very 
first  settlement  of  the  place,  been  brought  into  conflict  with 
the  Proprietary  government,  in  respect  to  the  validity  of 
the  titles  to  their  homesteads  and  plantations.  In  this  con- 
flict, continued  now  for  more  than  fourscore  years,  they  had 
been  thrown  vevy  much  upon  their  own  resources ;  had  been 
compelled  to  make  common  cause,  one  with  another,  as  Asso- 
ciates, and  in  their  municipal  capacity,  in  defence  of  tlieir 
vested  and  inalienable  rights  ;  had  been  educated  and  thor- 
oughl}'  disciplined,  to  resist  everything  like  oppression,  and 
to  maintain  their  right  to  all  the  blessings  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty.     That  portion,  therefore,  of  the  people  of  the 

*  Smith's  N.  J.,  p.  517.    Learning  and  Spiccr,  p.  20. 


406  THE    HISTORY    OF 

town,  wlio  held  their  hinds  by  the  Indian  purchase,  and  were 
'  leai^ued  together  to  defend  themselves  against  the  plaintilis 
in  the  now  celebrated  "  Bill  in  Chancery,"  could  be  safely 
relied  upon  to  embark,  heart  and  soul,  in  the  wider  conflict 
that  was  now  opening,  for  the  defence  of  American  liberties. 
For  the  same  reason,  it  might  be  anticipated,  that  not  a  few 
of  those,  to  whom,  in  these  land-conflicts,  they  had  been  op- 
posed, would  be  disposed  to  take  sides  with  the  monarchical 
party,  and  cast  in  their  lot  with  the  defenders  of  the  royal 
prerogative.  It  was  scarcely  possible,  after  the  experience 
of  the  previous  twenty  years,  for  the  two  parties  in  the  town 
to  act  together  on  the  broader  field  of  American  politics. 
Unanimity  in  regard  to  the  question  of  resistance  to  the 
arbitrary  measures  of  Parliament  was  not  to  be  expected,  and 
was  not  attained.  It  was  not  every  one,  moreover,  however 
patriotic,  that  had  the  moral  courage  requisite,  or  the  strength 
of  nerve  demanded,  for  times  so  fitted  to  try  men's  souls. 

The  Stamp  Act  was  passed,  March  22,  1765.  Tidings  of 
its  passage  reached  America  in  May  following.  The  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  was  in  session,  and,  early  in  June,  it 
was  resolved  by  the  Representatives  of  that  Colony,  to 
recommend  to  each  of  tlie  other  Representative  Bodies  "  of 
the  several  British  Colonies  on  this  continent "  to  appoint 
Delegates  to  a  General  Congress  to  meet  at  Kew  York  "  on 
the  first  Tuesday  in  October  next,"  then  and  there  "  to  con- 
sult together  on  the  present  circumstances  of  the  Colonies."  * 
The  Massachusetts  Circular  was  laid  before  the  ]S!"ew  Jersey 
Legislature,  June  20,  1765,  "  the  last  day  of  the  session,"  at 
Burlington,  "  some  members  gone,  others  uneasy  to  be  at 
their  homes,"  and  on  a  hurried  conference  between  the  mem- 
bers, it  was,  on  the  whole,  deemed  best  to  take  no  action  in 
the  premises.  The  responsibility  of  this  proceeding  was, 
(whether  justly  or  not,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine),  thrown 
npon  the  Speaker,  Robert  Ogden,  of  this  town.  He  had 
been  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1751,  and  rechosen  at  each 
succeeding  election.  In  1763,  he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the 
House.     He  was   the  son  of  Robert  Ogden,  who  was  the 

•  Pltkin'3  U.  States,  I.  442. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  407 

grandson  of  "  old  John  Ogden,"  the  planter.  He  had  for  a 
long  time  been  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  and, 
for  several  years,  had  been  one  of  its  Elders.  His  patriotism 
was  unquestionable,  as  evinced  in  the  course  of  the  struggle 
with  the  mother  country,  and  in  the  training  of  his  sons, 
Mattliias  and  Aaron,  of  revolutionary  fame.  He  was  the 
son-in-law  of  that  incorruptible  patriot,  Matthias  Hatfield, 
for  wJiom  his  son  Gen.  Matthias  Ogden  was  named.* 

Shortly  subsequent  to  the  adjournment,  Speaker  Ogden 
called  a  meeting  of  the  Representatives  at  Amboy,  when  he 
himself,  Hendrick  Fisher,  of  Somerset  Co.,  and  Joseph  Bor- 
den, of  Burlington  Co.,  were  appointed  Delegates  to  the  'New 
York  Congress.  This  first  Continental  Congress,  emanating 
from  the  people,  met  as  contemplated,  and  continued  in  ses- 
sion until  Oct.  2oth.  "  A  Declaration  of  Rights  and  Griev- 
ances," in  14  particulars,  was  drawn  up,  with  an  Address 
to  the  King,  and  a  Petition  to  each  House  of  Parliament, — 
admirable  papers,  skillfull}''  drawn,  full  of  j^atriotic  principle, 
yet  courteous  and  respectful,  well-designed  to  procure  the 
repeal  of  the  obnoxious  legislation  of  Parliament.  The  pro- 
ceedings were  approved  and  signed  by  all  the  members, 
except  Timothy  Ruggles,  the  presiding  officer,  and  Mr.  Ogden 
of  New  Jersey.  These  two  gentlemen  maintained,  that  the 
proceedings  were  to  be  submitted  to  the  several  provincial 
Assemblies,  and,  if  sanctioned,  forwarded  by  them,  as  their 
own  acts.  They  were,  doubtless,  quite  sincere  and  conscien- 
tious in  maintaining  this  position  ;  Mr.  Ogden  certainly  was. 
Mr.  Ruggles  "  was  severely  censured  by  the  Massachusetts 
representatives,"  and  subsequently  became  an  avowed  enemy 
to  the  patriot  cause.  "  Mr.  Ogden  was  burned  in  efiigy  by 
the  people  of  New  Jersey."     It  was  a  blunder,  to  say  the 

*  Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  139.  Mulford's  X.  J.,  p.  3C7.  Robert  Ogden,  the  fotbcr  of  Speaker 
Ogden,  died  Nov.  20,  1T33,  aged  46  years.  The  following  Epitaph  is  inscribed  on  his  grave- 
Btone : 

"  One  dear  to  God  to  Man  most  dear 
A  Pillar  in  both  Church  &  State 
Was  he  whose  precious  Dust  lies  here 
Whose  Soul  doth  with  bright  Seraphs  mate 
Uis  Name  immortal  shall  remain 
Till  this  cold  Clay  revive  agaio." 


408  THE    HISTORY    OF 

least,  on  tlie  part  of  Mr,  Ogden,  who  was  so  annoyed  by  it, 
as  to  request  the  Governor  to  convene  the  Assembly,  when, 
Nov.  27,  1765,  he  resigned  liis  position,  and  his  membership. 

In  the  election  that  ensued  to  fill  the  vacancy,  Stephen 
Crane,  Esq.,  one  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  the  town, 
and  Mayor  of  the  Borough  in  1772,  was  chosen  his  successor. 
He,  also,  became  Speaker  of  the  House  in  1771.  Mr.  Ogden, 
however,  continued  still  to  be  honored  with  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  townsmen.  In  177C,  he  was  the  Chairman 
of  the  E.  Town  Committee  of  Safety.* 

The  "  Sons  of  Liberty  "  were  here  both  numerous  and 
thoroughly  organized.  Care  was  taken,  that  the  Stamp  Act 
should  not  be  enforced  in  any  part  of  the  town.  The  Act 
was  to  take  effect,  N'ov.  1,  1765  ;  but  not  a  Stamp  was  to  be 
found,  nor  was  it  safe  either  to  vend  or  use  one.  A  New 
York  paper,  of  Feb.  27,  1766,  says,— 

A  large  Gallows  was  erected  in  Elizabeth  Town,  last  Week,  with  a 
Eope  ready  fixed  thereto,  and  the  Inhabitants  there  vow  and  declare  that 
the  first  Person  that  either  distributes  or  takes  out  a  Stamped  Paper  shall 
be  hung  thereon  without  Judge  or  Jury. 

A  ver}'  summary  process,  but,  probably,  never  called  into 
requisition.     At  the  same  date,  the  Editor  says, — 

We  have  certain  Intelligence  from  Elizabeth  Town  in  iS  ew  Jersey  that 
the  Magistrates  and  Lawyers  carry  on  their  Business  in  the  Law  as  usual 
without  Staraps.t 

With  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  March  IS,  1766,  much 
of  the  excitement  and  alarm  of  the  people  came  to  an  end. 
A  series  of  measures  were  subsequently  adopted,  however, 
well  fitted  to  excite  the  fears,  and  provoke  the  resentment  of 
the  Colonists. 

The  non-importation  agreements  were  renewed,  and  all 
trade  with  the  mother-conntry  was  brought  to  a  stand.  The 
people  of  this  town  and  vicinity  entered,  with  all  their  heart, 
into  the  measures  of  the  day.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Free- 
holders, Merchants  and  Traders  of  the  County  of  Essex,  held 

•  Gordon's  N.  J.,  pp.  140,  5!iS.  Pitkin's  U.  States,  I.  lSl-6.  UiKireth's  U.  States,  II.  531. 
Force's  Am.  Archives,  IV.  SIS.  t  Holt's  N.  Y.  Journal,  No.  1203. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  40U 

at  Elizabeth  Town,  on  Tuesday,  June  5,  1770,  it  was,  among 
other  things,  unanimously  resolved, 

That  we  will  not  ourselves  or  by  others,  receive,  purcliase,  sell,  or 
otherwise  use,  any  of  the  Manufactures  or  Merchandize  imported  from 
Great  Britain,  contrary  to  said  Agreements ;  and  that  we  will  not  trade 
or  liavo  any  Intercourse  with  such  Pei'sons,  who  shall  import  Goods,  or 
Cause  them  to  he  imported,  or  with  any  Person  who  shall  purchase  Goods 
or  other  [Merchandize  so  imported, — but  that  we  will  use  every  lawful 
Means  in  our  Power,  to  hinder  the  Sale  of  such  Goods,  in  any  Way  what- 
soever.* 

When  it  became  known,  that  some  of  the  New  York  mer- 
chants were  disposed  to  recede  from  their  engagements,  the 
Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  Essex  Co.  met  in  Elizabeth 
Town,  July  16,  1770,  when  it  was  resolved. 

That  we  will  strictly  adhere  to  our  Resolutions  of  the  5th  of  June  last; 
as  far  as  they  relate  to  purchasing  Goods  imported  from  Great  Britain. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  was 
appointed  to  look  after  matters  of  common  interest  to  the 
country,  f 

During  the  previous  three  years  the  Twenty-Sixth  regiment 
of  British  Kegulars  had  been  quartered  in  the  barracks  at 
ISTew  Brunswick,  Perth  Amboy,  and  Elizabeth  Town.  (Their 
Colonel,  the  Hon.  Sir  John  Sinclair,  Bart.,  had  married, 
while  here,  a  Miss  Morchead,  and  died  Kov.  26, 1767.  His 
widow,  the  Lady  Sinclair,  was  married,  in  this  town.  Mar. 
14,  1769,  to  his  successor.  Col.  Templar.)  They  were  trans- 
ferred to  New  York,  and  their  place  supplied,  the  last  week 
in  May,  1770,  by  the  29th  Regiment  from  Boston,  the  same 
that  was  stationed  there  at  the  time  of  the  "Boston  Massacre," 
March  5,  1770.  The  presence  of  a  portion  of  this  regiment 
in  the  town  was  not  adapted  to  pacificate  the  excited  people. 
When  the  26th  were  about  to  leave  town,  ah  Address  was 
presented  by  the  Corporation  of  the  Borough,  to  Col.  Templar 
and  Major  Charles  Preston,  acknowledging  the  good  behavior 
of  the  officers  and  soldiers  while  quartered  in  the  town,  and 
complimenting  them  on  the  harmony  that  subsisted  between 

♦  noU'8  N.  Y.  Journal,  No.  1431.    Pitkin's  U.  States,  I.  212. 
t  Holt's  N.  Y.  Journal,  No.  143S. 


410  THE    HISTORY    OF 

them  and  the  Inhabitants.     The  29th  were  succeeded  by  the 
47th  regiment  under  CoL  England. ■••■ 

The  well  known  "  Boston  Tea-Party  "  took  place,  Dec.  16, 
1773.  The  measure  was  sustained  by  tlie  whole  population, 
with  few  exceptions.  The  Boston  Port  Bill,  closing  the  port, 
and  transferring  the  seat  of  government  to  Salem,  was  en- 
acted by  Parliament,  March  25,  1774,  as  a  retaliatory  meas- 
ure. When  tidings  of  the  passage  of  this  vindictive  Act 
reached  this  country.  May  10,  1774,  a  furious  flame  of 
hitherto-suppressed  wrath  burst  forth,  all  over  the  land. 
Town-meetings  were  called  ;  whole  counties  assembled  ;  the 
provinces  met  in  Congress ;  and,  with  one  heart  and  voice, 
the  American  people  determined  to  stand  by  the  Bostonians 
in  their  conflict  with  British  despotism. 

Nowhere  was  this  spirit  more  fully  developed  than  here 
in  this  town.  A  noble  body  of  patriots,  headed  by  such  men 
as  "William  Livingston,  "William  Peartree  Smith,  and  Elias 
Boudinot,  men  of  controling  influence,  were  then  citizens  of 
the  borough,  and  in  power.  Stephen  Crane,  Esq.,  was  the 
Mayor;  Ephraim  Terrill,  Deputy  Mayor ;  John  Blanchard, 
Elias  Dayton,  John  Iloss,  Abraham  Clark,  Ephraim  Marsh, 
and  William  Livingston,  were  of  the  Corporation.  The  great 
body  of  the  people  were  outspoken  patriots ;  a  few  were  in 
sympathy  with  the  British  officials  ;  and  some  endeavored  to 
pursue  a  conservative  course.  Parties  were  formed  here 
somewhat  as  in  New  York,  with  which  this  town  had  the 
most  intimate  connection  ;  although  the  trading  interest  here 
was  subservient  and  not  preponderant. 

Measures  were  taken  by  the  patriots  of  this  town  and 
county,  shortly  after  receiving  tidings  of  the  Boston  troubles, 
to  give  expression  to  the  indignant  feelings  of  the  people, 
and  to  extend  sympathy  to  the  Bostonians.  At  a  formal 
meeting,  held  at  the  Court-IIouse,  in  Newark,  on  Saturday, 
the  11th  of  June,  an  admirable  paper,  prepared,  probably, 
by  Wm.  Livingston,  was  unanimously  and  heartily  adopted, 
urging  the  country  to  stand  united  and  Arm  in  their  opposi- 

*  IIoU's  N.  T.  Journal,  Xo.  1481.  N.  Y.  Mercury,  Nos.  810, 90S.  DcHarfs  Tassages  iu  the 
His.  of  E.  T.,  No.  II. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  411 

tion  to  Parliament,  and  inviting  a  Provincial  Convention  to 
assemble  speedily  to  appoint  Delegates  to  a  general  CongrQss. 
The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  Committee  to 
cany  into  effect  the  resolutions  of  the  meeting, — viz :  Ste- 
phen Crane,  Henry  Garritse,  Joseph  Piggs,  William  Liv- 
ingston, William  P.  Smith,  John  De  Ilart,  John  Chetwood, 
Isaac  Ogden,  and  Elias  Boudinot,  Esquires.* 

Of  this  Committee,  Mr.  Garritse  was  of  Aquackanock, 
Messrs.  Riggs  and  Ogden  were  of  Newark,  and  the  re- 
mainder, two  thirds,  of  this  town.  The  movement  un- 
doubtedly originated  here,  controling  the  County,  and  giving 
impulse  to  tlie  whole  Province.  This  place  became,  thence- 
forward, the  headquarters  of  the  patriot  movement  in 
ISTew"  Jersey.f 

Tlie  several  County  Committees,  elected  in  accordance 
with  these  suggestions,  and  with  a  circular  letter  issued  by 
the  Essex  Committee,  met  at  J^ew  Prunswick,  July  21, 1774, 
and  appointed  Stephen  Crane,  of  this  town,  to  preside  over 
their  deliberations.  Tliey  made  choice  of  James  Kinsey, 
William  Livingston,  John  De  Hart,  Stephen  Crane  and 
Pichard  Smith,  (three  of  the  five  being  of  this  borough), 
delegates  to  a  General  Congress.  A  Standing  Committee 
of  Correspondence,  ten  in  number,  (of  whom  two,  Wm. 
Peartree  Smith,  Chairman,  and  John  Chetwood,  were  of  this 
town),  was  appointed  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the  coun- 
try. The  several  County  Committees,  also,  "  agreed  to  pro- 
mote collections  in  their  respective  counties  for  the  relief  of 
such  of  the  unhappy  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston  as 
may  be  now  reduced  to  extremity  and  want."  On  the  28th 
of  July,  Wm.  Peartree  Smith,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Corres])ondence,  addressed  a  letter  of  sympathy  to  the 

*  N.  Y.  Mercury,  No.  11S3.    Force's  Am.  Archives,  4Ui  Scr.,  I.  299-SOO  ;  403-4. 

t  In  Uio  midst  of  these  agitations,  one  of  the  most  venerable  and  distinguished  citizens  of 
the  town,  Dr.  Ichabod  Burnet,  departed  this  life.  He  wae  born  at  Southampton,  L.  1.,  about 
1GS4,  and  removed  with  his  father,  Dau  (son  of  Thomas),  about  1700,  to  this  town.  His  wife, 
Uannah,  was  born  in  HO'i,  and  died,  Feb.  19, 1753.  They  had  two  sons,  Wm.  nnd  Ichabod, 
both  of  whom  became  physicians.  The  latter  died,  Mar.  12,  175G,  in  his  24th  year.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam removed  to  Newark,  and  distinguished  himself  as  a  patriot  in  the  revolutionary  war.  IIo 
was  the  fiitlier  of  Judge  Jacob  Burnet,  of  Cincinnati.  Dr.  Ichabod  died  at  E.  Town,  July  13, 
1774,  aged  90  years. 


412  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Boston  Committee  of  Correspondence — asking  them,  also,  to 
adyise  in  wliatway  their  necessities  could  best  be  answered.* 
The  results  of  tlie  deliberations  of  the  General  Congress, 
that  met  at  Philadel}3hia  in  September  and  October,  being 
published,  new  energy  was  imparted  to  the  people  in  their 
determination  to  resist  the  oppressive  measures  of  the  British 
ministry.  The  Essex  County  Committee  of  Correspondence 
issued  a  call  for  town  meetings  to  organize  the  respective 
towms  for  the  more  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  measures 
recommended  by  Congress.  In  compliance  with  this  call, 
the  Freeholders  of  this  town  met  at  the  Court  House,  on 
Tuesda}',  Dec.  6,  1774,  Stephen  Crane,  Esq.,  in  the  chair, 
when  a  large  Committee  was  chosen  for  the  above-mentioned 
purpose,  viz. 

Jonathan  ITampton,  Matthias  Williamson,  Elias  Dayton,  Isaac  "SVood- 
ruff,  William  Barnett,  "Wm  Herriman,  Oliver  Spencer,  George  Ross,  Ed- 
ward Thomas,  Cornelius  Hetfield,  John  Blauchard,  Ephraim  Tyrrel,  Abra- 
ham Clarke,  Robert  Ogden,  Junior,  Jeremiah  Smith,  Richard  Townley, 
Junior,  Samuel  Shotwell,  David  Miller,  Thomas  Woodruff,  John  Clawson, 
Jonathan  Dayton,  Ephraim  Marsh,  Recompense  Stanbury.  Jedediah  Svran, 
William  Parsons,  Samuel  Potter,  William  Bott,  Jonathan  "\\  illiams,  Chris- 
topher Marsh,  Isaac  Wynauts,  Daniel  Halsey. 

Stephen  Crane,  John  De  Hart,  "William  Livingston,  A7il- 
liam  P.  Smith,  Elias  Boudinot,  and  John  Chetwood,  Esqrs., 
were  unanimously  reelected  for  the  Borough  of  Elizabeth,  on 
the  Essex  County  Committee  of  Correspondence.  It  was, 
then. 

Voted,  That  two  certain  Pamphlets  lately  published,  the  one  enti- 
tled "  A  Friendly  Address,"  &c.,  and  the  other  under  the  signature  of 
"  A  Farmer,"  as  containing  many  notorious  falsehoods,  evidently  calcu- 
lated to  sow  the  seeds  of  disunion  among  the  good  people  of  America,. 
grossly  misrepresenting  the  principles  of  the  present  opposition  to  Par- 
liamentary Taxations;  vilifying  the  late  Congress  ;  and  intended  to  facili- 
tate the  scheme  of  the  British  Ministry  for  enslaving  the  Colonies,  be 
publicldy  burnt,  in  detestation  and  abhorrence  of  such  infamous  publica- 
tions. 

And  the  same  were  accordingly  committed  to  the  flames  before  the 

*  Am.  Archives,  4tb  S.,  I.  624.  Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  156.  Mulford's  N.  J.,  pp.  3SS,  9.  Sedg- 
wick's Livingston,  pp.  16S-172. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  413 

Court  noiiso,  witli  the  universal  approbation  of  a  numerous  concourse  of 
people.* 

The  Committee  of  Observation,  tliu^  appointed,  were  not 
idle.  As  the  town  had  denounced  the  two  pamphlets  just 
mentioned,  they  called  the  attention  of  the  people,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1774,  to  the  dangerous  character  of  "Rivington's 
Kojal  Gazetteer,"  ])ublished  at  New  York,  declared  their 
determination  individually  to  patronize  it  no  longer,  and  called 
upon  all  the  people  to  follow  their  example,  and  banish  it 
from  their  habitations.  The  article  was  signed  by  "  Jonathan 
Hampton,  Chairman."  f 

This  was  followed,  Feb.  13,  1775,  by  the  following  inter- 
dict : — 

Whereas  the  inhabitants  of  Staten  Island  have  manifested  an  imfriendly 
disposition  towards  the  liberties  of  America,  and  among  other  things  have 
neglected  to  join  in  the  General  Association  proposed  by  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  entered  into  by  most  of  the  Townships  in  America,  and  in 
no  instance  have  acceded  thereto.  The  Committee  of  Observation  for 
this  Town,  taking  the  same  into  consideration,  are  of  opinion  that  the  in- 
habitants of  their  District  ought,  and  by  the  aforesaid  Association  are 
bound,  to  break  olFaU  trade,  commerce,  dealings,  and  intercourse  wliatso- 
ever  with  the  inhabitants  of  said  Island,  until  tijey  shall  join  in  the  General 
Association  aforesaid  ;  and  do  Resolve  that  all  trade,  commerce,  dealings, 
and  intercourse  whatsoever  be  suspended  accordingly,  which  suspension  is 
hereby  notified  and  recommended  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  District  to  be 
by  them  universally  observed  and  adopted.  George  Ross,  Clerk.J 

A  day  or  two  afterwards,  an  oj^ster-boat,  belonging  to 
James  Johnson,  of  Staten  Island,  came  up  the  Creek  to  the 

*  Am.  Arcliives,  4th  S.,  I.  1009-10,  1012-3.  The  former  of  these  pamphlets  was  entitled, 
"  A  Friendly  Address  to  all  Eeasonable  Americans,  on  the  subject  of  our  political  confusions. 
In  which  the  necessary  consequences  of  violently  opposing  the  Kind's  troops  and  of  a  gen- 
eral non-importation,  arc  fairly  stated."  Dr.  Hawkins  attributes  it  to  the  llev.  Dr.  T.  B. 
Chandler,  of  KUzabeth  Town,  N.  J.,  but  erroneously.  It  was  the  production  of  the  liev. 
Myles  Cooper,  D.  D.,  President  of  King's  College,  N.  Y.  Such  was  the  popular  indignation 
against  him,  that  his  house  was  sacked,  M.ay  10, 1775,  and  he,  barely  escaping  the  hands  of 
the  mob,  took  refuge  on  board  a  ship  of  war,  and  fled  to  England.  His  Majesty  gave  him  a 
pension  of  jE200.  per  year.  The  latter  pamphlet  was  entitled,  "  Free  tbouglits  on  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Continental  Congress  held  at  Phila.  5  Sept*.  1774,  by  A  Farmer."  It  was 
written  by  Isaac  Wilkins,  subsequently  the  llev.  Dr.  Wilkins,  of  Westchester  Co.,  N.  T.  He 
wrote,  also,  "  The  Congress  Canvassed  ;  or  an  Examination  into  the  Conduct  of  the  Dele- 
gates." It  may  have  been  this  last,  to  which  the  vote  of  censure  refers.  He  too  fled  to 
England,  in  May  1775,  but  returned  the  next  -year.  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  VITI.  297,  5G9,  581. 
Sabine's  Loyalists,  1st  Ed.  pp.  C92-705. 

t  Am.  Archives,  4th  Ser.,  I.  1051,  2.  X  Am.  Archives.  4th  S.,  I.  1234,  6. 


414  THE    HISTORY    OF 

stone  bridge,  and  the  owner  endeavored  to  make  sale  of  his 
freight.  But  a  pair  of  horses  were  speedily  attached  to  the 
boat  by  the  indignant  people,  and  the  ])oor  craft  was  hauled 
up  the  street  to  the  Court  House.  Johnson  was  advised  by 
James  Arnet  to  seek  redress  from  Jonathan  Hampton,  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Observation,  who  was,  also,  a 
magistrate.  Hampton  was  found,  in  conference  with  Joseph 
Tooker,  at  Samuel  Smith's  tavern,  next  to  the  Court  House. 
Hampton  gave  him  a  protection,  allowed  him  to  sell  his 
oysters,  and  in  the  evening,  with  his  skiiF,  to  return  to  the 
Island. 

This  incident,  trivial  enough,  was  reported  to  Hivington  in. 
New  York,  and  an  account  of  it  appeared  in  his  Royal 
Gazetteer  of  March  2d,  in  which  the  affair  was  magnified 
into  a  disgraceful  and  turbulent  riot.  Mr.  Hampton  was  ac- 
cused of  being  "  completely  drunk,"  and  Messrs.  Blanchard 
and  Dayton,  two  of  the  Aldermen,  were  represented  as  hav- 
ing "  exerted  themselves  greatly  to  suppress  those  violences, 
but  they  were  only  able  to  check  them."  Kivington's  in- 
formant says  of  the  mob,  (Feb.  18),  that  "  about  four  o'clock, 
they  proceeded  to  abuse  all  Ihe  people  in  the  town  who  were 
known  to  be  well  affected  to  the  Constitution  [the  Tories]  ; 
they  erected  a  gallows,  and  fixed  up  a  liberty  pole  in  the 
middle  of  the  town."  Both,  however,  were  soon  taken  down. 
A  fortnight  afterwards,  (23d),  affidavits  were  published  in  the 
Gazetteer,  completely  exonerating  Mr.  Hampton  and  the 
town  from  the  calumnies  of  Rivington's  informant.* 

The  vigilance  of  the  Committee  was  called  into  requisition 
a  few  days  afterwards,  in  another  direction.  The  ship  Beulah 
arrived,  Feb.  1775,  at  Sandy  Hook,  with  an  assorted  cargo 
from  London,  consigned  to  Robert  and  John  Murray,  the  old 
Quaker  merchants  of  New  York,  and  men  of  great  wealth. 
The  vessel  was  named  for  one  of  Robert  Murray's  daughters. 
The  Murray s  were  required  by  the  'N.  York  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  to  send  the  vessel  back  without  breaking 
bulk;  witli  which  they  professed  their  willingness  to  comply. 
John  Murray,  however,  came  over  to  Elizabeth  Town,  and 

*  Rivington's  Itoyal  GazeUcer,  Kos.  99, 101.    Moore's  Diary  of  the  Am.  Eev.  I.  23,  4. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  415 

confeiTGcl  with  Icliabod  B.  Barnet,.  SlierifF  of  the  County, 
and  the  husband  of  his  sister.  By  his  aid,  a  sloop  belonging 
to  Isaac  Woodruflf,  but  leased  to  Capt.  Samuel  Lee,  was  hired, 
and  sailed  for  E.  Town,  ('"Barnet  going  as  a  hand  with 
Lee  "),  on  Sunday  morning,  March  5,  1775.  They  reached 
K.  York,  the  same  evening,  and  unloaded  the  next  morning. 
The  same  day,  they  sailed  to  Sandy  Hook,  and  came  along 
side  of  the  Beulah  about  dusk  on  Monday  evening.  Capt. 
Lee  retired  to  his  berth  and  went  to  sleep.  At  12  o'clock  he 
was  called,  and  sailed,  with  John  Murray  and  his  clerk, 
Graham,  (Barnet,  also,  continuing  on  board),  for  Elizabeth 
Town.  They  stopped  some  hours  at  Stateii  Island,  and 
reached  Barnet's  Store  House  on  Wednesday  morning  about 
one  o'clock.  Several  bales,  boxes,  and  other  packages  ot 
goods,  about  two  tons  in  weight,  taken  from  the  Beulah,  were 
then  landed,  one  Marsh,  passing  by  at  the  time,  being  em- 
ployed to  aid  them. 

In  the  meantime,  or  soon  after,  it  began  to  be  whisp  cred 
about  at  New  York,  that  something  was  wrong.     Isaac  Sears, 
the  noted  patriot,  suspecting  what  had  been  done,  wrote  to 
Jonathan  Hampton,  Chairman  of  the  E.  Town  Committee, 
who  called  the  Committee  together  on  Friday,  the  10th,  and 
soon  the  whole  affair  was  ferreted  out.     Samuel  Lee  made  a 
deposition,   and    the    Committee   exonerated   him   from    all 
complicity  in  the  matter.     John  Murray  deposed  as  to  the 
facts  stated  above,  and  endeavored  to  exonerate  Barnett,  as 
having  acted  in  pure  friendship  for  himself.     He  professed 
his  penitence,  and  gave  the  Committee  a  check  of  £200,  for 
the  rebuilding  of  the  City  Hospital,  recently  destroyed  by 
fire.     Capt.  Lee  was  fully  cleared  by  the  E.  T.  Committee, 
and  declared  to  be  "  a  person  well  known  here  to  be  of  good 
character,  and  who  by  his  honesty  and  industry,  has  justly 
acquired  the  esteem  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  town." 
Murray  sent  in  a  petition  to  Congress  with  proper  acknowl- 
edgments, and  both  he  and  Barnett  sought  forgiveness  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  N.  Jersey,  and  were  reinstated.     The 
goods  were  delivered  on  tlie  15th,  to  the  E.  T.  Committee  to 
be  kept  until  after  the  war.     A  vcar  or  two  later,  tents  being 


416  THE    HISTORY    OB 

greatly  needed,  and  there  being  no  duck  in  the  countrj^,  the 
Kew  York  Committee  obtained,  from  the  E.  T.  Committee, 
sev'eral  bales  of  Osnaburghs  from  these  stores,  which  were 
devoted  to  this  laudable  purpose.  "What  became  of  the 
remainder  of  the  goods  does  not  appear.  The  affair  created 
at  the  time  no  little  excitement,  and  the  vigilance  of  the 
Committees  had  a  most  happy  influence  in  promoting  the 
patriot  cause.* 

The  following  extract  from  a  communication  that  appeared 
March  25,  1775,  shows  what  was  then  thought  of  this  whole 
procedure  : — 

Some  would  bnvc  lately  attempted  to  land  goods  in  America  contrary 
to  tbe  Association  of  the  Congress;  but  such  is  the  vigilance  of  those 
excellent  inspectors,  tbe  Committees  of  New  York,  and  Elizabeth  Town, 
and  such  the  awful  guilt  of  tbe  delinquents,  that  they  could  not  be  hid. 
They  have  confessed  their  fault  and  laid  a  heavy  fine  upon  themselves  for 
their  base  conduct.  Another  person  concerned  in  tbe  same  dark  affair  is 
also  detected,  and  will,  it  is  thought,  be  sufficiently  punished. 

Blood  flowed  at  Lexington,  Mass.,  on  Wednesday,  xVpril 
19,  1775.  It  was  the  blood  of  patriots,  shed  by  minions  of 
Great  Britain.  That  blood  made  America  free  and  independ- 
ent. It  cried  from  the  ground,  and  its  voice  was  heard  in 
every  habitation  of  the  United  Provinces.  It  roused  the 
sleepers ;  it  fired  the  populace ;  it  united  the  people  as  one 
man,  to  resist  unto  blood  the  tyranny  of  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons of  Britain.  Tidings  of  the  event  reached  New  York 
on  Sunday,  the  23d,  and  the  city  rose  in  its  strength  to 
sustain  the  common  cause.  Loyalty  was  at  a  woful  discount. 
The  tory  faction,  till  then  exultant  and  defiant,  were  palsied 
with  dismay.  Sears  and  Lamb  swayed  the  multitude  at  their 
will,  and  eflectually  closed  the  harbor  against  the  export  of 
all  supplies  for  the  British  at  Boston. 

The  same  day,  or  the  next,  it  was  known  all  over  New 
Jersey.  This  ancient  town  was  all  ablaze.  The  sterling 
patriots,  whose  voice  was  all-powerful  among  the  people, 
took  up  the  cry  that  came  to  them  from  the  bloody  ground 
of  Lexington,  and  bore  it  to   every  dwelling  in  the  wide 

*  N.  Y.  Mercury,  No.  1223.     Am.  Arcblros,  4th  S.,  II.  114-S,  8S7-S91. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  417 

borough.  The  die  was  cast.  Negotiation  was  at  an  end. 
Nothins:  remained  but  the  sword.  And  he  that  would  not 
take  up. arms,  in  his  country's  need,  was  worse  than  Judas. 
The  young  men  of  the  town  were  eager  for  the  fray. 

Aaron  Burr,  in  his  cliildhood,  was  an  E.  Town  boy.  His 
mother's  brother,  Timotliy,  the  eldest  son  of  the  E,ev.  Jona- 
than Edwards,  had  married,  Sep.  25,  1760,  Rhoda,  daughter 
of  Robert  Ogden,  Esq.,  and  granddaughter  of  Matthias  Hat- 
field, Esq.,  of  this  town,  "  and  made  a  home  in  Elizabeth 
Town  for  the  family."  Mr.  Edwards  resided,  here,  highly 
respected  and  influential,  from  1760  to  1771.  Burr  and  liis 
sister,  left  orphans  in  1758,  were  received  into  their  uncle 
Edwards'  family,  the  former  in  his  5th  year.  Here  the  lad 
grew  up,  and  was  fitted  for  Princeton  College,  under  the 
instruction  of  Tapping  Reeve,  teacher  of  the  grammar-school, 
who  soon  after  married  Burr's  sister.  Mrs.  Edwards  was  the 
sister  of  Matthias  and  Auron  Ogden,  the  latter  being  of  Burr's 
age,  and  the  former  nearly  two  years  older.  They  grew  up 
together  as  children  of  the  same  family,  and  Matthias  became 
Burr's  bosom  companion.  In  1772  young  Burr  graduated, 
and  in  1774  bcgau  to  study  law  with  his  brother-in-law,  at 
Litchfield,  Ct.*  '    . 

In  his  retirement  among  the  hills  of  Connecticut,  he  heard 
the  cry  of  Lexington,  and  immediately  wrote  to  Ogden  to 
come  on  and  accompany  him  to  the  tented  field.  Ogden 
caught  the  infection,  and  rested  not,  until  he  obtained  his 
father's  leave  to  go.  He  was  then  in  his  twenty-first  year, 
and  Burr  a  little  more  than  nineteen.  They  were  bo^'s  in 
years,  but  men  in  spirit — types  of  numerous  others — their 
townsmen  and  associates,  who  panted  to  join  tlie  patriot 
army,  and  fight  their  country's  battles.  Nothing  could  ex- 
ceed the  martial  ardor  that  pervaded  all  classes  of  the  com- 

*  Davis'  Life  of  Burr,  I.  25-6,  4C-7.  I'arton's  Life  of  Burr,  pp.  50-3.  Misfs  Jones'  Stocli- 
bridge,  pp.  160,  263. 

Three  of  President  Edwards'  children  married  here ;  Timothy,  his  eldest  son,  as  noticed 
above;  Eunice  was  married  hero,  Jan.  1764,  to  Thomas  rol'.ock,  and  after  his  death,  about 
1780  to  Eobcrt  Hunt  of  this  place;  Piorpont  married,  May,  1769,  Frances,  the  eldest  daughter- 
of  Moses  and  Mary  (Cozzens)  Ogden,  and  sister  of  Nancy,  the  second  and  surviving  wife  of 
Col.  Francis  Barber,  all  of  this  town. 

27 


418  THE    HISTORY    OF 

munity.  It  was  not  safe  to  breathe  a  word  against  tlie  patriot 
caiisc* 

The  Continental  Congress  were  to  meet  at  PhHadelphia, 
May  10,  1T75.  As  the  delegates  from  MassachnsettSj  joined 
on  their  way  by  their  brethren  from  Connecticut,  drew  near 
to  New  York,  on  Saturday,  May  Gth,  they  were  met,  three 
miles  from  the  city,  by  a  vast  concourse  of  military  and 
citizens,  and  escorted  to  their  lodgings  with  ringing  of  bells, 
and  loud  huzzas.  On  Monday,  with  a  part  of  the  Delegation 
from  New  York,  they  were  escorted  to  Newark,  where  they 
dined ;  thence  they  "  were  escorted  to  Elizabeth  Town  and 
on  their  way  were  met  by  the  gentlemen  and  militia  of  that 
place."     Such  was  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people.f 

The  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Jerse}''  met  at  Trenton, 
May  23d.  This  town  was  represented  by  William  Peartree 
Smith,  John  Stites,  John  Chetwood,  Abraham  Clark  and 
Elias  Boudinot,  Smith  and  Boudinot  were  sent  to  Philadel- 
phia, on  the  25th,  to  confer  with  Congress,  on  some  joint 
plan  of  action,  and  returned  on  the  30th. 

Tlie  combat  thickened.  British  reinforcements  arrived  at 
Boston.  The  cry — "  To  Arms !  " — had  brought  together  con- 
siderable numbers  of  patriot  soldiers.  Congress  was  loudly 
summoned  to  create  an  army.  They  assumed  the  charge  of 
the  New  England  recruits,  and  chose  George  "Washington, 
June  15,  as  General  in  Chief  of  the  Continental  Army.  The 
effect  of  these  measures  was  electric.  Hope  was  invigorated, 
confidence  inspired.  The  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  followed 
two  days  after,  June  17th.  That  Americans  would  figlit 
was  no  longer  doubtful.  That  British  regulars  were  not  in- 
vincible was  certain.  Tlie  yeomanry  took  heart  at  once. 
The  people  everywhere  flew  to  arms.  Even  cowards  were 
brave. 

Ammunition  was  greatly  needed.  But  for  this,  Bunker 
Hill  would  have  been  a  greater  triumiih.  Powder  was  in 
demand,  in  the  army  and  everywhere.  The  Committee  of 
this  town  dcc])ly  intercsicd  themselves  in  procuring  and  fur- 

•  Davis"  Life  of  Eurr,  I.  58.  t  N.  T.  Mercury,  No.  1231.  Holt's  N.  T.  Jour- 

riftl,  May  11.    Moore's  Diary,  I.  7C. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  419 

iiisliing  the  needed  supply.  On  the  17th  of  July,  they  Ibr- 
■\varded,  b}^  way  of  Dobbs'  Ferry,  fifty-two  quarter  caehs 
just  received  from  Philadelphia.     On  the  same  day,  they 

Resolved,  Tliat  this  Committee,  for  every  hundred  weight  of  Saltpetre 
made  within  this  Town  for  the  first  three  months  after  this  day,  will  pay 
the  sum  of  twenty  pounds,  proclamation  money  of  New  Jersey,  on  the 
delivery  thereof  to  this  Committee,  and  fifteen  pounds  of  same  currency, 
for  the  like  quantity  of  Saltpetre,  made  and  delivered  as  aforesaid,  within 
the  next  three  months  thereafter.* 

The  whole  stock  of  powder,  at  Washington's  command, 
August  13th,  for  the  use  of  the  army  around  Boston,  M^as 
about  ninety  barrels  only — "  not  more  tlian  nine  rounds  a 
man;"  thc}^  had  "but  thirty-two  barrels  in  store."  The 
destitution  continued  '*  a  fortnight  or  more,  till  the  Jersey 
Committee  of  Elizabethtown,  upon  receiving  tlie  alarming 
news,  sent  on  a  few  tons,  which  they  were  obliged  to  do  with 
the  greatest  privacy,  lest  the  fears  of  their  own  people,  had 
it  been  known,  should  iiave  stopt  it  for  their  own  use,  in  case 
of  an  emergency."  On  the  20th  of  August,  Washington, 
acknowledges  the  receipt  of  "  six  tons  and  a  half  of  powder 
from  the  southward."  f 

At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Committee,  July  ITth,  the 
following  action  was  taken  : 

The  Chairman  of  this  Committee  having  i*eceived  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Richard  Lawrence,  a  Delegate  of  Richmond  County  for  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  the  Colony  of  New  York,  mformiug  that  the  inhabitants  of 
said  County  had,  in  general,  signed  the  Association  recommended  by  the 
Committee  of  New  York,  this  Committee  are  therefore  of  opinion  that 
the  inhabitants  of  said  County  be  restored  to  their  commercial  privileges 
with  the  inhabitants  of  this  Town.J 

The  martial  spirit  that  prevailed  in  the  town  may  be  seen 
from  the  following  item  : 

Elizabeth  Town,  October  4,  1775.  Yesterday  sixteen  Companies  of 
Foot,  and  one  of  Horse,  belonging  to  this  Borough,  were  reviewed  on  the 
Parade,  went  through  their  Military  Exercises  with  Alertness  and  Reg- 
ularity, and  made  a  very  handsome  Appearance.§ 

♦  N.  ■?.  Mercury,  No.  1241. 

t  Gordon's  Am.  Kovolution,  I.  880.  Sparks'  ■Washington,  III.  65.  Irvlng's  Vfasliington, 
II-  26.  ;  N.  T.  Mercury,  No.  1241.  §  Ibid,  No.  1202. 


420  THE    HISTORY    OF  # 

The  following  pleasant  incident  occiiiTed  nearly  two 
months  later : 

Dec.  4,  1775.  Wednesday  evening  last  [Nov.  29,]  arrived  at  Newark, 
in  their  Way  to  tlie  Provincial  Camp  at  Cambridge,  the  Lady  of  his 
Excellency  General  Washington,  the  Lady  of  Adjutant  General  Gates, 
John  Custis,  Esq.  and  his  Lady  and  Warren  Lewis,  Esq ;  They  were' 
escorted  from  Elizabeth  Town,  by  the  Company  of  Light  Horse,  and 
most  of  the  principal  Gentlemen  of  that  Borough.  On  Thursday  morn- 
ing they  departed  for  Dobbs  Ferry,  escorted  by  a  Party  of  the  Elizabeth 
Town  Light  Horse,  and  a  great  Number  of  Gentlemen  and  Ladies  from 
Newark. 

Mrs.  Washington  accomplished  the  wdiole  distance  from 
Virginia  to  Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  her  own  conveyance,  "  a 
chariot  and  fonr,  with  black  postillions  in  scarlet  and  white 
liveries,"  traveling  by  easy  stages.* 

At  the  close  of  November,  by  order  of  Congress,  a  recrnit- 
ing  agency  was  established  here,  and  the  town  was  made 
the  headquarters  of  the  first  N.  J.  regiment  of  regulars, 
under  the  command  of  Wm.  Alexander,  [titular]  Earl  of 
Stirling.  lie  had  been,  for  several  years,  a  resident  of 
Baskingridge,  had  recently  been  chosen  Colonel  of  a  Somer- 
set County  militia  regiment,  and  had  carried  many  of 
them  with  him  into  the  Continental  service.  lie  took 
care,  that  all  vessels  coming  from  foreign  countries  to  New- 
York,  should  (on  account  of  restrictions  laid  on  the  commerce 
of  that  port  by  Capt.  Hyde  Parker,  of  the  Phenix  man-of- 
war  in  the  harbor),  enter  at  Amboy  or  Elizabeth  Town,  and 
at  the  latter  place  if  possible.  Apprehensive,  therefore,  of  a 
visit  from  some  of  the  armed  boats  of  the  Phenix,  he  urged 
Congress,  Dec.  19,  1775,  to  furnish  the  town  with  "an  imme- 
diate supply  of  ammunition,  and,  if  possible,  half  a  dozen 
field-pieces,  with  some  round,  grape  and  cannister  shot;" 
and  soon  after,  Jan.  G,  1776,  he  wrote  to  the  President  of 
Congress, — 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  several  vessels  with  valuable 
cargoes  from  foreign  ports,  have  arrived  in  this  Province ;  and,  under  the 
protection  I  have  aftbrdcd  them,  have  landed  their  cargoes.  Among  the 
rest,  are  some  hundred  barrels  of  gun  powder.f 

•  N.  T.  Morcurj-,  No.  12C0.    Irvlng'3  Wash.,  II.  120, 1.        t  Life  of  StirliDg,  pp.  IIC,  118. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY,  421 

On  the  recommendation  of  Lord  Stirling,  "William  Barnet, 
Jr.,  was  appointed,  by  Congress,  Surgeon  of  the  First  Jersey 
Battalion,  and  Matthias  Halstead,  Quartermaster.  Four 
companies  of  the  Battalion  were  stationed  here,  such  of  them 
as  could  not  be  accommodated  in  the  barracks,  finding  quar- 
ters among  the  people.  Some  weeks  elapsed  before  they 
were  fully  equi})ped.  * 

An  opportunity  soon  occurred  for  calling  into  requisition 
the  martial  ardor  and  energy  of  the  town.  The  occurrence 
is  related  at  length,  by  Eobert  Ogden,  Esq.,  (who  had  now 
succeeded  Jonathan  Hampton,  as  Chairman  of  the  Town 
Committee),  in  a  letter  to  John  Hancock,  President  of  Con- 
gress, dated,  E.  Town,  Feb.  10, 177G  : — 

Sir,  I  am  ordered  by  tlio  Committee  of  Elizabeth  Town  to  acquaint  the 
Congress  of  the  Capture  and  state  of  the  -hip  Blue-Monntain-Valley,  now 
lying  at  Elizabeth-Town  Point,  and  to  desire  particular  directions  from 
the  Congress  what  is  to  be  done  with  the  said  ship,  cargo,  officers,  and 
seamen. 

On  Monday,  the  22d  of  January,  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock, 
Lord  Stirling,  with  about  thirty  men  of  his  regiment,  being  near  all  that 
were  then  armed  at  this  place,  the  rest  being  at  Long  Island,!  set  out  for 
Amboy,  on  a  serious  enterprise.  In  the  evening  t)f  the  same  day,  an  ex- 
press arrived  in  this  town,  with  a  letter  directed  to  Lord  Stirling,  and,  in 
his  absence,  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  this  place,  informing 
that  an  armed  vessel,  with  a  detachment  of  marines  and  seamen,  was  sent 
otF  from  New  York  that  day  from  the  ships  of  war  in  New  York,  and  to 
the  transport  ship. 

On  the  Chairman's  receipt  of  this  letter,  he  immediately  called  the  Com- 
mittee, which  met  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  from  the  letter 
and  express,  collected  and  concluded,  that  Lord  Stirling  left  this  place 
r  with  an  intention  to  procure  a  vessel  at  Amboy,  and  go  in  quest  of  the 
transport-ship,  which  he  then  thought  was  in  a  defenceless  condition,  not 
knowing  of  the  reinforcement  sent  from  New  York,  and  that  if  intelli- 
gence should  reach  him  that  night,  he  would  not  be  able  to  procure  ves- 
sels and  assistance  in  season  at  Amboy  to  secure  success,  and  might  be 
repulsed  with  loss.  On  which  the  Committee  resolved  to  send  a  detach- 
ment of  one  hundred  volunteers  in  three  or  four  boats,  by  the  way  of  the 
Narrows,  to  take,  or  assist  Lord  Stirling  to  take,  the  armed  vessel  or 
transport,  of  which  they  immediately  notified  Lord  Stirling  by  an  express ; 

*  Am.  Arcliives,  4th  Ser.,  IV.  1C5,  24T,  854. 

t  Scouring  the  country  to  disarm  the  Tories,  and  arrest  the  most  dangerous  of  the  Loy:il- 
ists     N.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  VIII.  CG3,  7.    llildrc-th,  III.  114-5 


422  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  to  encourage  volunteers  to  enter,  assured  tbem  tliey  should  share  of 
the  prize  or  prizes,  according  to  the  regulations  that  were  or  should  be 
made  by  the  Continental  Congress.  Volunteers  were  soon  procured,  and 
furnished  by  the  Committee  with  ammunition,  provision  and  what  arms 
were  wanting;  of  the  townsmen,  about  eighty,  and  of  the  Continental 
troops,  about  thirty.  The  Committee  also  procured  three  boats,  and 
fitted  them  in  the  best  manner  the  night  and  hurry  would  admit  of.  Be- 
tween twelve  and  one  o'clock  at  night,  the  armament  was  ready  to  sail, 
but  on  account  of  the  tide  and  ice,  *  they  could  not  proceed  by  the  way  of 
the  Narrows ;  they,  therefore,  set  out  with  a  fair  wind  by  the  way  of  Am- 
boy,  where  they  stopped,  and  called  upon  Lord  Stirliug,  who,  with  a  boat 
procured  by  him  for  the  purpose,  and  about  forty  of  his  regiment,  set 
out  with  them  in  quest  of  the  ship  and  armed  vessel.  At  sunrise,  from 
the  mast-head,  they  descried  the  ship  at  sea,  stood  for,  met  and  boarded 
her,  without  opposition,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning;  they  found  her 
to  be  a  transport  from  London,  with  coals,  porter,  potatoes,  hogs,  and 
horse-beans,  designed  for  the  Ministerial  troops  at  Boston,  commanded  by 
John  H.  Dempster,  brother  to  George  Dempster,  member  of  Parliament 
for  Dundee,  &c.,  in  Scotland.  But;  the  armed  vessel,  by  great  good  for- 
tune, saved  herself  by  returning  to  New  York,  not  having  discovered  the 
ship,  to  the  great  disappointment  of  our  people.  Lord  Stirling  gave  the 
command  of  the  ship  to  Mr.  Rogers,  a  sea  captain,  with  orders  to  proceed 
for  this  place,  but  being  detained  by  tide  and  contrary  winds  on  Wednes- 
day near  Amboy,  the  Committee  being  apprehensive  of  an  attempt  by 
the  man  of  war  to  retake  her,  on  Wednesday  evening  sent  a  reinforcement 
of  about  eighty  men,  to  secure  her  against  any  such  attempt,  and  on  Fri- 
day she  arrived  in  safety,  at  Elizabeth-Town  Puint,  where  she  remained 
under  the  command  of  Lord  Stirling,  guarded  by  some  of  the  troops  un- 
der his  command,  until  Tuesday  last,  when  he  and  his  troops  were  ordered 
to  New  York,  since  which  time  she  hath  been,  and  now  is,  under  the  care 
of  the  Committee.  By  order  of  Lord  Stirling,  and  the  Committee,  the 
porter  and  beans  are  stored,  the  sails  and  rigging  are  taken  on  shore. 
The  potatoes  which  are  chiefly  rotten,  and  coal,  remain  on  board  the 
ship.  The  Captain  and  seamen  remain  prisoners  at  large  in  this  town.** 
Tlie  Committee  expected  Lord  Stirling  would  have,  before  this  time,  pro- 
cured the  particular  directions  of  the  Congress  for  the  disposition  of  the 
ship  and  cargo,  but  in  this  they  are  disappointed,  and  every  thing  respect- 
ing the  ship  is  in  suspense.  The  hogs  remaining,  being  only  seven  (out 
of  eighty)  and  the  remaining  potatoes,  they  have  concluded  to  soil.  The 
coal  is  in  great  demand  for  making  of  arms,  and  is  liable  to  bo  destroyed 
with  the  ship,  by  an  armed  force  which  may  bo  dispatched  privately  in 
the  night  from  New  York,  which  is  but  about  fourteen  miles  distance. 

*  Tho  season  had  been  very  severe.    Navigation  about  N.  Y.  had  been  much  obstructod. 
N.  Y.  Cul.  Docmts.,  VIII.  GOT,  C74. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  423 

The  seamen,  avIio  are  boarded  out  by  the  Committee,  are  uneasy  and 
soliciting  the  Committee  for  their  wages  which,  they  say,  were  promised 
by  Lord  Stirling.  The  Captain  is  anxious  to  know  how  long  he  is  to  be 
detained,  and  the  Colnmittee  are  desirous  that  he  may  he  soon  dismissed, 
and  be  at  liberty  to  r.eturn  homo  and  inform  his  friends  and  countrymen 
of  the  usage  he  has  received  from  the  Americans.  This,  sir,  is  the  state 
of  affairs  relating  to  the  storeship  called  the  Blue-Mountain- Valley  and 
brought  to  this  place. 

Appended  to  this  statement,  is  a  list  of  the  officers  and 
crew, — a  Captain,  3  Mates,  a  Carpenter,  a  Boatswain,  a 
Stewart,  7  Seamen,  and  2  Apprentices.  Their  bill  for  wages 
was  £123.  3.  7.,  of  which  £23.  6.  7.  had  been  paid. 

The  Manifest  is  also  given,  dated  Sept.  30,  1775,  showing 
107^  chaldrons  of  coal,  30  bundles  of  hoops,  100  butts  of  por- 
ter, branded — "  Calvert,"  225  bags  of  beans,  156  sacks  of 
potatoes,  10  casks  sour-krout,  80  live  hogs,  and  35  empty 
puncheons,  for  water  ;  shipped  by  Mure,  "Son,  and  Atkinson, 
of  London,  by  order  of  the  Right  Hon.  the  Lords  Commis- 
sioners of  his  Majesty's  Treasury.  The  vessel  had  sailed  from 
London,  Oct.  13,  1775. 

An  accompanying  ])aper  gives 

A  List  of  the  Officers  and  Men,  belonging  to  the  Militia  of  Elizabeth- 
Town,  who  entered  on  board  of  the  different  shallops  as  Volunteers,  in 
order  to  take  the  Ship  Blue-Mountain- Valley,  January  22,  1776,  under 
the  command  of  Elias  Dayton,  Colonel : 

Elias  Dayton,  Colonel,  Samuel  Smith, 

Edward  Thomas,  Lieut.  Col.,  Lewis  Blanchard, 

Oliver  Spencer,  Captain,  Edmund  Thomas, 

■     "William  Britton,  Captain,  Thomas  Elstone, 

Francis  Barber,  First  Lieut.,  Ephraim  Marsh, 

Aaron  Hatfield,  First  Lieut.,  Adam  Lee, 

Thomas  Morrcl,  Second  Lieut.,  Thomas  Qligle}', 

George  Everson,  Quartermaster,  Macarty, 

Smith  Iletficld,  Capt.  of  Boat,  Henry  M.  Munagal, 

John  Thomas,  Capt.  of  Boat,  Price  Parcel, 

John  Trail,  Capt.  of  Boat,  Barney  Ogden, 

"William  Barnet,  Surgeon,  Timothy  B.  Stout, 

"William  Iligin?,  Sergeant,  Joseph  Meeker,  Jun., 

David  Ross,  Serjeant,  George  "Weeks, 

Henry  Baker,  Sergeant,  Edward , 


424 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


Bcaty, 

David  SteT\'artj 
Daniel  Craig, 
Thomas  Lee, 
Stephen  "Wheeler, 
Farrington  Price, 
Elijali  Woodruff, 
Daniel  Woodruff. 
Aaron  Ogden, 
Edward  Jones, 
William  Clark, 
Jonathan  Clark, 
Jonathan  Nichols, 
Samuel  Mann, 
Silas  Freeman, 
William  Meeker, 
Samuel  Ogden, 
Gabriel  Meeker, 
Jonathan  Pierson, 
Elihu  Parsons, 

Daniel , 

Eobert  Spencer, 
William  Eamsden, 
Samuel  Sealey, 
The  above  is  a  true  list, 
Elizabeth-Town,  Feb. 


Samuel  Lee, 
Thomas  IToyt, 
Lewis  Woodruff 
Isaiah  Gray, 
William  Livingston,  Jr., 
Brockholst  Livingston, 
John  Ilendrix, 
Samuel  Morehouse, 
Jacob  Carle, 
Benjamin  Woodruff, 
Jonathan  Woodruff, 
Benjamin  Hinds, 
John  Gray, 
James  Clenchy, 
John  Miller, 
John  Kunyon, 
Nicholas  Deane, 
Moses  Connel, 
Godfrey  Blackney, 
Timothy  Burns, 
Simon  Simonson, 
Richard  Miller, 
John  Miller,  2d. 

to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief. 
9,  1776.  Edward  Thomas. 


Several  of  tlie  men,  Avliose  names  are  included  in  this  list, 
afterwards  became  decided  loyalists,  and  some  of  them  ma- 
lignant tories  ;  but  the  vast  majority  of  them  continued  true 
to  tlieir  countrj',  and  several  of  them  became  highly  dis- 
tinguished for  their  military  services.  The  names  of  a  few 
are  not  familiar.  These  were  of  the  Continentals,  from  the 
back  country. 

In  his  *'  Life  of  Lord  Sterling,"  Judge  Duer  gives  the 
credit  of  this  afiair  to  Sterling,  as  having  "  planned  and  exe- 
cuted "  the  enterprise  ;  overlooking  the  fact,  that  the  Town 
Committee  undertook,  of  their  own  motion,  without  even  a 
suggestion  from  Stirling,  by  far  the  heaviest  part  of  the  work. 
Lord  Stirling's  letter  to  Congress,  also,  dated,  Jan.  21th, 
1776,  is  given  incorrectly.     It  should  read,—* 


Am.  Archives,  •1th  Ser.,  IV.  9S7-0. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  425 

I  immediately  set  out  for  Amboy,  aud  there  seized  a  Pilot-boat,  and, 
■with  forty  men,  was  just  pushing  out  about  two  yesterday  morning,  when 
I  was  joined  by  three  other  boats  from  Elizabetli  Town,  with  about  forty 
men  each,  many  of  them  gentlemen  from  Elizabeth  Town,  who  volun- 
tarily came  on  this  service,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Dayton,  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Thomas. 

lie  desorihes  the  vessel,  as  "  a  ship  of  about  one  liundred 
feet,  from  stem  to  stern,  above,  capable  of  making  a  ship  of 
war  of  twenty  six-pounders,  and  ten  three-i)Ounders."  Of 
the  captain,  lie  says,  Jan.  27, — "  He  is  a  sensible,  genteel 
young  man  ;  all  liis  property  (about  one  hundred  pounds 
sterling)  is  on  board."  In  bringing  the  vessel  in,  she 
grounded,  on  Thursday,  in  the  Sound,  near  the  Blazing  Star  ; 
but,  being  lightened,  she  was  got  off  on  Friday  morning  and 
brought  to  the  Point.  * 

On  the  Monday  following,  29th,  Lord  Stirling's  letters  hav- 
ing been  read  in  Congress,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  alertness,  activity,  and  good  conduct  of  Lord  Stir- 
ling, and  the  forwardness  and  spirit  of  the  gentlemen  and  others  from 
Elizabeth-Town,  who  voluntarily  assisted  him  in  taking  the  ship  Blue- 
Mountain-Valley,  were  laudable  and  exemplary ;  and  that  his  Lordship 
be  directed  to  secure  the  capture  until  the  further  order  of  Congress  ;  and 
that,  in  the  meantime,  he  cause  such  part  of  the  lading  as  would  other- 
wise perish,  to  be  disposed  of  by  sale,  t 

Lord  Stirling  received  orders  from  Gen.  Lee,  Feb.  4, 17T6, 
to  transfer  his  regiment  to  New  York ;  and,  the  next  morn- 
ing, he  marched,  with  the  four  companies,  stationed  here, 
to  the  Xorth  River,  and,  having  been  detained  by  the  ice, 
on  the  following  day  arrived  at  New  York.  On  the  9th,  he 
received  and  transmitted  from  Congress  the  vote  of  thanks, 
and  sent  orders  to  Mr.  John  Blanchard  to  take  charge  of  the 
cargo  of  the  transport,  with  a  request  to  Brig.  Gen.  Living- 
ston, and  John  DelLart,  Esq.,  to  aid  him  in  the  management 
of  the  affair.  At  the  same  time,  he  took  the  opportunity  of 
requesting  Mr.  Ogden  to  give  his  best  thanks  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  Elizabeth  Town,  for  their  readiness,  at  all  times  to 
assist  him  in  carrying  on  the  service  under  his  direction,  and 

♦  Am.  Archives,  4th  Ser.,  IV.  83T,  SCT-8,    Duel's  Life  of  Stirling,  p.  125. 
t  Journal  of  Congress,  for  1776.    Duer's  Stirling,  p.  12-L 


42G  THE    HISTORY    OF 

to  the  inhabitants  in  general  for  the  many  instances  of  confi- 
dence and  friendship  received  from  them.* 

Finally,  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,  ordered, 
March  2,  1776,  the  vessel  and  cargo  to  be  confiscated,  a  com- 
mission to  be  appointed  for  the  sale  of  the  ship  and  its  con- 
tents, and  the  proceeds  to  be  distributed  among  the  captoi's. 
John  Blanchard  excused  himself,  March  2d,  from  serving  on 
the  Committee,  because  he  was  so  much  occupied  in  building 
a  powder-mill,  and,  on  his  recommendation,  his  son  Cornelius 
was,  March  8th,  appointed  in  his  place,  f 

Col.  Stirling,  having  been  appointed,  March  1st,  a  Brigadier 
General,  Robert  Ogden  wrote  him,  March  4th,  a  letter  of 
congratulation,  and  took  occasion  to  add, — 

There  are  many  fire-arras  lost,  or,  at  least,  at  present  missing,  that 
were  lent  (by  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  town)  to  furnish  Capt.  Meeker  and 
the  parties  under  him,  to  assist  your  Lordship  in  taking  the  Ship  Blue- 
Mountain- Valley.  He  has  been  applied  to  for  the  arms,  but  says  he 
knows  nothing  about  them,  who  had  them,  nor  where  to  be  found.  Ilis 
ignorance  and  high  temper  makes  it  diflBcult  to  treat  with  him. J 

Sterling  wrote,  March  1st,  to  Blanchard,  authorizing  him 
to  deliver  34:  chaldrons  of  the  coal  to  Moses  Ogden,  at  the 
Market' price,  Ogden  having  a  contract  with  the  government 
for  iron  work.  The  remainder  of  the  cargo,  with  the  ship 
and  its  appurtenances,  was  sold  at  auction,  by  order  of  the 
Committee  of  E.  Town,  March  18th.  A  gratuity  was  allowed 
the  seamen,  who,  with  the  officers,  were  set  at  liberty,  and 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  were  divided  among  the  captors. 

By  order  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  Feb.  2d,  Edward 
Thomas  and  Isaac  Woodruff",  Barrack  Masters,  were  author- 
ized to  dispose  of,  at  their  estimated  value,  for  the  use  of  the 
Continental  Troops,  the  blankets  belonging  to  the  E.  Town 
barracks.  On  the  3d,  Abraham  Ogden  was  appointed  Lieut. 
Col.,  and  William  Barnct,  Major  of  the  Regiment  of  light 
Horse  in  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  State.  On  the  23d, 
Edward  Thomas  was  appointed  Col.,  Jeremiah  Smith,  Lieut. 
Col.,  and  Oliver  Spencer,  First  Major  of  the  First  Ilcgiment 

•  Am.  Archives,  4th  Scr.,  IV.  1190-1200. 

t  Ibid,  i>.  1606.    Stirling  Mss.,  N.  Y.  His.  Soc.  J  Am.  Archives,  4th  Scr.,  V.  66. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW  JERSEY.  427 

of  Essex  Militia.  On  the  Gtli  of  March,  Elias  Dayton  was 
appointed,  by  Congress,  Col.,  and  Francis  Barber,  Major,  of 
the  Third  Battalion  of  ]S^.  Jersey  Continentals.  And,  on  the 
requisition  of  Lord  Stirling  at  ISTew  York,  six  thousand 
cartridges  were  furnished  him  by  the  E,  Town  Committee.  * 

Gen.  Clinton  arrived  at  New  York,  from  Boston,  Feb.  4th, 
in  the  ship-of-war  Mercury,  in  company  with  a  transport 
brig,  with  200  marines,  on  his  way  to  the  South.  Shortly 
afterwards  the  vessels  weighed  anchor,  and  fell  down  to  the 
watering  place,  near  Staten  Island.  On  the  evening  of  Satur- 
day, 10th,  word  was  brought  to  this  town,  that  the  marines 
were  intending  to  make  a  raid  on  Staten  Island  and  carry  off 
the  live  stock.  Gen.  Livingston,  who  had  been  put  in  charge, 
on  Stirling's  transfer  to  New  York,  called  out  300  of  the 
militia,  sent  out  a  part  to  reconnoitre  the  south  side  of  the 
Island,  and  marched  with  the  troops  at  three  in  the  morning. 
At  "Ward's,  in  sight  of  the  Light  House,  they  were  joined  by 
Capt.  Blan chard  and  his  company  of  light  horse.  Learning 
here  that  the  vessels  had  left  Sandy  Hook  the  day  before,  a 
squad,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Edward  Thomas,  were 
left  to  guard  the  coast,  for  fear  of  a  feint,  and  the  remainder 
were  ordered  home.  The  militia  were  highly  commended 
for  the  alacrity  with  which  they  responded  to  the  call  of  tlieir 
commander,  on  this  occasion, f 

Owing  to  the  commotions  of  the  times,  and  the  close  con- 
nection of  the  town  with  New  York,  the  place  was  visited  by 
many  strangers,  some  of  whom  rendered  themselves  liable  to 
suspicion,  as  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  the  country.  The 
Committee  of  the  Town,  therefore,  represented  the  case,  Feb. 
12th,  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  then  in  session,  who  passed 
an  ordinance,  requiring,  among  other  things, 

That  all  suspected  persons  removing  into  the  colony,  should  be  imme- 
diately returned  to  the  place  whence  they  came,  unless  their  detention 
as  delinquents  should  be  proper  ;  or  unless  they  produced  certificates  from 
the  Committee  of  the  precinct,  from  -which  they  came,  that  they  had 
signed  the  Association  recommended  by  Congress,  and  had  not  subse- 
quently contravened  it.]: 

*  Am.  Archives,  4th  Ser.,  IV.  15S0,  2,  9,  93,  IGOG.      t  N.  York  Packet,  Feb.  22. 
I   Am.  Archives,  4th  Ser.,  IV.  15S9.  Gordon's  N.  J.,  173,  4. 


4-28  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Thus  gradually,  but  surely,  tlie  lines  of  demarcation  be- 
tween tlie  patriots  and  tlie  loyalists  were  becoming  more  and 
more  distinct,  and  the  people  were  compelled  to  show  their 
colors,  as  friends  or  foes,  to  Congress  and  the  country. 

On  the  14th,  AVm..  Livingston  and  John  DeHart,  of  this 
town  were  re-elected,  by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  N.  Jersey, 
members  of  the  General  Congress,  which  had  continued  in 
session  till  this  time.* 

Fears  were  entertained,  that  the  British  Army  at  Boston 
were  about  to  be  transferred  to  New  York,  of  which  Lord 
Stirling  received  intimation,  March  13th,  from  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. Stirling  immediately  called  upon  each  of  several 
adjacent  Counties  in  jSTew  Jersey  to  send  forward  imme- 
diately three  or  four  hundred  men  to  aid  in  fortifying  the 
City  and  harbor.  Lewis  Ogden,  Chairman  of  the  Newark 
Committee  replied,  on  the  14th,  that  they  would  send  150 
men  :  "  We  also  sent  a  Deputation  from  our  Board  to  the 
Committee  at  Elizabeth  Town  to  inform  them  what  we  had 
done  and  request  that  they  would  furnish  150  more, — they 
have  agreed  to  do  it." 

Stephen  Crane,  who  had  succeeded  Kobert  Ogden,  as 
Chairman  of  the  E.  Town  Committee,  wrote  to  Stirling,  also, 
on  the  14th,  to  the  effect,  that  they  had  no  right  to  send  a 
Detachment  out  of  the  Province  ;  urged  the  desperate  state 
of  the  Colony ;  and  said, — 

The  Arming  the  two  battalions  in  the  Continental  Service  hath  drained 
us  of  our  best  Arms,  and  in  case  a  Decent  should  be  made  at  New  York, 
wo  should  bo  liable  to  continual  excursions  of  the  enemy. 

AVm.  Burnet,  Chairman  of  the  Essex  Co.  Committee,  wrote 
on  the  15th,  that  a  copy  of  Crane's  letter  had  been  sent  to 
him,  "  from  which  we  are  afraid  no  men  will  come  from 
Elizabeth  Town  ;  .  .  .  however  we  shall  Endeavour  to  prevail 
wnth  them  to  furnish  their  quota,  and  hope  we  shall  succeed." 
The  next  day,  he  writes  that  "  the  confusion  is  owing  to  your 
writing  to  the  Township  and  not  the  County  Committee." 

Two  days  after,  Stirling  acknowledges  the  services  of  Bur- 

*  Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  201 .    MulfonVs  N.  J.,  p.  405. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  429 

net  and  tlie  Newark  people  ;  informs  liira  of  his  intention  to 
fortify  East  Jersey,  and  says, — 

I  shall  send  to  explain  my  designs  to  you  and  to  engage  the  people  of 
Elizabeth  Town  to  carry  them  mto  execution  which  according  to  my 
plan  they  will  be  able  to  do  with  two  or  Three  hundred  men  in  a  few 
days.  Some  Intrenching  tools  will  be  necessary,  and  it  will  be  proper  to 
have  them  Collected  as  soon  as  possible  at  Newark  or  Elizabeth  Town. 

And  so  the  men  -vrere  kept  at  liome  to  work  on  their  own 
fortifications.  Stirling  knew  the  people  too  well  to  believe, 
that  they  were  wanting  in  patriotism.  One  of  the  stannchest 
patriots  of  the  town,  Abraham  Clark,  the  Signer,  wrote  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  this  very  time,  March  15th,  in 
reference  to  a  resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  calling 
for  arms  to  equip  a  battalion  for  Canada, — "  If  all  the  Con- 
gresses npon  the  Continent  required  ns  to  disarm  ourselves 
at  present,  nnless  we  are  deemed  dangerons  to  liberty,  I 
would  not  obey."  The  situation  of  the  town  was  becoming 
exceedingly  critical,  and  they  needed  to  husband  all  their 
resources.* 

Col.  Dayton,  in  command  of  the  Third  Continental  Regi- 
ment stationed  at  E.  Town,  in  the  mean  time,  had  received, 
March  10th,  orders  fj'om  Stirling  to  put  his  regiment  in 
marching  trim.  On  the  l-ith,  he  writes,  that  "  the  companies 
of  Captains  Bloomfield,  Dickinson  and  Potter  have  passed 
muster,"  and  that  the  others  are  nearly  full.  lie  refers  to 
the  scarcity  of  Arms,  and  says, — "  The  Militia  are  now  more 
than  ever  unwilling  to  part  with  their  Arms  ; "  and  adds, 
that  he  and  Major  Barber  had  been  to  Congress  at  Philadel- 
phia about  it,  but  without  success.  On  the  23d,  he  received 
orders  to  march  forthwith  to  New  York.f 

In  accordance  with  the  intimations  in  the  letter  to  Burnet, 
Lord  Stirling  came  over,  on  the  22d,  to  this  town,  to  survey 
the  ground,  and  lay  out  a  line  of  fortifications  at  the  Point. 
After  conference  with  Gen.  Livingston  in  relation  to  the  plan, 
he  returned  to  the  city  on  the  24:th,  to  procure  engineers  to 
be  employed  on  these  works  under  the  direction  of  General 
"William  Thompson. 

•  Stirling  Ms3.,  N.  T.  Uis.  Soc.  Aual.  Index,  p.  451.  t  Stirling  Mss. 


430  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Boston  was  evacuated  by  the  British  Army,  March  17th, 
and,  as  it  was  naturally  inferred  that  they  would  make  a 
vigorous  effort  to  establish  their  headquarters  at  New  York, 
the  American  army  was,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  mostly 
transferred  to  this  section  of  the  country.  General  Washing- 
ton arrived  and  took  command  at  New  York,  on  Saturday, 
April  13th,  The  work  of  erecting  and  strengthening  fortifi- 
cations at  exposed  points  was  renewed,  and  carried  on  with 
great  vigor. 

Tlie  Provincial  Congress  of  New  Jersey,  chosen  on  the 
4th  Monday  in  May,  met  at  Burlington  on  the  lOtli  of  June  ; 
and  John  De  Hart  having  been  permitted  to  resign  his  seat 
in  Congress,  Abraham  Clark,  also  of  this  town,  who  had 
served  for  some  time  as  Secretary  of  the  N.  Jersey  Commit- 
tee of  Safety,  was  chosen,  June  22d,  in  his  place.  Wm. 
Livingston,  another  member  from  this  town,  having  been 
appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  New  Jersey  Militia, 
resigned  his  membership,  and  established  his  headquarters 
at  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  while  his  own  family,  and  others, 
retired  into  less  exposed  portions  of  the  country,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  near  approach  of  the  British  army  and  the  full 
realities  of  w^ar.* 

*  "It  mny  be  interesting  to  some  to  Icnow  what  was  the  appearance  of  the  town  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war  in  1776.  The  writer,''  says  Cupt  William  C.  De  Hart,  "  can  describe 
a  portion  of  it  by  which  at  least,  may  bo  seen  the  great  change  since  that  day.  From  the 
Barracks,  south  as  far  as  the  corner  of  the  lot  where  stands  [184G]  the  present  residence  of 
Mr.  Mayo  it  was  entirely  open.  At  this  spot  stood  the  '  Eed  Store-house,'  which  will  bo 
mentioned  hereafter,  and  then  came  the  stone  house  (Mr.  Mayo's)  and  between  that  and  Mr. 
Jelf 's  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Oliver  Price,  there  were  but  two  small  wooden  buildings. 
On  the  other  side  of  the  road  was  the  mansion  of  Mr.  John  De  Hart,  which  appeared  then 
much  as  at  the  present  day,  with  the  exception  of  a  piazza  and  shed  which  extended  entirely 
across  the  south  front.  To  the  south  of  this  last  stood  a  wooden  building  occupied  by  John 
Blanchard,  and  probably  makes  a  part  of  it,  as  it  occupies  the  same  ground  of  the  building 
now  tenanted  by  Mr.  Leavenworth.  Proceeding  from  this  on  the  west  side,  and  crossing  the 
road  which  runs  obliquely  toward  the  Hiihway  turnpike,  stood  a  small  frame  building  ;  and  a 
little  further  on  was  the  Presbyterian  Parsonage  occupied  by  the  Eev.  James  Caldwell. 
This  last  was  a  frame  building,  covered  with  shingles  and  painted  red  ;  in  form  it  was  long, 
two  low  stories  in  front,  and  the  roof  declined  to  the  rear  in  a  long  slope,  terminating  at  the 
height  of  one  story  above  tho  ground.  Between  the  Parsonage  and  the  ro.id,  south,  there 
was  no  other  building,  and  tho  glebe  attached  was  a  large  square  lot  behind  the  dwelling,  and 
bounded  on  one  side  by  the  road  to  tho  corner  (Capt.  Willianisou's)  and  thence  some  distance 
on  the  Philadelphia  road  towards  Mr.  Charles  King's  residence.  Tho  next  house  was  that  of 
Judge  Chetwood  now  in  the  posse.«sion  of  Mr.  Bryant,  and  opposite  to  this,  cast,  stood  a  small 
building  on  the  corner. 

From  tho  corner  (Jelf's  Hill)  cast,  there  was  a  building  near  what  is  now  Mr.  Cleaveland's 
Bakery.    Tho  nest  building,  well  remembered,  and  a  portion  of  which  is  still  standing,  was  on 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  431 

the  'flats'  and  occupied  by  a  very  worthy  person  for  many  years,  Maam'selle  Nancy  Salnave 
(pronounced  Snaw,)  the  popular  dress-maker  of  the  village,  the  Marcliande  des  Modes,  and 
the  arbltress  of  matters  of  fashion  in  those  pristine  times  of  taste  and  troubles.  Proceeding 
eastward,  on  the  corner  stood  a  small  buililing  where  now  lives  Mr.  James  Crec,  and  beyond 
a  few  yards  was  another  small  house.  From  this  point  to  the  bridge  was  vacant ;  and  on  the 
other  side  of  tho  river  was  the  old  mill  which  yet  stands ;— the  peaceful  clnck  of  whose 
wheels  with  its  rushing  stream,  had  discoursed  their  music  to  the  ears  of  a  preceding  genera- 
tion. 

The  ne.xt  building  was  the  '  Eed  Lion  '  inn,  distinguished  in  its  time,  for  having  been  for 
a  brief  space  the  quarters  of  General  Washington.  Beyond  this  a  few  yards  was  a  house 
known  as  'tho  Lodge,'  erected  it  is  believed  by  an  association  of  Free  Masons — a  portion  of 
this  still  remains.  The  ne.\t  in  succession  was  the  Court  House,  a  small  frame  shingle-covered 
building  which  had  never  been  adorned  with  paint,— and  in  the  same  condition,  and  style  of 
architecture,  was  the  adjacent  building,  the  Presbyterian  Meeting  Uousc,  both  of  which  re- 
spectively occupied  tho  ground  whereon  now  stand  the  structures  devoted  to  the  same  ob- 
iccts  :  and  where  is  now  the  Lecture-room  of  the  '  First  Congregation '  stood  a  small  wooden 
building  familiar  to  all  as  '  The  Academy,'  where  a  Barber  taught,  not  '  rebellion,'  but  gram- 
mar and  'old  English  undeflled.'  From  this  last  point  up  to  Jersey  street,  there  were  but 
two  houses,  the  first  where  Miss  Crittenden  now  resides,  and  the  second  a  little  beyond  the 
residence  of  Mrs.  Wilson,  and  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  since.  On  tho  opposite 
Side  of  the  street  from  the  corner  house  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Barber,  as  far  as  St.  John's 
Church,  intervened  but  five  houses :  tho  first  on  the  corner;  one  about  where  now  is  Mr. 
Ludlow's  shoe  store ;  a  third  on  the  site  now  covered  by  Mr.  Earle's  store ;  a  fourth,  which  is 
yet  standing  though  carried  up  another  story  since  that  day,  and  at  present  in  possession  of 
Mr.  M.  Ilalsey ;  and  the  fifth  adjoining  the  Church-yard,  and  then  well  known  to  the  children 
of  the  town  as  tho  '  Cake  Shop.' 

South  of  tho  Church  stood  tho  two  small  brick  tenements  which  are  still  there,  and  now 
occupied  by  Squire  Winans  and  our  worthy  post-master ;  and  thence  to  the  residence  of 
General  Williamson,  now  tho  '  Union  Hotel,'  was  an  open  orchard.  Crossing  the  street,  on 
the  corner  stood  a  small  shop,  and  next,  towards  the  river,  where  sinco  has  been  erected  the 
'  Thomas'  House,'  was  a  long  low  one  and  a  half  story  building,  kept  as  a  tavern,  and  famous 
in  Its  day,  as  tho  resort  of  the  British  officers  of  tho  garrison,  and  other  gay  young  men  about 
town. 

From  this  sketch  may  be  seen  the  changes  which  have  since  taken  place,  and  as  the  busy 
mart  where  men  most  did  congregate  for  the  business  of  the  day,  was  then  the  corner  known 
as  '  Jelf's  Hill,'  tho  neighborhood  just  dc5crii)cd  maybe  supposed  to  h.avebeen  the  most  popu- 
lous pjirt  of  the  village.  Tho  old  Red  Store  House,  which  sometime  afterwards  was  re- 
moved to  the  opposite  side  of  tho  road,  having  been  rebuilt,  forms  tho  house  occupied  by  the 
lateEdw.ard  Price."— [De  Hart's  "Passagesin  the  History  of  Elizabeth  Town."] 


432  TUE    UISTORY    OF 


CHAPTEE    XX. 

A.  D.  KVC-ITVV. 

Independence  —  Lines  drawn  —  Sentiments  of  Abraham  Clark,  theSigner  —  Brit- 
ish Fleet  —  Staten  Island  taken  by  the  British  Troops  —  The  War  at  the 
Door  —  Defence  of  the  Town  —  Arrest  of  Traitors  —  Female  Patriot  Forays 
—  Chanpjes  in  the  Town  —  Error  of  Mr.  W.  Irving  —  Disaffection  of  Fa. 
Troops  —  Battle  of  FlaCljush  —  Wm.  Livingston,  First  Gov.  of  the  State  — 
Gen.  Matt.  Williamson,  in  command  here  —  John  DeHart  declines  &  Robert 
Morris  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  N.  J.  —  Depot  for  Prisoners  here  —  Am. 
Army  evacuate  N.  York  —  Letter  of  Rob.  Ogden  —  Disasters  —  Retreat 
through  N.  Jersey  —  People  flee  —  Town  occupied  by  the  British  —  William- 
son resigns  —  Defections  —  Protection  Papers  —  Am.  Troops  at  Short  Hills  — 
Rev.  J.  Caldwell  —Skirmish  —  Death  of  Col.  Ford  —  Capture  of  Hessians  at 
Trenton  —  Capture  of  Princeton  —  Retreat  of  British  Army  —  Washington  at 
Morristown  —  Enemy  driven  out  of  Newark  and  E.  T.  —  Capt.  E.  Littell  — 
Barbarity  of  the  Enemy  —  Tories  and  Neutrals  driven  out  —  Frequent  Skir- 

.    mishes  —  British  Army  evacuate  the  State.  • 

A  NEW  Era  now  dawns  on  the  Town,  the  State,  the  Na- 
tion. A  rcsohition  had  been  submitted,  June  7th,  to  the 
General  Congress,  by  Richard  Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia,  to  the 
eflfect,  "  That  these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought 
to  be,  Free  and  Independent  States  ;  that  they  are  absolved 
from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  Crown  ;  and  that  all  polit-  *" 
ical  connection  between  them  and  the  State  of  Great  Britain 
is,  and  ought  to  be,  totally  dissolved."  On  the  10th,  having 
been  freely  and  earnestly  discussed  for  three  days,  it  was 
adopted  in  committee  of  the  whole,  by  a  bare  majority  of  the 
several  delegations.  For  the  sake  of  greater  unanimity,  it 
was  reconsidered  and  postponed  until  the  first  of  Jul}'.* 

In  the  meantime,  it  was  warmly  debated  among  the  peo- 

•  Pltkln'8  U.  States,  I.  8C2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  433 

pie,  and  in  the  several  provincial  congresses.  The  new  Dele- 
gates from  New  Jersey,  chosen  June  21st,  were  instructed, 
"  in  case  they  judged  it  necessary  and  expedient  for  support- 
ing the  just  rights  of  America,  to  join  in  declaring  the  United 
Colonies  independent,  and  entering  into  a  Confederation  for 
union  and  defense."  The  consideration  of  the  question  was 
resumed  in  Congress  on  Monday,  July  1st,  in  committee  of 
the  whole,  and  passed  by  the  vote  of  nine  colonies.  Being 
reported  to  the  house,  it  was  deferred  until  the  next  day, 
Tuesday,  July  2d,  when  it  was  passed  by  the  vote  of  twelve 
Colonies,  the  Delegates  from  New  York,  though  personally 
favorable,  being  restricted  by  official  instructions  from  voting. 
The  Declaration  of  Independence,  having  been  referred  to  a 
special  committee,  was  reported  on  the  28th  of  June,  and, 
having  been  closely  scrutinized  for  two  days,  on  the  evening 
of  the  fourth  of  July,  was  adopted  by  the  same  vote.* 

The  die  was  now  cast.  The  state  of  vassalage  was  termi- 
nated. The  house  of  Hanover  was  dethroned.  Royalty  was 
abolished.  All  dependence  on  Britain  was  abjured.  A  Ee- 
public  was  inaugurated.  A  Nation  was  born.  The  struggle 
ceased  to  be  a  civil  war.  Rebels  were  now  patriots.  The 
British  were  foreign  foes.  The  war  was  henceforth  to  Ije 
waged  by  rival  nations.  Loyalists  were  now  traitors,  and  to 
be  treated  as  foes  to  their  country.  Neutrality  could  no 
longer  be  tolerated.  King  or  Congress  must  rule.  Sides 
must  be  taken.  Every  man  must  be  a  friend  or  a  foe — for 
or  against  his  country.     He  could  not  be  neither. 

Tidipgs  of  this  event  soon  spread  all  over  the  land.  Here 
in  this  town,  as  elsewhere,  it  was  received  with  mingled  joy 
and  sorrow.  The  great  majority  of  the  people,  including 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  Presbyterian  party,  and  some  few  of 
the  Episcopalians,  hailed  the  Declaration  with  the  utmost 
satisfaction  and  exultation,  and  nerved  themselves  anew  for 
the  conflict.  But  "  from  that  time,"  some  who  had  hitherto 
consorted  with  the  patriots,  Jonathan  Hampton  among  the 
number,  "  went  back,  and  walked  no  more  with  "  them.  Of 
these  some  few  subsided  into  a  state  of  apparent  quietude^ 

•  Pitkin's  U.  States,  I.  8C4,  5.    Buncroft's  U.  3.,  VIII.  457,  £>,  65,  7. 

28 


434  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  of  constrained  acquiescence  with  the  new  order  of  things, 
taking  little  or  no  part  in  public  affairs.  Otliers  took  the 
first  opportunity  to  connect  themselves,  openly  and  violently, 
with  the  cause  of  royalty. 

The  "Declaration"  was  entered  on  the  journal  of  Congress, 
on  the  fourth,  and  immediately  published  to  the  world.  But 
no  signatures  were  appended  to  it.  On  the  19th,  it  was  or- 
dered to  be  engrossed  on  parchment,  and  signed  by  every 
member.  Accordingly  the  engrossed  copy  was  presented  on 
Friday,  Aug.  2d,  and  received  the  signatures  of  all  the  mem- 
bers then  present,  some  of  w^hom  had  not  been  present  at  its 
adoption.  Tliis  town  has  the  honor  of  having  contributed 
one  of  her  noble  sons,  Abraham  Clark,  to  that  immortal 
band.  In  a  letter,  written  at  Philadelphia,  Aug.  6th  (four 
days  only  after  signing  the  Declaration),  to  his  townsman, 
Col.  Elias  Dayton,  then  on  service  at  German  Flats,  he  ^ves 
utterance  to  the  following  appropriate  sentiments : 

As  to  ray  title,  I  kuow  not  yet  whether  it  will  be  honourable  or  dis- 
honourable ;  the  issue  of  the  war  must  settle  it.  Perhaps  our  Congress 
will  be  exalted  on  a  high  gallows.  We  were  truly  brought  to  the  case  of 
the  three  lepers:  If  we  continued  in  the  state  we  were  in,  it  was  evident 
we  must  perish ;  if  we  declared  Independence,  we  might  be  saved, — we 
could  but  perish.  I  assure  you,  sir,  I  see — I  feel,  the  danger  we  are  in. 
I  am  far  from  exulting  in  our  imaginary  happiness  ;  nothing  short  of  the 
almighty  power  of  God  can  save  us.  It  is  not  in  our  numbers,  our  union, 
our  valour,  I  dare  trust.  I  think  an  interposing  Providence  hath  been 
evident  in  all  the  events  that  necessarily  led  us  to  what  wo  are — I  mean 
independent  States ;  but  for  what  purpose,  Avhcther  to  make  us  a  great 
empire,  or  to  make  our  ruin  more  complete,  the  issue  only  can  determine.* 

Mr.  Clark  was  a  man  of  prayer,  and  was  quartered,  at 
Philadelphia,  with  his  colleague,  tlie  Eev.  Dr.  "Witherspoon. 
Both  these  worthy  men  had  acted  throughout  on  Christian 
principle,  and  with  a  deep  sense  of  their  responsibility  to 
Almighty  God. 

The  transition  from  vassalage  to  independence,  on  the  part 
of  the  people  of  Elizabeth  Town,  was  made  in  the  midst  of  the 
most  serious  alarms.  Washington  wrote  from  N.  York, 
June  29th,  to  General  Livingston,  commanding  at  E.  Town  : 

*  Pilkiu's  U.  S.,  1. 869.    Journals  of  Cong.    Am.  Arcblrcs,  5th  Ser.  1. 7S5. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  435 

I  have  received  certain  information  from  the  Hook,  that  about  forty  of 
the  enemy's  fleet  have  arrived  there,  and  others  are  now  in  sight,  aud 
that  there  cannot  be  a  doubt,  but  the  whole  fleet  will  be  in  this  day  and 
to-morrow.  I  bog  not  a  moment's  time  may  be  lost,  in  sending  forward 
such  parts  of  the  militia,  as  Col.  Reed  shall  mention.  We  are  so  very 
weak  at  this  post,  that  I  must  beg  you  to  order  the  three  corapanie?,  which 
I  mentioned  in  my  last  for  Staten  Island,  immediately  to  this  city.* 

These  sliips  were  tlie  British  fleet  from  Halifax,  under  the 
command  of  Admiral  Shuldham,  with  the  British  Army  un- 
der General  Howe,  recently  driven  out  of  Boston,  with  six 
transports  filled  with  Highlanders  just  sent  over.  Orders 
were  immediately  issued  for  the  removal  of  the  live  stock 
from  Staten  Island,  and  the  people  of  this  town  were  called 
upon  to  aid  in  this  movement.  Washington  writes  from  IST. 
York,  July  3d,  to  the  President  of  Congress,— 

I  am  this  minute  iitformed  by  a  gentleman  that  the  Committee  of  Eliza- 
beth Town  sent  their  Company  of  Light  Horse  on  Monday  to  eflect  it, 
and  that  some  of  their  Militia  was  to  give  their  aid  yesterday  [Tuesday], — 
he  adds  that  he  was  credibly  told  last  night  by  part  of  the  Militia  coming 
to  this  place,  that  yesterday  they  saw  a  good  deal  of  stock  driving  off  the 
Island  and  crossing  to  the  Jerscys.t 

The  Staten  Islanders  had  made  profession  of  patriotism,  it 
has  been  seen,  and  so  were  allowed  to  resume  trade  with  this 
town.  The  value  of  their  ^professions  may  he  seen  from  the 
report  of  Gov.  Tryon  of  New  York  to  Lord  George  Germain, 
dated,  "  Dutchess  of  Gordon,  off  Staten  Island,  Sth  July, 
1776:"— 

General  Howe  disembarked  the  troops  under  his  command  on  Staten 
Island  the  2d  Iiistant  without  opposition,  on  which  occasion  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Island  came  down  to  welcome  the  arrival  of  their  deliverers, 
&  have  since  afforded  the  army  every  supply  &  accommodation  in  their 
power.  On  Saturday  last  [Gth]  I  received  the  Militia  of  the  Island  at 
RiAmond  Town,  where  near  four  hundred  appeared,  who  chearfully,  on 
my  Recommendation,  took  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  &  fidelity  to  his  Majes- 
ty. To-morrow  I  am  to  have  another  muster  for  the  enlistment  of  Volun- 
tiers  to  form  a  Provincial  Corps  for  the  defence  of  the  Island.  J 

By  this  defection  and  the  occupation  of  the  Island  by  the 
British,  this  town  was  brought  into  the  very  fore-front  of  the 

*  Sparks'  Wasbington,  III.  pp.  445,  6.  +  Am.  Arcliivos,  4th  8er.,  VL  1234. 

t  N.  Y.  Col.'Docmts.,  VIII.  631. 


436  THE    HISTORY    OF 

field  of  conflict,  and  so  continued  througliout  the  war.  Staten 
Island  became  thenceforward  not  only  a  British  post,  but  a 
nest  of  Tories,  and  tlie  common  resort  of  the  "  Loyalists,"  in 
their  flight  from  East  Jersey. 

The  day  after  their  landing,  the  enemy  made  their  appear- 
ance on  the  western  shore  of  the  Island,  opposite  E.  Town 
Point. 

As  soon  as  the  troops  landed  (says  a  correspondent),  they  paraded  the 
north  shore,  and  on  Wednesday  morning  [3d]  made  their  appearance  near 
Elizabeth-Town  point;  but  the  country  being  soon  alarmed,  they  re- 
treated, took  up  the  floor  of  the  drawbridge  in  the  salt  meadows,  and  im- 
mediately threw  up  some  works.  Their  near  approach  to  Elizabeth-Town 
point  greatly  alarmed  the  inhabitants  of  Essex  county,  and  particularly 
the  people  of  Elizabeth-Town  and  Newark ;  but  they  are  now  in  a  con- 
dition to  receive  them  whenever  they  may  think  proper  to  approach. 
Two  young  men  from  Elizabeth-Town  crossed  the  river  in  a  canoe  last 
Thursday  [-ith],  and  fired  upon  the  regulars ;  but  a  number  of  them  rush- 
ing out  of  the  woods,  they  were  obliged  to  retreat  and  cross  the  river 
again.* 

Livingston  writes  to  Washington,  on  the  4th,  that  they  had 

Thrown  up  a  couple  of  small  breastworks  on  the  causeway  leading 
from  the  Point  over  the  Salt  ileadow.  TTe  have  between  four  and  five 
hundred  at  the  Point  who  have  thrown  up  a  line  from  the  Point  House 
eastward  to  answer  as  a  cover.  We  have  two  field-pieces,  with  a  part  of 
the  Company  of  Artillery  of  this  Province  [Capt.  Neill's].  (lie  adds), 
Our  men  are  raw  and  inexperienced,  our  oflicers  mostly  absent,  want  of 
discipline  is  inevitable,  while  we  are  greatly  exposed  for  the  distance  of 
twelve  or  fourteen  miles.t 

He  makes  an  urgent  appeal  for  troops  to  defend  the  town 
against  the  disciplined  troops  on  the  Island,  from  wdiom  an 
invasion  was  constantly  expected.  "Washington,  thereupon, 
■writes,  on  the  5th,  to  the  President  of  Congress, — 

General  Mercer  arrived  here  on  Tuesday,  and,  the  next  morning,  was 
ordered  to  Paulus  Hook  to  make  some  arrangements  of  the  militia  as 
they  came  in,  and  the  best  disposition  he  could  to  prevent  the  enemy's 
crossing  from  Staten  Island  if  tliey  should  have  any  such  views.  The 
distressed  lituation  of  the  inhabitants  of  Elisabeth  Town  and  Newark  has 
since  induced  me,  upon  theif  application,  to  give  up  all  iho  militia  from 

*  Po.  Eve.  Post,  No.  229.    Pa.  JourDal,  No.  1753.  t  Am.  Archives,  ith  Ser.,  VI.  12C2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  437 

the  Jerseys,  except  those  engaged  for  six  months.     I  am  hopofal  they  ^vill 
be  able  to  repel  any  incursions,  that  may  be  attempted.* 

He  writes  to  Livingston,  the  next  day,  6tli, — 

General  Mercer  has  just  set  off  for  Jersey.  In  his  experience  and 
judgment  you  may  repose  great  confidence.  He  will  proceed  to  Amboy 
after  conferring  with  you.  You  will  please  to  keep  mo  constantly  in- 
formed of  the  proceedings  of  the  enemy,  and  be  assured  of  every  assist- 
ance and  attention. t 

In  the  same  letter,  he  writes,  in  answer  to  one  from  Liv- 
ingston, of  the  same  date,  as  follows : — 

The  known  disaffection  of  the  people  of  Amboy,  and  the  treachery  of 
those  of  Staten  Island,  who,  after  the  fairest  professions,  have  shown 
themselves  our  most  inveterate  enemies,  have  induced  me  to  give  direc- 
tions, that  all  persons  of  known  enmity  or  doubtful  character  should  be 
removed  from  places,  where  they  might  enter  into  a  correspondence  with 
the  enemy,  and  aid  them  in  their  schemes.  For  this  end,  General  Heard 
[of  Woodbridge]  has  directions  to  apprehend  such  persons,  as  from  their 
conduct  have  shown  themselves  inimical,  or  whose  situation,  connexions, 
or  ofliees  have  given  just  cause  of  suspicion.^ 

This  order  had  a  very  salutary  effect,  resulting  in  the  ap- 
prehension of  a  considerable  number  of  suspected  persons,  in 
this  town  and  vicinity,  but  more  particularly  in  Amboy. 
Maj.  Duyckinck,  of  the  Middlesex  militia,  had  arrested  nine 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Amboy,  and  sent  them  here  to 
General  Livingston,  giving  occasion  to  Livingston's  letter  to 
"Washington.§ 

A  Philadelphia  paper,  of  August  10th,  relates  the  follow- 
ing :— 

On  the  late  alarm  at  Elizabeth  Town,  when  an  immediate  attack  of 
the  regulars  was  expected  [July  3d],  and  every  man,  capable  of  bearing 
arras,  was  siimmoned  to  defend  it,  there  were  three  or  four  young  men 
[brothers]  going  out  from  one  house,  when  an  elderly  lady,  mother  or 
grandmother  to  the  young  men,  without  betraying  the  least  signs  of 
timidity,  w^th  a  resolute  calmness  encouraged  and  assisted  them  to  arm. 
When  tliey  were  ready  to  go,  and  just  setting  out,  she  addressed  them 
thus : — 

"My  children,  I  have  a  few  words  to  say  to  you ;  you  are  going  out  in 

♦  Sparks'  Washington,  III.  41D-50.  t  Ibid.,  p.  452. 

t  Ibid.,  III.  451-2.  §  Whitehead's  Amboy,  p.  330. 


438  -THE    HISTORY    OF 

fL  just  causG  to  fight  for  the  riglits  and  liberties  of  your  country.  You 
have  my  blessing  and  prayers,  that  God  will  protect  and  assist  you.  But 
if  you  fall;  his  will  be  done.  Let  me  beg  of  you,  my  children,  that  if 
you  fall,  it  may  bo  like  men  ;  and  that  your  wounds  may  not  be  in  your 
back  parts." 

A  noble  specimen  of  tlie  Christian  heroine  !  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  her  name  is  not  recorded  on  earth;  it  is  in 
heaven.* 

The  two  field-pieces,  of  which  mention  has  been  made, 
very  soon  gave  a  good  account  of  themselves.  Under  date 
of  July  4,  1776,  12  o'clock  at  niglit,  it  is  said, — 

One  of  the  enemy's  armed  sloops  of  fourteen  guns,  having  this  evening 
run  up  near  Elizabeth  Point,  was  attacked  from  the  shore,  with  two 
twelve-pounders,  a  great  number  of  her  men  killed,  she  set  on  fire  and 
entirely  destroyed.! 

As  this  occurred  just  about  the  time  that  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  adopted  by  Congress,  or  within  two  or 
three  hours  of  that  event,  it  was  probably  the  first  military 
exploit  of  the  new-born  nation,  and  an  auspicious  omen  of  its 
career. 

"About  one  hundred  and  thirty  sail,"  as  Washington  in- 
forms Gen.  Schuyler,  on  the  11th,  liad  now  arrived  from  Hali- 
fax, and  the  British  army  on  the  Island  numbered  "  between 
nine  and  ten  thousand."  The  next  day  several  ships  of  the 
line  arrived,  and  among  them  the  Admiral's  ship,  who  had 
been  daily  expected.  The  utmost  vigilance  now  became  ne- 
cessary, the  more  so,  as  two  British  men  of  war  had  the  same 
afternoon  run  up  Hudson's  Kiver,  and  taken  possession  of 
Tappan  Bay.  Livingston,  in  command  of  the  militia  here, 
and  Mercer,  in  charge  of  the  Flying  Camp  at  Amboy,  kept 
their  eye  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Sound,  and  prevented 
all  foraging  incursions  from  the  enemy  on  the  Island.  Living- 
ston found  himself  very  much  in  need  of  military  stores.  In 
a  letter  to  the  Brov.  Congress,  July  Gth,  he  says, — 

The  number  of  men  that  are  now  in  the  service  here  loudly  call  for 
more  ample  supplies  of  almost  every  necessary  (except  provisions),  than 

•  Pa  Eve.  Tost,  No.  2-13.    Pa.  Journal,  No.  1T5S.        t  Am.  Archives,  4th  Ser.,  VI.  1272. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  439 

can  be  obtained  here,  such  as  ammunition,  flints,  arms,  and  indeed  stores 
of  every  kind,  an  attention  to  wliicli  I  cannot  give  in  the  manner  I  could 
choose  in  the  present  exigency.* 

The  following  incidents,  taken  from  letters  written,  in  the 
Camp  at  Elizabeth  Town,  show  that  the  troops  were  kept 
continually  on  the  alert : — 

Last  Wednesday  noon  [10th]  a  soldier  belonging  to  one  of  the  regiments 
on  Staten  Island,  being  in  liquor,  and  having  wandered  from  his  compan- 
ions, got  upon  the  meadows  near  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  which  being  ob- 
served by  Col.  Smith,  who  had  the  command  that  day  at  the  Point,  he 
sent  over  a  party  of  men  •who  took  him  prisoner. 

Yesterday  nine  of  our  Riflemen  crossed  the  river  [Sound]  in  order  to 
harass  some  Regulars  who  were  throwing  up  a  kind  of  breastwork  on  a 
bridge  for  their  enemies,  who  kept  firing  on  our  men  for  some  time,  with- 
out doing  any  execution,  till  one  of  the  brave  fellows  went  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  enemy,  and  desired  them  to  surrender.  At  that  instant  he 
received  a  ball  through  his  head,  which  killed  him  on  the  spot.  The  Col- 
onel sent  over  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  commanding  ofBcer  on  the  Island,  de- 
siring leave  to  bring  off  his  man,  which  the  officer  very  politely  agreed  to 
and  let  him  take  man,  rifle  and  all  his  accoutrements.t 

A  few  days  before  this,  Gen.  ]\Iercer  had  come  on  here 
from  Amboy,  in  order  to  surprise  the  enemy  on  Staten  Isl- 
and. He  planned  an  invasion  for  the  night  of  the  18th,  pur- 
posing to  cross  the  Sound  from  the  mouth  of  Thompson's 
Creek,  a  little  below  the  Point,  to  the  Blazing  Star.  Maj. 
Knowltoa  was  to  head  the  Continental  troops.  The  first  di- 
vision marched  to  the  Creek  by  9  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
The  Pennsylvania  troops,  attached  to  the  Flying  Camp,  were 
to  follow  ;  in  all  about  1300  men.  But  the  Pennsylvanians 
had  marched  that  day  from  ISTew  Brunswick,  and  were  com- 
pletely exhausted  on  their  arrival.  A  tremendous  thunder- 
storm, also,  came  on,  making  it  impracticable  to  cross  the 
Sound,  and  the  expedition  was  reluctantly  abandoned.  X 

Abraham  Clark,  in  the  letter  to  Col.  Dayton,  Aug.  Gth, 
iieferred  to  above,  in  giving  him  local  information,  says,  of  the 
militia, — 

*  Sparks'  Washington,  III.  4G3,  8.  Irving's  Washington,  II.  254.  Sedgwick's  Livingston, 
p.  193.  t  Pa.  Journal,  No.  17i>4.    Am.  Archives,  Dth  Ser.,  I.  575. 

i  Am.  Archives,  5tb  Ser,  I.  470.  Marshall's  "Washington,  II.  424.  Sparks'  Washington 
I V.  20. 


440  THE    HISTORY    OF 

They  form  a  chain  from  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  where  strong  works, 
are  erected  at  an  amazing  expense  of  labom*,  chiefly  effected  hf  our  Mili- 
tia before  the  Pennsylvanians  arrived  to  their  assistance.  '(He  adds), 
Elizabeth  Town  was  in  great  consternation  upon  General  Howe's  taking 
possession  of  the  Island  ;  but  at  present  I  believe  they  are  very  easy.  I 
formerly  informed  you  that  Mrs.  Dayton  had  sent  the  chief  of  her  goods 
into  Springfield.  Many  that  moved  away  from  Elizabeth  Town  have  since 
returned. 

Our  election  for  Council  and  Assembly,  Sheriffs,  &c.,  comes  on  next 
Tuesday  in  all  the  Counties  of  New  Jersey.  I  now  feel  the  want  of  you 
in  Elizabeth  Town.  I  sat  down  to  consider  to  whom  I  might  venture  to 
write  on  politicks,  and  have  none  that  I  dare  speak  plainly  to.  Had  you, 
or  my  much  esteemed  friend  Mr.  Caldwell,  been  there,  I  should  have 
been  at  no  loss.  I  have  none  like-minded.  I  have  friends,  it  is  true,  but 
none  there  now  that  I  dare  speak  with  fi-ecdom  to.* 

The  war,  brought  thus  to  their  very  doors,  had  wrought  a 
great  change  in  the  society  of  the  town.  A  large  number  of 
the  best  men  of  the  place  had  taken  up  arms,  either  in  the 
militia,  or  in  the  service  of  Congress,  and  so  were  of  uncer- 
tain residence.  Intercourse  between  families  had  become 
much  more  reserved,  as  no  one  knew  at  what  time  he  might 
be  betrayed  to  the  one  or  the  other  party,  nor  which  party 
might  presently  be  in  the  ascendant.  With  the  vast  host  of 
discij^lined  troops  on  Staten  Island,  the  very  flo^Tr  of  the 
British  army,  and  daily  increasing  in  numbers  by  the  arrival 
of  reinforcements,  the  tories  had  great  reason  to  expect  to  be 
shortly  restored  to  their  homes  and  estates,  and  in  turn  to 
vex  and  dispossess  their  patriot  neighbors.  It  is  not  strange 
that  Clark  wrote  as  he  did. 

Mr.  Irving,  however,  has  (undesignedly,  no  doubt),  done 
injustice  to  the  town,  by  inserting,  at  this  point  of  time,  what 
Gov.  Livingston  humorously  wrote,  Feb.  10,  1784,  more  than 
seven  years  later,  of  "  his  own  village  of  Elizabethtown,  as 
being  peopled  in  those  agitated  times  by  '  unknown,  unrecom- 
mended  strangers,  guilty-looking  tories  and  very  knavisii 
whigs.' "  Seven  years  of  war  on  the  frontiers  would,  ot 
course,  occasion  great  revolutions  and  convulsions  in  the  so- 
cial fabric  of  such  a  locality.f 

♦  Am.  Archives,  5th  Scr.,  I.  78S.    Mr.  Caldwell,  his  pnstor,  had,  about  the  1st  of  May.  ac- 
companied Col.  Dnyton  to  tho  North,  as  t'hapl.nin  of  his  regiment, 
t  Irving's  Washington,  II.  255.    Sedgwick's  Livingston,  p.  2-16. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.     .  441 

Kotwithslanding  the'  failure  of  Gen.  Mercer's  attempt  to 
invade  the  Island  on  the  18th  of  July,  Washington  -wrote,  on 
the  27th,  that  he  was  hoping  still  to  "  make  some  efforts  to 
annoy  them  "  from  this  direction.  But,  on  the  29th,  he  in- 
forms Congress  that, — 

By  the  advice  of  General  Mercer  and  other  officers  at  Amboy,  it  will 
be  impracticable  to  do  any  thing  upon  a  large  scale,  for  want  of  craft,  as 
the  enemy  have  the  entire  command  of  the  water  all  round  the  island.  I 
have  desired  General  Mercer  to  have  nine  or  ten  flat-bottomed  boats  built 
at  Newark  Bay  and  Elizabeth  Town,  with  a  design  principally  to  keep 
up  the  communication  across  Hackinsac  and  Passaic  Rivers. 

The  plan  alluded  to  contemplated  an  attack  from  the 
Point,  with  a  force  of  three  thousand  nine  hundred  men,  but 
boats  could  not  be  procured  to  transport  half  that  number 
across  the  Sound  ;  and  so  it  was  abandoned.* 

The  militia  from  Pennsylvania,  attached  to  the  Flying 
Camp,  and  stationed  at  the  Point  and  its  vicinity,  soon  be- 
came so  disaffected  with  the  service,  that  "  many  were  daily 
returning  home  without  orders,"  adding  greatly  to  the 
gathering  gloom  that  was  settling  over  the  town.  It  became 
necessar}'-  for  "Washington  to  make,  Aug.  8th,  an  earnest 
appeal  to  their  patriotism,  in  order  to  arrest  the  move- 
ment, representing  to  them  "  that  the  fate  of  our  country 
depends,  in  all  human  probability,  on  the  exertion  of  a  few 
weeks."  f 

The  first  battalion  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Pennsylvania 
Rifle  Battalions  were,  at  this  time,  stationed  in  the  town  and 
at  the  Point.  A  writer  at  New  York,  Aug.  26th,  says,  "  Our 
people  at  Elizabeth-Town  and  the  enemy  on  Staten  Island, 
cannonaded  each  other  yesterday  afternoon  [Sunday],  with- 
out doing  any  damage  except  disturbing  the  congregation.":!: 

The  foreign  mercenaries  from  Waldeck,  Hesse  Cassel,  and 
Brunswick  were  now  arriving  by  thousands,  their  numbers 
being  greatly  exaggerated  in  the  reports  that  were  alarm- 
ingly spread  over  the  country.  Gov.  Tryon  wrote  from  Sta- 
ten Island,  Aug.  14th,  to  Lord  Germain, — 

The  whole  armament  destined  for  tins  part  of  America,  except  the 

•  Sparks'  Washington,  IV.  10-20.  t  Ibid.,  pp.  3'-S.        J  Pa.  Journal,  Nos.  1755, 17C0. 


442  THE    HISTORY    OF 

last  division  of  the  Hessians,  being  now  assembled  here,  I  expect,  by  the 
courage  and  strength  of  this  noble  Army,  tyranny  -will  be  crushed  and 
legal  government  restored.  (15th  Aug.)  Yesterday  evening  S''  Peter  Par- 
ker brought  into  the  Ilook  a  Fleet  of  Twenty  five  Sail  from  the  South- 
ward.* 

These  last  were  the  forces  that  had  been  ineffectually  em- 
ployed against  Charleston,  S.  C.  They  numbered  three 
thousand  troops,  and  were  under  the  command  of  Lord 
Cornwallis.t 

On  the  21st,  Gen.  Livingston  wrote  to  Gen.  "Washington, 
that  the  enemy  were  in  motion  ;  that  lie  had  sent  over  a  spy 
the  night  before,  who  liad  returned  in  safety,  and  reported, 
that  20,000  men  had  embarked,  to  make  a  descent  on  Long 
Island,  and  ascend  the  Hudson ;  that  15,000  Hessians  were 
to  make,  at  the  same  time,  a  diversion  at  Bergen  Point, 
Elizabeth  Town,  and  Amboy.  Owing  to  a  terrific  thunder- 
storm that  came  up  the  same  evening,  the  movement  was 
postponed  to  Thursday  morning,  22d,  when  9000  British  sol- 
diers under  Sir  Henry  Clinton  effected  a  landing  at  Graves- 
end,  L.  L,  without  ojDposition.  Others  followed  subsequently, 
and  the  disastrous  battle  of  Long  Ishand  was  fought  at  and 
near  Flatbush,  on  the  27th,  compelling  the  American  army 
to  evacuate  the  Island  on  the  night  of  the  29th.:j: 

At  this  date,  and  before  the  real  nature  of  the  disaster  to 
the  army  was  fully  known  to  him,  Livingston  wrote  to  Wm. 
Hooper  of  N.  C,  in  Congress,  from  the  "  Camp  at  Elizabeth 
Town  Point,"  as  follows  : — 

I  removed  my  quarters  from  the  town  hither  to  be  with  the  men,  and 
to  enure  them  to  discipline,  which  by  my  distance  from  the  camp  before, 
considering  what  scurvy  subaltern  officers  we  are  ever  like  to  have  while 
they  are  in  the '  appointment  of  the  mobility,  I  found  it  impossible  to 
introduce.  And  the  worst  men  (was  there  a  degree  above  the  super- 
lative) would  bo  still  pejorated,  by  having  been  fellow-soldiers  with  that 
discipline-hatmg,  goodliving-loving,  '  to  eternal  fame  damn'd,'  coxcombi- 
cal crew  wo  lately  had  hero  from  Philadelphia.  My  ancient  corporeal 
fabric  is  almost  tottering  under  the  fatigue  I  have  lately  undergone : 
constantly  rising  at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  examine  our  lines, — till 
daybreak,  and  from  that  time  till  eleven  in  giving  orders,  sending  de- 

♦  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  VIII.  G'H.  t  Irving's  Washington,  11.  29S-9. 

.  Irviug'B  Wasblugton,  II.  310—835.     Ta.  Journal,  Aug.  2S. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  MS 

spatclic?,  and  doing  tbo  proper  business  of  quarter-masters,  colonels,  com- 
missaries, and  I  know  not  what.* 

Two  days  afterwards,  Aug.  31st.,  Gen.  Livingston  was 
chosen  the  first  Governor  of  the  State  of  ISTew  Jersey.  Pre- 
sently after,  he  resigned  his  military  command,  and  entered 
upon  his  executive  duties.  The  command  of  this  post  de- 
volved upon  his  friend  and  townsman,  Col.  Matthias  William- 
son, who  received,  a  few  days  after,  from  the  Legislature, 
a  commission  appointing  him  Brigadier-General  of  the  X-ew 
Jersey  Militia.  In  a  letter  to  the  Governor,  Sept.  15th,  he 
gratefully  acknowledges  the  honor,  promises  that,  as  far  as 
his  small  abilities  enable  him,  he  will  execute- the  trust  com- 
mitted to  his  care  with  the  utmost  fidelity,  and  represents 
the  importance  of  longer  terms  of  militia  service  and  prompt 
pay,  or  "  the  important  posts  at  the  ferries  of  this  Town  will 
in  a  great  measure  be  abandoned  by  our  militia."  He  finds, 
also,  that  the  ammunition  magazines  in  this  town  arc  very 
deficient.  A  ton  of  powder  was  sent,  in  response  to  this 
communication. f 

At  the  same  time,  John  De  Hart,  Esq.,  of  this  town  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  and, 
on  the  16th  gratefull}^  acknowledged  the  "  great  honor  "  con- 
ferred him,  expressed  the  wish  that  his  "  abilities  were  equal 
to  that  high  and  important  ofiice,"  and  declared,  that  "  such 
as  they  are  they  shall  be  exerted  to  discharge  with  dignity 
and  uprightness  the  very  great  trust  reposed  in"  him.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January  following,  the 
Governor  stated;  that  De  Hart  had  refused  to  qualify  as 
Chief  Justice,  notwithstanding  his  letter  of  acceptance,  and 
Robert  Morris  was  appointed  in  his  stead.:]: 

On  Tuesday,  Sept.  2ttth,  four  transports  arrived  at  this 
town,  with  420  American  soldiers^  taken  prisoners  at  Quebec, 
the  previous  winter.  They  had  been  liberated  on  parole. 
From  a  representation  made  by  Gov.  Livingston  to  Congress, 
it  appears,  tliat  while  he  was  in  command  of  this  post,  so 

*  Sedgwick's  Livingston,  pp.  199,  200. 
t  Am.  Archives,  5th  Ser.,  II.  3G0, 13G2.    N.  J.  Kev.  Correspondenca  p.  9. 
,  t  Ibid.,  p.;il.    Mulford'3  N.  J.,  p.  -105. 


4M  THE    HISTORY    OF 

many  prisoners  were  sent  to  liini  from  tlie  army,  that  the 
town  gaol  could  not  contain  them,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
send  them  to  Millstone,  Somerset  Co.  In  all  its  dire  aspects, 
the  people  of  tlie  town  were  brought  to  know  by  experience 
the  intense  excitements  and  the  awful  horrors  of  war.  In 
the  hospitals  here,  82  w^ere>  reported,  Kov.  1st,  as  sick;  of 
whom  25  were  from  Canada.* 

The  disastrous  campaign  on  Long  Island  was  followed  by 
the  abandonment,  on  the  part  of  the  American  army,  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  on  Sunday,  Sept.  15th,  and  its  occupation 
by  the  British.  A  large  portion  of  its  inhabitants  fled  into 
the  interior,  and  many  of  them  into  New  Jersey,  while  the 
tories  of  this  section,  many  of  them,  made  their  way  as 
speedily  as  possible  to  the  captured  city.  More  and  more  it 
was  becoming  doubtful,  whether  the  whfgs,  or  tories,  would 
prevail.  It  was  in  this  gloomy  period  of  apprehension  that 
the  following  letter  was  written  by  the  Hon.  Eobert  Ogden, 
of  this  town,  to  his  son-in-law,  Maj.  Francis  Barber,  in  service 
with  Col.  Dayton,  at  German  Flats,  N.  Y.  : — 

Eliz"'  Town,  Oct.  6,  1776,  Sunday  Eves  8  o'clock. 

My  dear  Son,  Mr.  Barber, 

Througli' divine  good  our  family  are  all  in  the  land  of  tlie  living,  and 
we  still  continue  in  the  old  habitation,  [on  the  Point  Eoad]  though  almost 
surrounded  by  tlie  regulars.  They  have  long  been  on  Staten  Island,  about 
a  month  on  Long  Island,  three  weeks  had  the  possession  of  New  York, 
which  by  the  way  is,  nearly  one-fifth  of  the  city  burnt  to  the  ground  ; 
who  set  it  on  fire  is  unknown,  but  the  regulars  charge  it  to  the  Whigs, 
and  'tis  said  have  put  several  to  death  on  that  account,  whether  just  or 
unjust  the  great  day  will  decide. 

He  then  gives  some  account  of  the  battle  of  Long  Island, 
and  the  battle  near  the  Blue  Bell ;  says  that  he  has  been  sick, 
and  adds : 

Through  divine  goodness  the  fever  has  now  loft  mo,  but  in  a  continual 
hurry,  having  much  more  business  than  a  man  of  my  years  ought  to  do, 
but  don't  at  present,  know  how  to  avoid  it. 

In  the  beginning  of  my  letter  I  told  you  wo  were  almost  surrounded — 
began  at  Staten  Island,  and  led  you  round  by  Long  Island,  New  York, 

•  Am.  Archives,  5lh  Ser,  II ,  6S3,  597,  S53. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  445 

and  Blue  Bell.  But  now  come  to  a  very  serious  part  of  tLe  story — Our 
troojis  yesterday  evacuated  Bergen — carried  off  the  stores  and  artillery, 
-moved  off  as  many  of  the  inhabitants  as  they  could  get  away,  drew  the 
wheat  and  other  grain  together,  and  50  men  were  left  to  set  fire  to  it, 
and  last  night  it  was  set  on  fire,  the  flames  were  seen  here. 

Your  Mother  *  still  seems  undetermined  whether  to  stay  here  by  the 
stuff,  or  remove  up  to  Sussex.  A  few  days  .will  determine  her,  but 
perhaps  in  a  few  days  it  may  be  too  late  to  determine  a  matter  of  this 
importance.  Your  uncle  David  [Ogden]  and  Mother's  maxim  is  "  they 
that  live  by  faith  won't  die  witb  fear."  It  has  been  a  sickly,  dying  time 
in  this  Town  for  a  month  past.  Stephen  Crane  has  lost  his  wife  [Aug. 
17,  1776],  Daniel  "Williams  his,  John  Harris  his,  Benjamin  Winans  his 
Timothy  Woodruff  his,  Sister  Ogden,  Ilannah  Ogden  [wife  of  David]  has 
lost  her  son  Samuel,  Mrs.  Stubbs  is  dead,  Mr.  ISToel,!  and  last  night  Col. 
Dayton's  father  [Jonathan]  died  suddenly  in  his  chair,  besides  a  great  many 
children.  Also  Aunt  Betty  Mother  Hetfield  has  been  very  sick  but  is 
recovered.  Robert  is  and  has  been  very  poorly  this  fall  and  a  great 
to  his  wife  and  children  are  moved  up  to  Morris  Town,  and  most  of 
our  gentry  are  gone  off.  Matthias'  wife  [Hannah,  daughter  of  Col.  Elias 
Dayton]  and  her  granny  Thompson  are  moved  up  to  Springfield.  Friends 
in  general  well.  Hannah  [his  daughter,  a3t.  15,]  has  been  sick  but  is  got 
well  and  is  grown  considerable  this  summer,  lives  at  Doct.  Caleb  Haly- 
stead's  [his  brother-in-law]  with  her  aunt  [Mary,  wife  of  Job]  Stockton. 

Your  Mother  has  been  lying  for  a  month  past — the  old  sore  ankle — 
but  the  sore  is  now  healed  up.  Major  Morris  Hatfield  was  taken  prisoner 
on  Mountrisse's  [Montresor's]  Island,  and  is  sent  down  to  New  York  to 
be  cured  of  his  wound  as  ho  was  shot  through  the  cheek. 

It  is  said  Major  Hatfield  fought  valiantly,  that  he  fired  his  musket  9 
times,  and  the  last  account  of  him  by  our  men  was,  a  grenadier  was 
coming  up  to  him  with  bayonet  fixed  to  run  him  through,  and  they  saw 
the  Major  fire,  and  the  grenadier  drop  at  his  feet !  I  have  now  done  with 
my  story  for  this  time,  having  wrote  as  I  generally  tell  my  stories,  in  a 
blundering,  unconnected  way.     However  I        you  would      receive  this. 

Your  Mother  joins  mo  in  tenderest  affectionate  regards  to  you,  and  all 
the  family  desire  to  be  remembered  to  you  and  to  all  friends. 

I  am  yours  affectionately  Robert  Ogden. 

The  battle  of  White  Plains  was  foiiglit  on  the  2Stli  of  Oc- 
tober ;  Fort  AVashington  was  taken  on  the  16th  of  November; 
and  Fort  Lee  evacuated  on  the  ISth.  The  campaign  was 
now  transferred  to  the  soil  of  'New  Jersey.  Washington, 
with  the  fragment  of  an  army,  reduced  by  the  expiration  ot 

*  Phebo,  eldest  daughter  of  Matthias  Uatfleld,  Esq. 

t  Garret  Noel,  previously  bookseller,  N.  Y.;  he  died,  Sep.  22d. 


446  THE    HISTORY    OF 

militia  cnlistinents,  and  the  consequent  scattering  of  his  forces 
to  their  homes,  and  utterly  unable  to  obtain  new  recruits  or 
levies,  was  compelled  to  retire  before  the  vastly  superior 
troops  of  the  enemy.  A  slight  diversion  had  been  made  by 
Gen.  Williamson,  from  the  Point,  on  Staten  Island,  Sunday, 
Oct.  13th  ;  but  it  amounted  to  nothing.  The  very  next  day, 
Col.  Slough's  Battalion  of  Pennsylvania  Associators,  which 
had  been  stationed  here,  was  discharged  to  return  home,  with 
the  thanks  of  the  General  for  their  decent  and  orderly  be- 
havior while  at  the  Point,  and  during  the  excursion  of  the 
day  before.  Thus,  in  every  quarter,  the  patriot  army  was 
melting  away.* 

In  anticipation  of  the  invasion  of  iN'ew  Jersey  by  the  enemy, 
Gen.  Washington  wrote  from  White  Plains,  Nov.  7th,  to  Gov. 
Livingston,  urging  the  importance  of  placing  the  Jersey  mili- 
tia on  the  very  best  footing,  and  to  forward  him  new  re- 
cruits.    He  then  adds : — 

The  inhabitants  contiguous  to  the  water,  should  be  prepared  to  remove 
their  stock,  grain,  effects,  and  carriages  upon  the  earliest  notice.  If  they 
are  not  so,  the  calamities,  -which  they  will  suffer,  will  be  beyond  all  de- 
scription, and  the  advantages  derived  by  the  enemy  immensely  great. 
They  have  treated  all  here  without  discrimination ;  the  distinction  of 
Whig  and  Tory  has  been  lost  in  one  general  scene  of  ravage  and  desola- 
tion. The  article  of  forage  is  of  great  importance  to  them,  and  not  a  blade 
should  remain  for  their  use.  What  cannot  be  removed  with  convenience 
should  be  consumed  without  the  least  hesitation. 

He  urges,  also,  that  the  barracks  here,  at  Ambo}',  and  at 
Brunswick,  be  put  in  order  "  to  cover  our  troops."  He  in- 
forms Congress,  ISTov.  14th,  that  the  army  has  left  the  otlicr 
side  of  Hudson's  Kiver,  and  that  he  intends  to  quarter  them 
at  Brunswick,  Amboy,  Elizabeth  Town, Newark,  and  Hacken- 
sack.     Fort  Washington  had  not  then  been  taken. f 

Gen.  Williamson  at  once  wrote,  Nov.  26,  (on  hearing  of 
the  capture  of  Ports  Washington  and  Lee),  to  the  brave  and 
patriotic  Col.  Jacob  Ford,  Jr.,  of  Morris  Town,  in  the  most 
urgent  terms : — 

•  Pennsylvania  Journal,  No.  1769. 

+  Sparks'  Washington,  IV.  pp.  163,  4, 174. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  447 

Yoa  are  ordered  to  bring  out  all  tlie  Militia  in  your  County  immediately, 
and  march  them  down  to  Elizabeth  Town,  and  see  that  each  man  is  fur- 
nished with  a  gun,  and  all  his  accoutrements,  blanket,  and  four  days' 
provision,  and  when  they  arrive  to  join  their  respective  companies  and 
regiments.* 

"Wasliingtoii  had  fallen  back  upon  "  Aquackanonck,"  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Passaic  River,  Nov.  21st,  and,  the  next 
day,  fell  down  to  JSTewark,  where  he  remained  unmolested 
for  six  days.  The  interval  was  improved  by  the  people  of 
Newark  and  Elizabeth  Town,  in  removing  their  families  and 
effects  beyond  the  Newark  Momitaius  and  the  Short  Hills, 
into  the  more  inaccessible  interior.  The  distress  and  conster- 
nation that  prevailed  all  along  the  expected  route  of  the  two 
armies  can  better  be  conceived  than  described.  It  is  not 
known  that  a  record  of  it  remains.  On  Thursday  morning, 
Nov.  28th,  Washington,  with  the  wreck  of  his  army,  not  more 
than  3500  in  number,  entered  the  almost  deserted  town  by 
the  old  road  from  Newark,  the  advanced  guard  of  Lord 
Cornwallis  entering  the  latter  town  as  the  rear  of  the  Amer- 
ican army  left  it.  Pushing  on  to  secure  an  encampment  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Paritan,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  oppose  any 
troops  that  might  be  sent  by  way  of  Staten  Island  to  Amboy 
for  cutting  off  his  retreat,  he  reached  New  Brunswick  on 
Friday ;  remaining  tliere  but  two  days,  and  then,  on  Sunday, 
December  1st,  he  took  up  the  line  of  March  for  Trenton,  ar-, 
riving  there  on  Monday  morning.  "Writing  from  Brunswick, 
on  Saturday,  the  30th,  he  says, 

From  intelligence  received  this  morning,  one  division  of  the  enemy 
was  advanced  last  night  as  far  as  Elizabeth  Town,  and  some  of  their  quar- 
termasters had  proceeded  about  four  or  five  miles  on  this  side,  to  provide 
barns  for  their  accommodation.  Other  accounts  say  another  division, 
composed  of  Hessians,  are  on  the  road  through  Springfield,  and  are  re- 
ported to  have  reached  that  place  last  night,  t 

Col.  Huntington  writes,  Dec.  2d,  from  Pamapo  to  Col. 
Ucath,  that  not  more  than  a  hundred  of  the  enemy  remained 
at  Hackcnsack,  and  that  their  main  body  was  at  Elizabeth 

•  Am.  Aroliives,  6th  Scr.,  III.  1121  t  Sparks'  Wasbington,  IV.  1S9, 190,  S-5,  20C. 


448  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Town.     A  field  officer  in  tlic  British  annv,  on  the  same  daj, 
wrote  to  a  friend  in  London, — 

Tlio  troops  under  General  Lord  Cornwallis,  after  driving  the  Rebels 
from  Fort  Lee,  or  Fort  Constitution,  in  New  Jersey,  proceeded  from  Uaek- 
cnsack  to  Newark,  and  from  Newark  to  Elizabeth  Town,  wbere  they 
found  great  quantities  of  stores  amongst  wbicb  are  twenty  tons  of  musket 
bullets.     The  Eebels  continue  flying  before  our  army.  * 

On  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  Gen.  Williamson,  with  the 
militia  nnder  his  command,  retired  up  the  country.  "Writing 
from  Brunswick,  on  the  1st,  to  Gov.  Livingston,  "Washington 

says,— 

I  have  not,  including  General  Williamson's  militia,  more  tban  four 
thousand  men.  I  wrote  to  General  Williamson  last  nigbt,  and  pressed 
him  to  exert  himself ;  but,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  he  has  not  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  so  much  as  could  be  wished. 

Gen.  "Williamson  writes  from  Morris  Town,  December  8th, 
in  defence  of  his  apparent  inefficiency,  as  follows  : — 

Very  few  of  the  Counties  of  Essex  and  Bergen  joined  my  command. 
(I)  have  it  from  good  intelligence  that  many  who  bore  the  character  of 
warm  Whigs  have  been  foremost  in  seeking  protection  from  General 
Howe  and  forsaking  the  American  Cause.  Colonel  Thomas  of  Essex 
County  is  with  us,  but  has  no  command  of  men. ...  I  can  declare  before 
God,  I  have  worried  myself  to  the  heart  in  endeavouring  to  serve  my 
country  to  the  extent  of  my  power.  General  Mercer  is  knowing  to  many 
difSculties  I  laboured  under  to  keep  the  Militia  together  while  ho  had  the 
command  at  Elizabeth  Town.  Upon  the  whole,  I  am  so  entirely  disabled 
from  doing  my  duty  in  the  brigade,  by  my  lameness  that  I  have  wrote  to 
Governor  Livingston  to  request  his  acceptance  of  my  resignation,  t 

The  difficulties  with  which  he  had  to  contend  were  not  ex- 
aggerated. The  most  disheartening  was  the  defection  of  so 
many  professed  patriots.  Washington  wrote,  on  the  5th,  to 
Congress, 

By  my  last  advices,  the  enemy  are  still  at  Brunswic ;  and  tlie  accoimt 
adds,  that  General  Ilowe  was  expected  at  Elizabeth  Town  with  a  rein- 
forcement, to  erect  the  King's  standard,  and  demand  a  submission  of  this 
State. 

The  next  day,  6th,  he  writes, — 

*  Am.  Archives,  5th  Ser.,  Ill,  103T,  9.  t  Ibid.,  p.  1120. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  44.9 

By  a  letter  of  the  14th  ultimo  from  a  Mr.  Caldwell,  a  clergyman,  and 
a  staunch  friend  to  the  cause,-  who  has  fled  from  Elizabeth  Town,  and 
taken  refuge  in  the  mountains  about  ten  miles  from  hence  [thence?]  I 
am  informed  that  General  or  Lord  IIowo  was  expected  in  that  town  to 
publish  pardon  and  peace.  His  words  are,  "  I  have  not  seen  his  procla- 
mation, but  can  only  say  he  gives  sixty  days  of  grace,  and  pardons  from 
the  Congress  down  to  the  Committee.  No  one  man  in  the  continent 
is  to  be  denied  liis  mercy."  In  the  language  of  this  goocl  man,  "  The 
Lord  deliver  us  from  his  mercy."  * 

The  proclamation  by  tlie  brothers  Howe  was  issued,  on 
Saturday,  'Nov.  30th,  the  day  after  the  British  occupation  of 
this  town.  It  commanded  all  persons,  who  had  taken  up 
arms  against  his  Majesty,  to  disband  and  return  liome ;  and 
offered  to  all  who  should,  within  sixty  days,  subscribe  a  decla- 
ration, that  they  would  be  peaceable  subjects,  neither  taking 
up  arms  themselves,  nor  encouraging  others  so  to  do,  a  free 
and  full  pardon  for  the  past.  Care  was  taken  to  give  every 
possible  publicity  to  this  document,  and  means,  not  always 
the  most  gentle,  were  used  to  induce  subscriptions,  f 

The  people  bad  witnessed,  but  a  day  or  two  before,  to 
what  a  sad  plight  the  army  of  Washington — "  the  grand 
army,"  that  so  recently  confronted  the  British  forces, — was 
reduced,  as  in  tattered  array  it  fled  before  the  enemy  to  the 
Raritan.  They  were,  at  that  moment,  surrounded  by  the 
well-caparisoned  troops  of  Cornwallis,  whose  squadrons  were 
spreading  themselves  over  the  whole  land,  and,  unresisted, 
occupying  every  town  and  liamlet.  The  patriot  cause  ap- 
peared to  be  utterly  hopeless.  It  seemed  impossible  for  Con- 
gress to  retrioA^e  the  disasters  that,  since  the  fatal  field  of 
Fiatbush,  had  come  upon  the  country.  Tiie  "Declaration  of 
Independence  "  seemed  now  but  an  idle  boast.  It  was  re- 
garded as  certain,  that  the  authoritv  of  Kino-  Georore  would 
soon  be  reestablished  in  all  the  States.  Such  was  the  confi- 
dent expectation  and  boast  of  the  Loyalists  at  Kev*'  York,  on 
Long  Island,  on  Staten  Island,  and  in  every  place  occupied 
by  the  British  troops.  Even  the  most  sanguine  of  patriots 
spake  and  wrote  in  the  most  despondent  terms.  ^ 

*  Sparks'  WnshingloD,  IV.  204,  5.  t  Ibid.,  p.  205.    Gordon'B  Aai.  Eev.,  II.  129. 

t  Irving's  Washington,  II.  410. 

29 


450  THE    HISTORY    OF 

111  these  circumstances,  it  is  scarcely  to  be  wondered  at,  that 
the  artifice  of  Lord  Ilowe  and  his  brother  met  with  very  con- 
siderable success,  as  intimated  in  Gen.  "Williamson's  letter. 
Dr.  Ashbel  Green  observes, — 

I  heard  a  man  of  some  shrewdness  once  say,  that  when  the  British 
troops  overran  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  in  the  closing  part  of  the  year 
1776,  the  whole  population  could  have  been  bought  for  eighteen  pence  a 
head.* 

The  main  body  of  the  British  army  was  pushed  forward 
beyond  the  Raritan  towards  the  Delaware.  But  a  consider- 
able detachment  remained  to  occupy  this  post,  and  to  guard 
against  any  surprise  from  the  militia  of  the  interior.  Gen. 
Charles  Lee,  with  reinforcements  for  Washington,  reached 
Chatham,  from  Peekskill,  on  the  Sth  of  December,  and  on 
the  11th,  from  Morris  Town,  wrote  to  Gen.  Heath,  on  his 
way  from  Peehskill,  that,  at  S2:>ringfield,  seven  miles  west  of 
Elizabeth  Town,  ..."  about  one  thousand  Militia  are  collect- 
ed to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy."  These  were  Col. 
Ford's  troops.  They  were  stationed  at  the  Short  Hills,  just 
back  of  Springfield,  from  which  point  every  movement  of 
the  enemy  on  the  plains  below  could  readily  be  seen.  An 
cighteen-pounder  was  planted,  subsequently,  on  the  heights 
near  the  residence  (in  after  days)  of  Bishop  Ilobart,  to  give 
the  alarm  in  case  of  the  enemy's  approach.  A  tar-barrel  was 
fixed  at  the  top  of  a  lofty  pole  near  by,  to  be  set  on  firawhen 
the  alarm-gun  was  discharged.  These  could  be  heard  and 
seen  over  a  great  extent  of  country.f 

The  Kev.  Mr.  Caldwell  had  found  an  asylum  for  himself 
and  family  at  Turkey  [New  Providence],  where  he  soon  put 
himself  in  communication  with  Col.  Ford.  His  experience, 
the  previous  summer  and  autumn,  at  the  ISTorth,  as  Chaplain 
of  Col.  Dayton's  regiment,  enabled  him  now  to  be  of  great 
service  to  his  country.  Hearing  of  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Lee, 
he  wrote  him  on  the  12th,  as  follows  : 

Dear  Sir :  I  thank  you  for  your  favour  from  Baskingridge,  of  this  morn- 
ing, and  intended  to  do  myself  the  honour  to  wait  upon  you,  and  set  out 

•  Jones'  Life  of  Eev.  D'.  Ashbel  Green,  p.  122. 

t  Am.  Archives,  Sth  Ser.,  III.  1107.    Jones'  Life  of  D'.  Green,  p.  96. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY'.  451 

for  the  purpose,  but  found  my  horse  would  not  perforin  the  journey  with 
sufficient  expedition,  and  cannot  procure  another  horse.  And  indeed  I 
find  this  the  best  place  to  observe  the  enemy's  motions.  From  sundry 
persons  who  liave  been  upon  the  road,  between  Brunswick  and  Princtton, 
I  learn  the  Army  has  very  generally  marched  forward ;  indeed,  all  except 
guards  of  the  several  posts.  Yesterday  they  sent  a  reinforcement  to 
Elizabeth  Town  from  Amboy,  of  near  one  thousand.  Some  say  the  whole 
at  Elizabeth  Town  are  about  one  thousand;  others  say  fifteen  hundred. 
They  are  carrying  off  the  hay  from  Elizabeth  Town  to  Kew  York. ...  I  be- 
lieve Elizabeth  Town  is  their  strongest  post,  as  they  were  afraid  of  our 
Militia,  who  have  taken  off  many  of  the  most  active  Tories,  made  some 
prisoners,  and  among  others  shot  their  English  Foragcmaster,  so  that  he 
is  mortally  or  very  illy  wounded.  A  company  of  our  Militia  went  last 
night  to  "Woodbridge,  and  brought  off  tbe  drove  of  stock  the  enemy  had 
collected  there,  consisting  of  about  four  hundred  cattle  and  two  hundred 
sheep.  Most  of  these  cattle  are  only  fit  for  stock.  .  . .  They  are  driven  up 
the  country  to  bo  out  of  the  enemy's  way. 

At  a  Council  of  the  Field  Officers  this  morning,  a  majority  of  them 
advised  to  remove  the  brigade  of  Militia  back  again  to  Chatham,  for  whicb 
they  assign  tbeso  reasons.  Many  of  the  Militia,  rather  fond  of  plunder 
and  adventure,  kept  a  continual  scouting,  whicb  kept  out  so  many  detach- 
ed partie?,  that  the  body  was  weakened;  and  the  enemy  being  now 
stronger  at  Elizabeth  Town  than  they  are,  they  thought  they  would 
better  servo  the  cause  by  lying  at  Chatham  till  the  expected  army  ap- 
proaches for  their  support.* 

Tlie  next  mornings  IStli,  Gen.  Lee  was  captured  by  a  sur- 
prise-party of  the  eiiemy.f 

General  Heath,  having  reached  Ilackensack,  wrote  to 
Washington,  on  the  15th,  in  respect  to  the  enemy,  "Several 
thousands  landed  at  Elizabeth  Town  on  yesterday  or  the  day 
before."  The  movement  of  the  troops  under  Lee  and  Heath, 
and  the  posting  of  the  militia  under  Ford,  at  the  Short  Hills 
had  not  escaped  the  eye  of  Cornwallis.  A  portion  of  liis 
forces,  as  appears  from  the  following  correspondence,  were 
ordered  to  retrace  their  steps,  and  look  after  these  Americans. 
In  the  night  of  the  17th,  Ford  writes  from  Chatham  to  Heath, 
by  express,  and  says, 

"We  have  since  sunset  had  a  brush  with  the  enemy,  four  miles  below  this, 
in  which  we  have  suffered,  and  our  Militia  much  disheartened  They  are 
all  retreated  to  this  place  and  will  in  all  probability  be  attacked  by  day- 
break.   The  enemy,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  are  double  our  numbers-. 

♦  Am.  Archives,  5th  Scr.,  III.  11S9  t  Irving'a  Washlngrton,  II.  159-63. 


452  THE    HISTORY    OF 

If  in  your  wisdom  you  can  assist  us,  we  may  possibly  beat  tbera  yet;  but 
without  your  aid  avo  can't  stand.  They  are  cncainped  (say  one  thousand 
British  troops)  at  Springfield,  and  will  be  joined  by  four  hundred  and 
fifty  "Waldeckers  from  Elizabeth-Town,  by  the  nest  morning's  light. 

The  next  day,  lie  again  writes  to  Heath  : — 

I  have  certain  intelligence  that  the  troops  we  engaged  last  night  were 
General  Leslie's  brigade,  who  marched  some  few  days  since  from  Eliza- 
beth Town  to  the  southard.  They  received  an  order  to  counter-march 
to  the  same  place.  The  brigade  is  from  twelve  to  thirteen  hundred  strong 
and  the  Waldeckers  upwards  of  four  hundred.  At  Spanktown  [Rahway], 
six  miles  to  the  southard  of  Elizabeth  Town,  there  is  five  hundred  British 
troops.  This  is  all  the  enemy  you  have  to  combat  in  this  country  at  pres- 
ent. "VVe  are  not  certain  wiiether  the  enemy  who  attacked  us  have  or 
have  not  yet  returned  to  Elizabeth-Town.* 

Col.  Symmes,  in  a  sketch  of  Col.  Oliver  Spencer,  of  this 
town,  gives  a  much  more  detailed  account  of  this  transaction  : 

On  the  approach  of  Gen.  Lesley's  troops  towards  Springfield  they  were 
discovered  by  Maj.  Spencer's  videts  stationed  on  the  western  road.  Maj. 
Spencer  instantly  despatched  a  light  horseman  on  full  speed  four  miles 
to  Chatham,  to  notify  the  Colonel  commandant,  that  the  enemy,  in  con- 
siderable force,  were  within  two  miles  of  Springfield.  The  brigade  were 
already  under  arms,  and  were  ordered  instantly  to  march  towards  Spring- 
field to  sustain  Maj.  Spencer ;  mean  time  the  Major  prudently  abandoned 
Springfield  and  retreated  towards  Chatham— he  met  the  brigade  at 
Briant's  tavern.  After  Major  Spencer  had  communicated,  to  the  Colonel 
commandant,  the  position  of  the  enemy  then  occupying  Springfield,  the 
brigade  advanced  to  the  attack.  Capt.  Brookfield,  who  commanded  the 
flanking  party  on  the  left,  made  the  first  onset  on  the  right  of  the  enemy 
extending  from  the  Church  up  the  Vauxhall  road.  Capt.  Seely,  who 
commanded  the  flanking  party  on  the  right,  made  a  warm  attack  upon 
the  left  of  the  enemy  spread  along  the  "Westficld  road.  The  centre  of  the 
enemy  occupied  the  ground  in  front  of,  and  the  meadow  behind,  Wood- 
ruflf's  tavern.  The  Colonel  commandant  of  the  militia  supported  by  Col. 
Lindsly  on  the  left  and  Maj.  Spencer,  who  now  commanded  the  Essex 
regiment,  on  the  right,  brought  the  centre  of  the  brigade,  retaining  their 
fire  until  within  pistol-shot  of  the  enemy — the  conflict  continued  about  an 
hour,  when  the  darkness  forbade  a  longer  contest  at  that  time,  and  the 
firing  seemed  mutually  to  cease  on  both  sides.  On  this  occasion  Major 
Spencer  displayed  by  his  conduct,  the  calm  but  intrepid  soldier ;  his  horse 
was  shot  under  him,  when,  with  a  smile  on  his  countenance,  and  a  pistol 
in  each  hand,  he  came  up  to  the  Colonel  commandant,  to  inform  him  that 

•  Am.  Arcblveg,  5th  Ser,  III.  1235,  1260-1,  127T. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  453 

he  had  been  dismounted  by  the  death  of  his  horse.  The  brigade  fell  back 
that  evening  only  one  mile  to  Briant's  tavern— struck  up  fires  and  lay  all 
ni^'ht  on  their  arms;  intending  to  make  a  second  attack  in  the  morning. 
But  in  the  morning  the  enemy  was  not  to  be  found  ;  he  had  ■withdrawn 
in  the  night  with  all  possible  silence,  taking  off  his  dead  and  wounded  in 
wagons.  The  militia  pursued  him  to  Westfield,  but  cpuld  not  come  up 
with  him.  This  was  the  first  instance  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  when 
the  British  troops  turned  their  backs  and  fled  from  those  they  called 
rebels  ;  and  this  success,  small  as  the  affair  was,  taught  the  Jersey  militia 
that  the  foe  was  not  invincible.* 

Leslie's  brigade  entered  Newark  on  tlie  morning  after  the 
"  brush."  Col.  Ford,  four  days  afterwards,  found  Lis  forces 
so  much  scattered,  that  only  about  two  hundred  remained. 
Previous  to  this  affair  he  had  done  good  service,  harassing 
the  enemy,  "  surprising  their  guards,  and  taking  their  wagons, 
stores,"  &c.  Ford  was  so  much  exposed  and  exhausted  by 
this  short  campaign,  that  soon  after  he  was  seized  with  peri- 
pneumony,  and  died  on  the  11th,  at  Morris  Town,  in  the  40th 
year  of  his  age — eight  days  before  his  father,  Col.  Jacob 
Ford,  Sen^t 

Washington,  learning  tliat  "  about  eight  liundred  militia 
had  collected"  near  Morristown,  sent,  on  the  20th  of  De- 
cember, Gen.  Maxwell,  "  to  take  the  command  of  them,  and, 
if  to  be  done,  to  harass  and  annoy  the  enemj-  in  their  quar- 
ters, and  cut  off  their  convoys."  Gen.  McDougall  was,  also, 
detailed  for  the  same  purpose.  The  state  of  affairs,  the  same 
day,  at  Elizabeth  Town  is  thus  reported  from  Chatham  : — 

John  Ealstead  left  Elizabeth  Town  this  morning  at  eight  o'clock. 
Says  there  is  no  troops  in  Elizabeth  Town  but  "Waldeckers,  the  same  that 
has  been  there  for  two  weeks  past.  Says  the  drums  beat  this  morning, 
about  day-break,  and  he  understood  they  were  to  have  marched ;  but  that 
they  did  not,  and  the  reason  why,  as  ho  understood,  was  the  badness  or 
the  weather.  Knows  not  wliicli  way  they  were  to  march,  but  it  is  said 
they  were  to  have  a  little  march  out  o'  town ;  that  he  thinks  six  or  seven 
hundred  British  troops  went  tlirough  town  the  day  before  yesterday,  near 
twelve* o'clock  towards  Newark,  and  that  they  have  not  as  yet  returned.^ 

On  the  morning  ot  Thursday,   the  26th  of    December, 

♦  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  4C8C. 

t  Am.  Archives,  5th  Ber.,  III.  1299, 13G5, 1419.    Morris  Town  BUI  of  Mortality,  p.  29. 

i  Spark's  Washington,  IV.  239, 249.    Am.  Archives,  5th  Scr.,  III.  1316. 


454  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"Waslungton  surprised  and  captured  918  Hessians  at  Trenton, 
parts  of  Anspacli's,  Kabl's,  and  Ivniphausen's  regimeutSj 
witli  the  loss  of  only  four  wounded.  Tliis  brilliant  manoeuvre 
completely  turned  the  tide  of  affairs.  Tlie  British,  who  be- 
lieved themselves  masters  of  the  country,  and  scanted  the 
idea  of  any  opposition,  were  painfully  roused  from  their  rev- 
eries, and  began  to  be  alarmed  for  their  safety.  The  Amer- 
icans, on  the  other  hand,  were  electrified  with  delight,  and 
inspired  with  new  life. 

On  the  30th,  at  Trenton,  "Washington  wrote  to  Maxwell, 
to  collect  as  large  a  force  as  possible  at  Chatham,  "  and,  after 
gaining  the  proper  intelligence,  endeavour  to  strike  a  stroke 
npon  Elizabeth  Town  or  that  neighborhood,"  instructions 
that  Maxwell  jDrepared  at  once  to  carry  out. 
.  Following  np  his  advantages,  Washington  once  more 
crossed  the  Delaware,  passed  around  the  British  at  Trenton, 
marched  forward  by  night,  surprised  and  captured  Princeton 
on  the  morning  of  January  3d,  1777,  and  then  took  post  for 
two  or  three  days,  at  Pluckemin,  in  Somerset  Co.,  a  few 
miles  below  Baskingridge  ;  thus  compelling  the  British  com- 
mander to  evacuate  all  his  posts  beyond  New  Brunswick, 
and  provide,  by  a  concentration  of  his  forces,  for  the  safety 
of  his  stores,  at  the  latter  j)lace.  On  Monday,  the  6th, 
Washington  removed  to  Morris  Town,  to  give  his  wearied 
troops  some  rest,  and  to  watch  the  panic-stricken  foe.* 

Gen.  Sir  Wm.  Howe  writes,  from  New  York,  Jan.  5, 1777, 
that  "  Lord  Cornwallis  returned  with  his  whole  force  to 
Brunswick,  and  the  troops  at  the  right  being  assembled  at 
Elizabeth  Town,  Major  General  Yaughan  has  that  com- 
mand.| 

Taking  advantage  of  the  consternation  of  the  enemy,  and 
the  advance  of  the  American  army.  Gen.  Maxwell,  with  the 
militia  under  his  command,  came  down  from  the  Short 
Hills,  compelled  the  British  to  evacuate  Newark,  had  al)rnsli 
with  them  at  Springfield,  drove  them  out  of  Elizabeth  Town, 
and  fought  them  at  Spank  Town  [Rahway]  a  couple  of  hours. 

*  Irving's  Washington,  II.  500-lS.    Dr.  Tomos'  BatUos  of  Am.,  I.  42S-38. 
t  Parliamentary  Register,  XI.  870. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  455 

Of  these  movements,  a  meagre  fccoi-d  only  is  preserved. 
"Wasliington  writes  to  Congress,  on  tlic  Ttli,  from  Morris 
Town, — 

There  Lave  been  two  or  three  little  skirmishes  between  their  parties  and 
some  detachments  of  the  militia,  in  which  the  latter  have  been  success- 
ful and  made  a  few  prisoners.  The  most  considerable  was  on  Sunday 
morning  [5th]  when  eight  or  ten  Waldeckers  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  party,  thirty  nine  or  forty,  made  prisoners, 
with  the  officers,  by  a  force  not  superior  in  number  and  without  receiv- 
ing the  least  damage.* 

Tliis  was  at  Springfield.  Tlie  troops  were  led  by  Maj. 
Oliver  Spencer,  and  for  his  bravery  on  this  occasion  he  was 
presently  after  promoted  to  a  colonelcy.  Three  days  later, 
(8th),  our  forces  recovered  possession  of  this  post : — 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  16,  1777.  Our  army  marched  from  Pluckemin  and 
arrived  at  Morris  Town  on  the  sixth.  Gen.  Maxwell  with  a  considerable 
body  of  Continental  troops  and  militia,  having  marched  towards  Elizabeth 
Town,  sent  back  for  a  reinforcement,  which  having  joined  him,  he  ad- 
vanced and  took  possession  of  the  town,  and  made  prisoners  fifty  Wal- 
deckers  and  forty  Highlanders,  who  were  quartered  there,  and  made  prize 
of  a  schooner  with  baggage  and  some  blankets  on  board.  About  the  same 
time  one  thousand  bushels  of  salt  were  secured  by  our  trooj^s  at  a  place 
called  Spank  Town,  about  five  miles  from  Woodbridge,  where  a  party  of 
our  men  attacked  the  enemy  at  that  place,  they  sent  for  a  reinforcement 
to  "VToodbridge,  but  the  Hessians  absolutely  refused  to  march,  having 
heard  wo  were  very  numerous  in  that  quarter.  The  English  troops  at 
Elizabeth  Town  would  not  suffer  the  Waldeckers  to  stand  centry  at  the 
outposts,  several  of  them  having  deserted  and  come  over  to  us. 

Another  account,  dated,  Trenton,  January  9th,  says, — 

A  regiment  of  British  troops  at  Spank  Town,  six  miles  below  Eliza- 
beth Town,  was  attacked  on  Sunday  by  a  pai'ty  of  Jersey  militia;  the 
encounter  continued  about  two  hours.  Two  regiments  marched  up  from 
Woodbridge  and  Amboy  to  reinforce  the  enemy ;   and  thus  saved  tliem.t 

Still  another  account  says,  Jan.  9th, — 

The  enemy  have  abandoned  Elizabeth  Town.  Our  people  have  entered 
it  and  taken  thirty  Waldeckers  and  fifty  Highlanders,  and  about  thirty  bag- 
gage waggons  fully  loaded.  The  enemy  who  had  all  the  Jerseys,  are 
now  only  in  possession  of  Amboy  and  Brunswick. | 

*  Sparks'  Washington,  IV.  264.    Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  233. 
+  Almon's  Komcmbrancer,  V.  70, 1,  2-4  {  iloore'e  Diary  of  Am.  Rev.,  I.  ST3. 


456  THE    HISTORY    OF 

General  Sir  Win.  IIowc  "writes,  on  tlic  ITtli,  from  Kcw 
York, — 

The  enemy  still  contimiing  in  force  at  Morris  Town,  and  in  that  neigh- 
Ixirliood,  and  receiving  daily  reiuforcemcnts  from  the  eastern  militia, 
Major  General  Vaughan,  with  the  corps  he  had  at  Elizabeth  Town,  is 
removed  to  Amboy.* 

In  Congress,  March  23,  17Y8,  it  was  "  Ordered,  That  a 
warrant  issue  on  the  treasurer  in  favour  of  James  ISTorris,  for 
1527f^-  dollars,  in  full  payment  of  his  capture  from  the  ene- 
my on  the  9th  of  Jan.  1777,  at  Elizabeth-town,  in  IST,  Jersey, 
which  was  disposed  of  to  the  army  of  the  United  States."  f 

At  this  time,  occurred  the  following  :  It  is  related  of  Capt. 
Eliakim  Littell,  of  this  town,  "  a  partisan  of  great  merit," 
and  of  "  remarkably  fine  and  imposing  personal  a]">pear- 
ancc  :  " — 

On  the  day  tliat  the  British  force  abandoned  Newark,  which  they  had 
occupied  as  a  garrison,  and  marched  to  Elizabeth  Town,  a  company  of 
Valdeckers  was  dispatched  on  some  particular  service  towards  the  Con- 
lecticut  Farms.  Littell  and  his  followers  speedily  discovered  and  fol- 
lowed them.  Dividing  his  small  force  into  two  bodies  he  placed  one 
ambush  in  the  rear,  and,  appearing  in  front  with  the  other,  demanded  an 
immediate  surrender.  The  Germans  wished  to  retrograde,  but,  meeting 
with  the  party  expressly  concealed  to  impede  their  retreat,  and  briskly 
assailed  in  front,  snrrendered  without  firing  a  gun.  The  British  general, 
exasperated  by  their  capture,  ordered  out  a  boJy  of  Hessians  to  revenge 
the  aftVont;  but  the  superior  knowledge  of  Littell  and  his  associates 
enabling  them  to  goad  the  enemy  at  various  points  with  spirited  attacks, 
without  any  great  degree  of  exposure,  they  were  also  driven  into  a  swamp 
and  compelled  to  surrender  to  inferior  numbers.  Mortified  beyond  meas- 
ure at  this  second  discomfiture,  a  troop  of  horse  were  ordered  out ;  but 
they  in  turn  'were  routed,  and  were  only  more  fortunate  than  those  that 
preceded  them,  by  being  able,  by  the  rapid  movement  of  their  horses,  to 
escape  pursuit.  A  tory,  to  whom  a  considerable  reward  was  offered  for 
the  performance  of  the  service,  now  led  300  men  to  the  house  of  Capt. 
Littell,  who,  believing  he  was  securely  pent  up  within,  commenced  a 
heavy  discharge  of  musketry  upon  it  from  all  sides.  The  Captain,  how- 
ever, was  not  to  be  so  easily  entrapped,  and  wliile  they  were  making 
preparations  to  storm  the  deserted  dwelling,  they  were  attacked  in  tho 
rear,  being  previously  joined  by  another  body  of  vohmteers,  and  driven 
with  precipitation  from  tho  field.     Littell  in   the  interim,  with  a  part  of 

•  Parliamontary  Register,  XI.  378.  t  Journals,  IV.  122. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  457 

his  force,  had  formed  an  ambuscade  along  a  fence  side,  and  perceiving  the 
enemy  slowly  approaching,  leveled  and  discharged  his  piece,  and  the 
commander  fell.  The  British,  nnable,  from  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
to  make  any  calculation  with  regard  to  the  number  of  their  opposers, 
were  intimidated,  and  sought  safety  in  flight.* 

Some  allowance  should  be  made  for  rhetorical  embellish- 
ments in  these  statements.  The  numbers,  it  is  quite  likely, 
are  somewhat  exaggerated.  Yet  this  may  be  taken  as  a 
specimen  of  the  kind  of  warfare,  that  for  several  months,  at 
this  period,  was  prosecuted  by  the  militia  of  this  town  and 
vicinity.  At  this  period,  it  will  be  borue  in  mind,  tlie  town 
included  nearly  the  whole  of  the  present  Union  County — the 
towns  of  Union,  Springfield,  New  Providence,  Westfield, 
Plainfield,  Rahway,  Linden,  and  Clark,  having  since  been 
organized  out  of  the  ancient  territorial  domain  of  Elizabeth 
Town. 

When  Mr.  Caldwell  and  his  people  returned  to  their  homes 
the  second  week  of  January,  1777,  from  their  exile  of  six 
weeks,  they  found  everything  in  ruins — their  houses  plun- 
dered, their  fences  broken  down  and  consumed,  their  gardens 
laid  waste,  their  fields  an  open  common,  and  their  records, 
botli  private  and  public,  destroyed.  The  outrages  committed 
by  the  ruthless  foe,  British  and  Hessian  both,  during  this 
short  occupation,  were  a  disgrace  to  human  nature.  Fore- 
most among  those,  who  wreaked  their  vengeance  upon  the 
patriots,  were  their  former  tory  neighbors.  Many  of  these 
had,  a  twelve-month  before,  consulted  their  own  safety  by 
taking  refuge  on  Staten  Island,  and  subsequently  at  New 
York.  When  the  town  was  occupied,  Nov.  30th,  by  the 
British  army,  the  most  of  these  tories  returned  to  their  old 
liomes,  and  took  every  opportunity  to  assert  their  importance, 
to  retaliate  upon  the  opposite  party  theinjuriestliat  they  had 
endured,  and  to  single  out  the  Whigs  as  marks  of  brutal  in- 
dignities and  violence.f 

It  was  the  deep  sense  of  these  grievous  wrongs,  that  roused 
the  whole  population  against  their  brutal  invaders  ;  so  that, 

•  Garden's  Anecdotes  of  the  Rev.  War,  2d  Ser.,  p.  210.    Barber's  N.  J.  His.  Coll.,  pp.  1S4-5. 
t  Barber's  Ilia.  Coll.  of  N.  J.,  pp.  183^.    See,  also,  Eemeinbrancer,  IV.  307;  V.  77, 154, 
253-7.    Am.  Museum,  (Carey's)  IV.  230.    Sparks'  Wasbinston,  IV.  273. 


458  THE    HISTORY    OF 

although  Washington,  at  Morris  Town,  found  great  difficulty 
in  gathering  an  enlisted  army,  the  British,  on  the  Raritan, 
were  so  hemmed  in,  that  they  could  obtain  forage  for  their 
horses  and  cattle,  and  supplies  for  their  army,  only  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet.  Every  foraging  party,  venturing  bnt 
a  few  miles  into  the  country  on  either  side  of  their  lines,  was 
sure  to  be  attacked  by  some  partisan  leadef-,  like  Capt.  Littell, 
and  his  band,  or  by  the  brave  Maxwell  with  his  militia,  and 
seldom  returned  to  camp  without  loss.  Washington  says, 
Jan.  20th, — "  Within  a  month  past,  in  several  engagements 
with  the  enemy,  we  have  killed,  wounded,  and  taken  prison- 
ers between  two  and  three  thousand  men."  * 

The  timid  souls,  who  had  taken  protections  from  the  British 
General,  now  found  themselves  in  a  position  of  great  diffi- 
culty. General  Maxwell,  the  post  commandant,  in  accord- 
ance with  Gen.  Washington's  proclamation,  required  all  who 
would  not' take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  to  take  themselves  and 
their  families  off  immediately  to  the  enemy.  They  demanded 
the  privilege  of  remaining  till  the  thirty  days  were  expired. 
Maxwell  wrote  for  further  instructions.  Washington  replied, 
on  the  12th  of  February  as  follows : 

These  fellows  at  Elizabeth  Town,  as  well  as  all  others,  who  wish  to 
remain  with  us,  till  the  expiration  of  the  thirty  days,  for  no  other  i)urpose 
than  to  convey  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  and  poison  our  people's  minds, 
must  and  shall  be  compelled  to  withdraw  immediately  within  the  enemy's 
lines ;  others,  who  are  hesitating  which  side  to  take,  and  behave  friendly 
to  us  till  they  determine,  must  be  treated  with  lenity.  Such  as  go  over 
to  the  enemy  are  not  to  take  with  them  any  thing  but  their  clothing  and 
furniture.  Their  horses,  cattle  and  forage  must  be  left  behind.  Such  as 
incline  to  share  our  fate  are  to  have  every  assistance  afforded  them,  that 
can  bo  granted  with  safety.  Neither  wagons  nor  horses  must  be  too 
much  hazarded  in  doing  this  business.  The  effects  of  all  persons  in  arms 
against  us  must  be  seized  and  secured.t 

'  Tlie  lines  were  now  effectually  drawn,  and  every  man  was 
compelled  to  show  his  colors.  The  young  men,  or  "  fellows," 
as  Washington  calls  them,  most  probably  went  over  to  the 
enemy,  and  became  j^artisan  soldiers  of  the  most  malignant 

•  Sparks'  Wnsliinglon,  IV.  2S7.    Hall's  Civil  War  in  America,  pp.  2C9-71. 
t  Sparks'  WasLington,  IV.  297-8,  819-21. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  459 

tjpe,  spies,  scouts,  and  guides  to  the  British,  inflicting  sub- 
sequently no  small  injury  upon  tlieir  kindred  and  former 
friends.  It  was  a  hard  case;  as  the  line  ran,  in  some  instan- 
ces, between  parents  and  their  children,  as  well  as  between 
brothers  and  sisters.* 

The  enemy  had  been  driven  out  of  the  town  on  the  8th  of 
January,  but  they  remained  still  in  the  neighborhood.  They 
occupied  Perth  Amboy,  and  ranged  at  will  over  the  greater 
part  of  Woodbridge,  separated  from  this  town  only  by  the 
Railway  Riv^er.  The  situation  of  the  inhabitants,  therefore, 
during  the  first  half  of  the  year  1777,  Avas  exciting  enough. 
They  lived  continually  in  the  midst  of  alarms.  Gen.  Sullivan 
was  in  command  below  the  range  of  hills  on  the  West,  while 
Maxwell  held  the  town.  Their  troops  were  continually 
moving  from  Chatham  and  Springfield,  or  from  "Westfielcl 
and  Scotch  Plains,  watching  for  opportunities  to  cut  ofl:"  the 
foraging  parties,  or  pick  up  the  scouts  of  the  enemy.  Skir- 
mishes, more  or  less  severe,  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence. 

Several  actions  took  place  in  January,  February  and 
March,  just  beyond  the  southern  line  of  this  town,  a  few 
miles  only  to  the  south  ;  and,  in  the  most  of  them,  the 
soldiers  of  this  post  participated.  The  people  here  had  their 
full  share,  during  this  period,  of  "  the  pomp  and  circum- 
stance of  war,"  and  were  not  without  considerable  appre- 
hension constantly  of  having  the  war  brought  once  more  to 
their  very  doors.f 

The  following  notices  are  copied  from  a  tory  journal: — 

Last  Thursday  Week  (Fob.  27th),  Major  Tympany  crossed  from  Staten 
Island  to  Elizabeth  Town,  with  about  sixty  men,  when  he  was  attacked 
by  a  Body  of  the  Rebels,  two  or  three  of  whom  were  killed  on  tlie  spot, 
and  four  or  five  taken  Prisoners.  The  Major  returned  safe,  without  hav- 
ing a  Man  hurt,  and  brought  with  him  ten  Head  of  Cattle. 

Last  Friday  (Juno  13th)  a  Party  of  about  twelve  Men  went  from  Staten*- 
Island  to  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  when  they  were  fired  upon  by  the  Rebels, 
but  they  scon  put  them  to  flight,  killed  one  and  wounded  three  more,  and 
brought  off  a  new  flat-bottomed  Boat  suflicient  to  hold  a  hundred  men  ; 

*  Sparks'  Washington,  IV.  29S-9.    N.  J.  Rev.  Correspondence,  p.  26. 
t  Kcmembranccr,  V.  79,  80,  8S,  9S,  136, 17T-8,  221,  260-1.    Hall's  Civil  War  in  America 
p.  2T4.    Whitehead's  Amboy,  pp.  340, 1,  3,  4. 


460  THE    HISTORY    OF 

By  one  of  our  People's  Pieces  going  ofF  tlirough  Carelessness,  Peter  Kings- 
land  was  shot  in  the  Head,  of  which  wound  he  died  immediatel}'.* 

The  campaign  in  East  Jersey  was  brought  to  a  close  on  the 
30th  of  June.  The  British  evacuated  K^ew  Bruswick,  on  Sun.- 
da}^,  the  22d  of  June,  retiring  to  Perth  Araboj.  On  Thurs- 
day morning,  26th,  they  advanced  in  force,  from  Amboy,  as 
far  as  "Westfield,  under  the  command  of  Sir  William  Howe, 
and  Lord  Cornwallis.  On  the  way,  the  advance  of  the  latter 
fell  in  with  Col.  Daniel  Morgan's  Corps  of  Rangers,  at  Wood- 
bridge,  with  whom  a  hot  contest  was  kept  up  for  half  an  hour, 
at  the  expense  of  a  considerable  number  of  men.  At  Scotch 
Plains,  a  severe  engagement  ensued  with  the  troops  under 
Lord  Stirling,  who  were'  obliged,  being  greatly  inferior  in 
numbers,  to  fall  back  to  the  heights  in  the  rear,  with  the  loss 
of  a  few  men  and  three  cannon.  At  Westfield,  perceiving 
the  passes  on  the  left  of  Washington's  Camp  to  be  strongly 
guarded,  and  no  prospect  of  getting  into  his  rear,  as  was  con- 
templated, the  enemy  encamped  for  the  night,  after  a  burn- 
ing hot  day.  Here  they  remained  until  3  o'clock  P.  M.  of 
Friday,  when  they  marched  to  Rahway,  closely  followed,  and 
assailed,  in  the  rear  and  on  the  flanks,  by  Scott's  light  horse, 
and  Morgan's  rangers.  The  next  day  they  returned  to  Am- 
boy, still  followed  as  on  the  previous  day.  Here  they  rested 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  the  next  day,  Monday,  June  30th,  they 
left,  a  part  crossing  over  to  Staten  Island  on  a  bridge  of  boats  ; 
and  another  part  embarking  on  board  of  270  transports, 
which  filled  the  harbor,  and  sailed  away  on  the  23d  of  July.f 

Thus,  after  seven  months'  occupation,  and  a  vast  exj^cndi- 
ture  of  resources,  after  a  vain  attempt  to  penetrate  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  to  bring  the  war  to  a  speedy  end,  the  great  army 
of  invasion,  having  been  for  nearly  six  months  restricted  to 
the  line  of  the  Raritan  River,  was  compelled  wholly  to  evac- 
uate the  State,  to  the  disgrace  and  chagrin  of  their  leaders, 
and  the  bitter  di6ai:)pointmcnt  of  the  whole  tory  faction. 

•  Golnes'  Mercury,  Nos.  1324, 133S. 

t  Sparks'  Washington,  IV.  470-6.  Pa.  Ledger,  No.  102.  N.  Y.  Gazette,  No.  2.  Remem- 
brancer, V.  2G0, 1.  Mooro's  Diary,  I.  449-52.  Graham's  Life  of  Morgan,  pp.  125-9.  Hairs 
Civil  War  lu  Ainerioa,  p.  292.    Irving's  Washington,  III.  126. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  4.QI 


CHAPTER    XXL 

A.  D.    1777-1V80. 

Forays  from  S.  Island  — N.  J.  Volunteers  —  Sullivan  invades  S.  Island  —  British 
Incursion  —  Dickinson  invades  S.  Island  —  Exchange  of  Prisoners  —  Confis- 
cation—  London  Trading  —  Great  Privations  —  Spies  —  Forays  —  Battle  of 
Monmouth  —  Maxwell  in  command  here  —  Sale  of  Confiscated  Estates  —  Ex- 
pedition of.  Sir  Chas.  Grey  —  Lord  Stirling  stationed  here  —  Flags  of  Truce 

—  Washington  at  E.  T.  —  Plots  against  Gov,  Livingston  —  Invasion  of  the 
Town  —  Burning  of  the  Barracks,  Parsonage  and  Academy  —  Livingston's 
Correspondence  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton  —  Continental  currency  —  Trouble 
in  the  Camp  —  Case  of  Mrs.  Chandler  —  Troops  ''pacified  —  Forays  of  S. 
Islanders  —  Negro  Panic  —  Col.  Dayton  in  command  here  —  Severe  Winter 

—  Great  Snow  Storm  —  Sufferings  of  Troops  —  N.  T.  Harbor  closed  with  solid 
Ice  —  Lord  Stirling  invades  S.  Island  —  Refugees  invade  E.  T.  and  burn  the 
Court  House  and  Presb.  Chh.  —  The  Incendiary  —  Old  "  Red  Store  House  " 

—  Gen.  St.  Clair,  and  then  Baron  De  Kalb  in  command  here  —  Forays  from 
S.  Island. 

The  first  Anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
found  the  old  Borongli  freed  from  the  harassing  fears,  which, 
for  months,  had  deprived  its  people  of  peace.  The  enemy, 
so  long  encamped  in  force  on  its  southern  border,  had  now 
wholly  departed.  They  were  in  force  still  on  Staten  Island  ; 
but  the  broad  waters  of  "  the  Sound  "  were  an  efiectual  bar- 
rier against  any  surprise  or  sudden  invasion.  It  became  ne- 
cessary, however,  to  be  constantl}^  on  the  watch,  and  to  keep 
up  a  competent  force,  to  patrol  and  guard  every  accessible 
point  along  the  shore.  A  letter  written  from  the  New  Blaz- 
ing Star  on  Staten  Island,  to  a  tory  friend  in  ISTew  York, 
July  20,  1777,  says,— 

On  the  Night  of  the  19th  Instant,  two  of  the  Rebel  Light  Horse  de- 
serted from  Elizabeth  Town.  They  belonged  to  Dr.  Barnet's  Company, 
and  inform,  that  there  is  two  Battalions,  consisting  of  two  hundred 


4G2  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Men  each,  under  the  command  of  Matthias  Ogden  and  Elias  Dayton, 
stationed  at  Newark  and  Elizabeth  Town  ;  that  the  Men  arc  very  badly 
cloathcd,  and  almost  all  barefoot.* 

The  necessity  of  vigilance  appears  from  sucli  notices  as  tlie 
following,  written  Aug.  18,  1777 : 

Last  Thuviday  Evening  [14th]  a  Party  of  the  New  Jersey  Volunteers, 
went  over  to  Crane's  Ferry,  near  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  and  brought  off 
three  of  the  Militia  without  firing  a  Gun.f 

These  "  l!^ew  Jersey  Volunteers  "  were  stationed  on  Staten 
Island.  They  were  composed  of  Loyalists  from  this  State, 
who  had  adhered  from  the  tirst  to  the  British,  or  had  availed 
themselves  of  Howe's  Proclamation  of  Kov.  30,  and  taken 
"protection  papers."  They  were  mider  the  command  of 
Gen.  Cortlandt  Skinner,  wdio  succeeded  Robert  Ogden  as 
Speaker  of  the  Legislature  in  1765. 

A  detachment  of  this  corps,  63  in  number,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  Richard  V.  Stockton,  ''the  famous  land 
pilot,"  of  Princeton,  and  son-in-law  of  Joseph  Hatfield  of 
this  town,  was  captured  at  Lawrence's  Island,  Feb.  18,  1777. 
The  refugees  from  this  town  connected  themselves  jnostly 
with  this  corps,  and  became,  in  the  progress  of  the  war,  a 
source  of  great  annoyance  to  their  patriotic  kinsmen  and 
former  neighbors.:]: 

Measures  w'ere  devised  by  Col.  Mattliias  Ogden,  the  officer 
in  command  at  Elizabeth  Town,  in  conjunction  with  General 
Sullivan,  who  had  been  left  by  Washington  in  command  of 
a  continental  force  beyond  the  Short  Hills,  to  punish  these 
renegade  disturbers  of  the  peace.  Col.  Dayton's  regiment 
from  Newark  was  called  in,  to  take  part  in  the  enterprise, 
with  a  hundred  militia  of  the  town.  Sullivan  selected,  from 
Small  wood's  and  De  Borre's  brigades,  a  thousand  men,  and 
marched,  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  on  Thursday,  the  21st  of 
August,  from  Hanover,  11  miles  to  Elizabeth  Town,  arriving 
in  the  evening,  when  they  halted  a  short  time  for  rest.  At 
10  o'clock  P.  M.,  they  moved  down  to  Ilalstead's  Point,  near 

*  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1344.  t  Ibid.,  No.  1347. 

t  Ta.  Journal,  No.  177S.    Sparks'  WasLington,  IV.  326.    Sabine"6  Loyalists,  pp-  CIS,  634. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  463 

the  moiitli  of  Morse's  Creek,  where  they  crossed  over  to  the 
Island.  Dayton  and  Ogden,  with  their  commands,  and  Col. 
Field,  with  the  militia,  crossed  at  the  Old  Blazing  Star.  The 
New  Jersey  Volunteers  were  posted  in  small  detachments, 
along  the  shore  of  the  Island,  from  Decker's  Ferrj^  to  the 
point  opposite  Amboy,  about  fifteen  miles.  Ogden  and 
Dayton  fully  and  successfully  carried  out  their  part  of  the 
programme.  Lt.  Cols.  Lawrence  and  Barton  were  captured, 
with  130  privates  ;  also  a  British  shallop,  in  which  the  pri- 
soners were  sent  over  to  this  side.  But  Sullivan's  command, 
having  been  deceived  by  their  guide,  lost  heavily,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  rear  detachments  being  disappointed  in  ob- 
taining boats  to  return  by  the  Old  Star  Ferry.  These  losses 
more  than  compensated  the  advantages  obtained  by  Cols. 
Ogden  and  Dayton."^^ 

Immediately  after,  Sullivan,  with  the  troops  under  his  com- 
mand, was  ordered  to  join  tlie  main  army  at  Wilmington, 
Del.  A  small  force  only  was  left,  in  this  quarter,  to  guard  the 
long  line  of  coast,  exposed  to  the  depredations  of  the  enemy. 

An  invasion  of  the  State,  by  Clinton,  at  E.  Town  Point, 
and  otl^er  places,  Sep.  12th,  showed  the  necessity  of  keeping 
here  a  larger  body  of  troops,  to  be  ready  for  such  emergen- 
cies. Gen.  Dickinson  writes  to  Washington,  from  this  town, 
Sept.  20th,— 

Your  Excclloucy  will  be  much  surprised  to  hear  that  there  are  not 
more  than  one  thousand  of  our  militia  now  embodied,  all  of  which  are  at 
this  post.  I  shall  order  all  the  guards  called  in  before  day,  and  march 
with  the  utmost  expedition,  the  routes  directed.  I  have  ordered  General 
"Wines  to  collect  and  march  his  brigade  to  this  post  with  all  despatcli.t 

Four  days  after,  on  Thursday,  Sep.  2ith,  a  reinforcement 
of  about  three  thousand  British  and  foreign  troops,  from 
Europe,  arrived  at  New  York.  Dickinson  was  tlicn  on  his 
way  to  join  Washington,  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  ; 

*  Pa.  Journal,  No.  1S06.  Remembrancer,  V.  4S3-5.  Sparks'  Washington,  V.  47.  Gordon's 
Rev.  War,  220-2,  8.  Moore'.s  Diary,  I.  4S2-6.  MarshaU's  Wasliinslon,  III.  1S5-T.  Gordon's 
N.  J.,  pp.  246-7.    Irviugs  Washington,  III.  195. 

t  Rivington's  Gazette,  No.  155.  Remembrancer,  V.  420.  HaU's  Civil  War  in  America 
p.  325.  Gordon's  Rev.  War,  II.  23G.  Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  252.  Sparks'  Waslilngton,  Y.  64. 
Sparks'  Correspondence  of  the  Revolution,  I.  434. 


464:  THE    HISTORY    OF 

but  tins  event  compelled  him  to  retrace  his  steps,  with  a  part 
of -his  troops,  sending  on  the  remainder,  600,  in  command  of 
Gen.  Forman,  and  once  more  take  post  at  this  town.  Writ- 
ing to  Washington,  from  this  place,  Nov.  1st,  he  informs  him 
that  there  are  not  more  than  one  hnndred  militia  from  West 
Jersey  at  this  post,  that  the  reports  of  his  intended  march  to 
Red  Bank  on  the  Delaware  had  lessened  the  number  of  his 
troops,  and  that  Gen.  Winds,  who  had  gone  on  an  expedition 
to  'New  Windsor,  on  the  North  River,  had  not  yet  returned. 
He  suggests  an  expedition  against  Staten  Island,  and  says, — 
"  I  have  boats  now  ready  to  transport  five  hundred  men  at 
a  time,  and  could  increase  my  present  numbers  (about  six 
hundred  men)  to  twelve  hundred  men  upon  such  an  oc- 
casion.'" * 

The  Americans,  at  this  time,  were  in  high  spirits.  .  Tidings 
had  come,  nine  or  ten  days  before,  of  Gates'  victory,  Oct. 
7th,  at  Stillwater,  near  Saratoga,  and  of  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyne's  army,  Oct.  ITth.  The  news  created  a  great  and 
joyful  excitement  in  this  town ;  salutes  were  fired,  bonfires 
kindled,  and,  as  Rivington's  lying  Chronicle  reports,  "  rum 
was  given  to  the  rabble."  f 

Gaines  says,  Nov.  24,  1777,— 

"We  hear  tliat  orders  have  been  sent  to  a  Place  called  Westfield,  a  few 
miles  from  Elizabeth  Town,  in  New  Jersey,  for  the  Inhabitants  of  that 
Place  to  prepare  Qnarters  for  a  large  Body  of  ilen,  and  to  cut  down  five 
hundred  Cords  of  Fire  Wood.  .  .  .  On  Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday  and 
Friday  last  (18-21)  Parties  of  Rebels  landed  on  Staten  Island  from  JElliza- 
beth  Town,  but  were  as  oficn  beaten  off."  f 

These  "Parties"  were,  probably,  employed  in  this  way  to 
keep  the  enemy  from  learning  the  object  of  the  encamj^ment 
at  Westfield.  Dickinson,  having  obtained  the  consent  of 
Washington,  was  preparing  for  an  invasion  of  Staten  Island. 
Volunteers  were  called  in,  and  a  force  gathered,  (with  those 
on  duty  at  this  post),  of  fourteen  hundred  men.  He  designed, 
if  possible,  to  surprise  Skinner's  corps  of  Provincials,  sta- 
tioned along  the  Western  shore  of  the  Island,  and  capture 

*  Gordon's  Eev.  War,  II.  253.  Goidon's  N.  J.,  pp  250,  2.  Sparks'  Corrcfpondcnce  of  the 
Kev.,  II.  22,  8.  t  Riv.  Gazette,  No.  140.  $  Gaines' Mercury,  No.  13C1. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  465 

them.  For  this  purpose,  early  in  the  morning  of  Thursday, 
Xov.  27th,  he  embarked  at  Ilalstead's  Point,  effected  a  land- 
ing in  three  divisions,  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  marched 
seven  miles  to  a  rendezvous,  hoping  to  get  in  the  rear  of  the 
Provincials,  and  cut  them  off.  The  utmost  secrecy  had  been 
observed,  his  own  officers  not  having  been  apprised  of  the 
object  until  eight  o'clock  of  the  evening  before.  Skinner, 
however,  got  word  of  it,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
made  good  his  retreat.  On  arriving  at  the  rendezvous,  the 
Americans  found  Gen.  Campbell  in  force  with  artillery,  and 
two  war  vessels  to  cover  the  fortifications.  Disappointed  in 
his  plans,  Dickinson  returned  in  good  order,  five  or  six  of 
the  tory  brigade  having  been  slain,  and  24  taken  prisoners. 
The  troops  were  eight  hours  on  the  Island.  In  the  skirmish, 
they  lost  three  men  taken  prisoners,  and  fourteen  were 
slightly  wounded.  With  this  exception,  they  got  back, 
'^  without  the  loss  of  man,  horse,  or  boat."  * 

A  few  days  before  this  occurrence,  (20th),  Abraham  Clark 
and  Elias  Boudinot  were  elected  to  Congress.  Mr.  Boudinot 
had  served,  since  his  appointment  by  Congress,  June  6th, 
1777,  as  Commissary  General  of  Prisoners.  This  town  thus 
became,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  war,  the  head-quar- 
ters for  negotiations  respecting  the  exchange  of  prisoners  ; 
and  hither  large  numbers,  officers  and  men,  from  both  sides, 
were  sent,  for  this  purpose.  Mr.  Boudinot,  however,  con- 
tinued in  service  until  his  successor,  Major  John  Beatty,  was 
appointed.  May  28th,  1778,  and  did  not  take  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress until  July  7th,  1778.  f 

Through  the  instigation  and  artifices  principally  of  the 
refugees,  some  of  their  old  neighbors  and  associates,  who  still 
retained  their  residence  and  property  in  the  town,  Avere 
induced  to  carry  on  an  illicit  trade  with  Staten  island,  of 
which  Gov.  Livingston^  who  had  been  reelected,  Nov.  1st, 
writing  to  "Washington,  Nov.  21,  1777,  uses  this  forcible  and 
indignant  language  : — 

*  Bpaiks'  Correspondence  of  the  Rev.,  II.  49-51.    Sparks'  Wasbingtoii,  V.  174,  1S3.    Kiv- 
ington's  Gazette,  No.  145.    Gordon's  N.  J,,  p.  255. 
t  Gordon's  N.  J.,  p.  324.    Mulford's  N.  J.,  p.  444. 

30 


466  TOE    HISTORY    OF 

This  evil  instead  of  being  checked,  has  grown  to  so  enormous  a  height, 
that  the  enemy,  as  I  am  informed,  is  plentifully  supplied  Avitli  fresh  pro- 
visions, and  such  a  quantity  of  British  manufactures  brought  back  in 
excliange,  as  to  enable  the  persons  concerned  to  set  up  shops  to  retail 
them.  The  people  are  outrageous,  and  many  of  our  officers  threaten  to 
resign  their  commissions.* 

This  traffic  was  called  "  London  trading,"  and  all  who 
en2:a2:ed  in  it  were  reorarded  as  enemies  of  their  country, 
and,  when  discovered,  subjected  to  severe  penalties.  It  was 
carried  on  mostly  by  night ;  and  so  secretly,  as  almost  always 
to  evade  detection.  The  possession  of  British  gold  was 
looked  upon  as  lyrhna  facie  evidence  of  complicity  in  the 
contraband  business. 

The  extent  to  which  private  property  in  the  town,  espe- 
cially in  the  absence  of  the  owners,  had  sujffered  by  military 
occupation,  apjjears  from  what  one  of  Gov,  Livingston's 
daughters  wrote,  ]N"ov.  29,  1777  :— 

Kate  has  been  at  Eliz.-Town;  found  our  house  in  a  most  ruinous  situa- 
tion. Gen.  Dickinson  had  stationed  a  cajitain  with  his  artillery  company 
in  it,  and  after  that  it  was  kept  for  a  bullock's  guard.  Kate  waited  on  the 
General,  and  he  ordered  the  troops  removed  the  nest  day,  but  then  the 
mischief  was  done ;  every  thing  is  carried  off  that  mamma  had  collected 
for  her  accommodation,  so  that  it  is  impossible  for  her  to  go  down  to 
have  the  grapes  and  other  things  secured ;  the  very  hinges,  locks,  and 
panes  of  glass,  are  taken  away.t 

The  year  1778,  was  unusually  barren  of  incident,  so  far 
as  the  history  of  this  town  is  concerned.  The  people  were 
permitted  to  dwell  at  home,  undisturbed  by  the  visits  of  the 
hated  and  dreaded  foe.  The  military  occupation  was  con- 
tinued throughout  the  year,  and  the  utmost  vigilance  was 
required  in  guarding  against  invasion  from  Staten  Island. 
During  a  portion  of  the  winter,  one  half  of  the  male  adults 
werQ  required  to  be  always  on  duty,  and  ready,  at  a  moment's 
warning,  to  take  the  field. :j: 

It  was  reported  in  ISJ'ew  York,  June  3,  1778,  that  "  great 
numbers  of  flat-bottomed  boats  "  were  then  building  and  old 
ones  rc])airing  at  Bound  Brook,  Elizabeth-Town,  and  ^N'ewark, 

♦  Setlgwlck's  Livingston,  pp.  245,  6.  t  Ibid.,  p.  24G. 

X  Rlvington's  Gazette,  No.  154. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  467 

in  "New  Jersey.     A  few  days  after,  Gaines  publislied  the 
following  : — 

Tho  Rebels  made  an  attempt  on  the  Piquet  Guard  on  Staten  Island 
last  Tuesday  night,  [June  9th],  but  were  beat  off,  the  Particulars  of  which 
are  as  follows,  viz. — 

About  one  o'clock  the  Rebels  began  a  heavy  Cannonade,  from  their 
Works  at  Elizabeth  Town  Fort,  and  soon  after  attemi^tcd  to  land,  in  a 
Number  of  Flat  Boats,  upon  Staten  Island,  between  the  Blazing  Star  and 
Burnt  Island  ;  but  finding  tho  Provincial  Troops  stationed  at  that  Place, 
were  alarmed,  and  prepared  to  give  them  a  proper  Reception,  tliey  re- 
turned to  the  Jersey  shore,  and  ren^ained  quiet  till  about  four  o'clock  the 
same  Morning,  when  they  again  made  their  Appearance  in  ten  Boats, 
each  supposed  to  contain  one  hundred  Men,  and  attempted  to  land  at  the 
same  Place,  under  cover  of  the  Fire  from  their  Batteries  and  a  continued 
Discharge^  of  Small  Arms  from  the  Boats ;  but  they  were  so  vigorously 
opposed  by  General  Skinner's  Brigade,  that  they  were  obliged  to  make  a 
final  and  disgraceful  Retreat."^' 

Tlie  New  Jersey  Gazette  gives  an  entirely  diflerent  version 
of  tlie  affair,  in  reply  to  Gaines'  article.  The  ten  boats  with 
a  hundred  men  in  each  dwindle  down  to  three  boats  with 
about  fifty  men  ;  but  one  landing  was  made,  or  attempted  ; 
they  marched  half  a  mile  into  the  interioi",  when  they  were 
discovered ;  on  which  they  fired  and  the  Provincials  ran 
away.  The  party  then  returned  to  their  boats,  and  when 
they  had  nearly  reached  this  side,  were  fired  upon.  So  con- 
flicting were  the  statements  in  respect  to  these  incursions,  it 
is  often  perplexing  to  arrive  at  the  exact  truth. f 

Occasional  encounters  with  the  enemy  were  occurring,  of 
which  the  following,  as  related  by  a  tory  paper  of  the  29th, 
is  a  specimen  : — 

Last  Wednesday  Night  [24tl)]  Captain  Randle,  from  Elizabeth  Town,, 
came  over  to  Staten  Island  with  a  Party  of  about  fourteen  Men  and  fired 
upon  some  of  the  Militia  that  were  on  Guard,  wounded  Mr.  Richard  Con- 
nor in  the  Arm,  and  one  Ashar  Tappcn  in  tho  Leg,  but  neither  danger- 
ously. Tho  ^Militia  pursued  the  Party,  but  they  got  into  their  Boat  in  a 
great  Hurry  and  made  for  the  Jersey  shore  with  all  expedition.]: 

The  next  Sunday,  2Sth,  the  battle  of  Monmouth  was  fought, 

*  Eivington's  Gazette,  No.  175.      Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1S90. 
t  N.  Jersey  Gazette,  No.30.  $  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1302. 


468  THE    HISTORY    OF 

in  which  the  Jersey  brigade  under  Maxwell,  and  the  militia 
under  Dickinson,  did  signal  service,  having  previously  been 
detached  to  annoy  tlie  rear  and  flanks  of  the  British  on  their 
route  through  Wew  Jersey.  In  this  action,  Lieut.-Col.  Bar- 
ber, (who  had  received  the  appointment,  in  April,  of  brigade 
Inspector,  and,  on  the  24th  of  March,  had  been  married  "  to 
Miss  Nancy  Ogden,  of  Elizabeth  Town,  a  Lady  of  beauty 
and  merit "),  was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball,  which  passed 
through  the  right  of  his  body,  but,  happily,  not  mortally. 
The  British,  after  their  defeat, .made  good  their  escape  by 
Sandy  Hook,  on  the  5tli  of  July,  whence  they  were  dis- 
tributed in  three  divisions,  one  on  Staten  Island,  one  on  Long 
Island,  and  the  other  in  ISTew  York. 

The  presence  of  so  large  a  force,  on  Staten  Island,  com- 
pelled Washington,  in  the  arrangement  of  his  forces,  to  order 
the  Jersey  Brigade  under  Gen.  Maxwell,  "  to  take  post  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Elizabeth  Town,"  to  guard  against  invasion 
and  foraging.* 

Again  this  post  became  headquarters  for  flag-boats  and 
exchanges.  A  large  number  of  prisoners  had  been  captured 
from  the  British  on  their  route  through  the  State.  "Thurs- 
day last,"  16th,  says  Rivington,  "  upwards  of  seven  hundred 
Rebel  prisoners  were  sent  from  here  [N.  York]  to  Elizabeth 
Town  to  be  exchanged  for  an  equal  number  of  British  and 
Hessians."  A  corresponding  notice  appears,  on  the  15th,  in 
the  E".  J.  Gazette ;  also,  on  the  21st  of  August,  20th  of 
October,  and  Sth  of  November.  Col.  Ethan  Allen  was  sent 
here  in  May  previously  for  the  same  purpose.f 

A  corporal  and  a  private,  w^ho  had  ventured  over  to  Staten 
Island  from  this  post,  were  captured,  July  21st ;  and,  by  way 
of  reprisal,  a  party  from  this  town  went  over  to  the  Island 
on  the  night  of  the  5th  of  August,  and  carried  off  Mr.  Bunnell, 
Barrack  Master,  wlio  was  released  on  parole  four  days  after- 
wards.:}: 

Measures,  long  contemplated,  but  for  prudential  reasons 

•  N.  J.  Gazette,  Nos.  19,  31.  Irvins's  Washington,  III.  425-437.  Sparks'  Washington 
V.  422-9.  t  Elr.  Gazette,  No.  ISS.    N.  J.  Gazette,  Nos.  88,  46,  49. 

t  Kiv.  Gizctte,  No.  190.    Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1412. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  469 

deferred,  were  now  taken,  looking  to  tlie  confiscation  of  the 
projDerty  of  those  who  had  deserted  their  country  and  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  Royalists.  Several  had  gone  over  during 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1778.  The  following  advertise- 
ment was  not  made  public  until  Nov.  14th,  on  which  day  it 
was  dated  at  Elizabeth  Town  : — 

At  an  inferior  court  of  Common  Pleas  held  for  the  county  of  Essex,  on 
the  15th  day  of  September  last,  were  returned  inquisitions  for  joining  the 
army  of  the' King  of  Great  Britain,  and  other  treasonable  practices,  found 
against  Oavilear  Jewit,  Ichabod  Best  Barnet,  William  Luce,  John  Smith 
Iletfield,  Job  Hetfield,  Abel  Iletfield,  Broughton  Reynolds,  Richard  Miller, 
John  Willis,  Jacob  Tooker,  James  Hetfield,  James  Frazee,  Samuel  Oliver, 
James  Moore,  Jonathan  Oliver,  Samuel  Smith,  John  Stites,  jun.,  Daniel 
Moore,  John  Morse,  Isaac  Stanbury,  Thomas  Burrows  and  John  Folker. 

At  a  later  date,  Feb.  17,  1779,  final  judgment  was  entered 
against  all  of  these  persons,  except  Job  and  Abel  Iletfield, 
Jacob  Tooker,  and  John  Stites,  jun.,  and  their  estates  sold  at 
auction.* 

Gaines  says,  October  5th, — 

We  learn  that  the  Militia  of  New  Jersey  was  collecting  fast,  there  being 
in  and  about  Elizabeth  Town  and  Woodbridge,  not  less  than  two  thousand 
Men  under  the  command  of  General  Maxwell. 

Last  Friday  [2d]  a  large  Body  of  Militia  and  some  Continental  Troops 
marched  from  Woodbridge,  Elizabeth  Town,  &c.,  under  the  command  of 
the  Generals  Maxwell  and  Heard  for  Ilackiusack.f 

These  movements  were  occasioned  by  a  feint  of  the  enemy, 
and  an  invasion  of  Bergen  Co.  Lord  Stirling,  at  Aquacka- 
nonk,  on  the  13th,  sends  word  to  Col.  Elias  Dayton,  that  "  the 
moving  off  of  the  British  troops  enables  him  to  order  Col. 
Dayton,  with  his  two  regiments,  to  march  to  Elizabeth  Town 
the  next  morning."  Two  days  afterwards,  on  the  15th,  Lord 
Stirling  himself  repaired  to  this  town,  and  made  it  his  head- 
quarters, for  the  remainder  of  the  year.:}: 

The  following  order  was  issued,  Oct.  28,  1778  : — 

No  Flag  from  the  enemy  shall  be  received  at  any  post  or  place  within 

*  N.  J.  Gazette,  Nos.  50,  64. 

♦  Sparks'  Washington,  VI.  75.    Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1407. 

}  Anal.  Index  of  N.  J.  Doc,  p.  456.    Duer's  Stirling,  p.  204.    Hist.  Mag.,  II.  321-4. 


470  TDE    HISTORY.   OF 

this  State,  except  at  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  without  a  special  permission 
for  that  purpose  from  the  Governor,  or  Commanding  OfBcer  of  the  troops 
of  the  United  States  in  New  Jersey,* 

On  this  subject,  "Wasliington  says,  Jan.  11,  1770, — 

It  was  ahsohitcly  necessary,  that  the  open  and  free  intercourse  with 
iSTew  York,  -which  I  found  prevaihng  on  my  arrival  at  Elizabeth  Town, 
the  1st  of  December,  should  be  restrained ;  and  I  gave  positive  orders  to 
General  Maxwell  to  suffer  no  person  to  pass,  unless  permission  should  be 
previously  obtained  from  the  governors  of  the  respective  States,  or  my- 
self;  and  I  requested  Governors  Livingston  and  Eeed  to  fix  on  the  first 
day  of  every  month  for  this  purpose,  to  which  they  readily  acccded.t 

In  his  reply  to  this  request  of  Washington,  Livingston  says, 
Dec.  21st.,— 

Of  all  those  "who  liave  applied  to  me  for  recommendations  to  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Elizabeth  Town,  to  go  to  Staten  Island  or  New  York, 
not  above  one  in  twenty  appeared  entitled  to  that  indulgence ;  and  many  * 
of  them  were  as  venomous  Tories  as  any  in  this  country.  It  is  either 
from  a  vain  curiosity  (extremely  predominant  in  women,)  cloaked  with 
the  pretence  of  securing  their  debts  or  effects,  in  which  they  seldom  if 
ever  succeed  ;  or  for  the  sake  of  buying  tea  and  trinkets  (for  which  they 
■would  as  soon  forfeit  a  second  Paradise,  as  Eve  did  the  first,  for  the 
forbidden  fruit),  that  they  are  perpetually  prompted  to  those  idle  rambles. 
.  .  .  The  men  are  still  more  seriously  mischievous,  and  go  with  commercial 
motives,  and  to  secure  capital  quantities  of  British  merchandize.! 

Livingston  had  again  been  chosen,  Oct.  2Tth,*  Governor  of 
the  State,  greatly  to  the  annoyance  of  the  loyalists,  who  re- 
garded him  as  an  incorrigible  rebel.  James  Humphreys, 
Jr.,  writing  from  New  York,  Nov.  23,  1778,  to  Galloway  in 
London,  says, — 

Livingston  is  reappointed  Governor  of  Xcw  Jersey  and  more  wantonly 
pursuing  his  career  of  barbarity  and  wickedness  than  ever.§ 

Isaac  Ogden,  a  refugee  from  Newark,  writing  also  to  Gal- 
loway, from  New  York,  the  day  before,  (22d),  says — 

Livingston  is  reelected  Governor,  an  attempt  was  intended  to  be  made, 
to  supersede  him,  but  the  dissenting  Parsons,  getting  knowledge  of  it, 
exerted  themselves  in  such  a  manner,  that  his  opponents  were  detcrr'd 

♦  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  4T.  t  Sparks'  Wnshington,  VI.  155-1T4. 

}  Sparks'  Correspondence,  II.  213.  §  Hist  Magazine,  V.  272. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  471 

from  making  the  Experiment.     You  know  the  Man,  &  will  with  Me  pitty 
the  poor  People,  that  fall  under  his  displeasure. 

Most  cordially  was  the  Governor  hated  by  every  tory  in 
the  State,  and  with  still  greater  cordiality,  if  possible,  was 
he  loved  and  trusted  by  every  friend  of  the  country.  His 
well-known  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this 
town  accounts  for  the  story  about  "  the  dissenting  Parsons." 
In  the  same  letter,  Ogden  speahs  of  this  town  and  its  vicinity 
as  "  a  Rebellious  country :  "  a  good  testimony  this  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  town.  In  closing  the  letter,  he  introduces 
some  family  allusions  : — 

Eememher  me  to  Doctor's  Chandler  and  Cooper.  Tell  Doct.  Chandler 
that  Mrs.  Chandler  &  his  Daughter  Polly  with  Miss  Eicketts,  are  now  in 
York  with  a  Flag  for  a  few  days.  His  son  Bille'  I  saw  last  -week,  at 
Staten  Island,  who  has  recovered  from  his  Illness,  ho  intends  sailing  for 
England  in  a  short  time  in  the  Amazon.* 

In  arranging  the  winter  quarters  of  the  army.  Gen. 
Washington  made  choice  of  Middlebrook  [Pound  Prook] 
Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  for  his  own  headquarters  with  seven 
brigades,  detailing  the  Jersey  Prigade  to  occupy  Elizabeth 
Town,  as  the  advanced  post  of  the  army.  This  brought  him, 
on  the  1st  of  December,  to  this  town,  where  he  remained 
imtil  the  morning  of  the  5th.  In  honor  of  his  visit,  a  festive 
entertainment  was  given  him,  on  the  fourth.f 

A  practical  illustration  of  the  fear  and  hatred  entertained, 
by  the  Pritish,  and  especially  the  tories,  towards  Gov. 
Livingston,  was  given  near  the  close  of  this  winter.  A  plan 
was  devised,  by  the  authorities  at  New  York,  to  surprise  and 
capture  both  Gov.  Livingston,  and  Maxwell's  brigade,  at  this 
post.  "  The  33d  and  4:2d  Regiments,  with  the  light  company 
of  the  Guards,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Stirling," 

*  Uist.  Magazine,  V.  335,  S.  "  Uis  son  Bille,"  Wni.  Chaudler  of  Elizabeth  Town,  N.  J., 
presented,  Feb.  11,  1779,  a  petition  to  Lord  George  Germain,  representing,  "that  on  account 
of  his  loyalty  and  being  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chandler,  be  was  obliged  to  fly  in  Jan.,  1776 — 
that  he  returned  in  Dec,  following,  but  on  the  Eoyal  army  evacuating  Elizabeth  Town  in 
J.in.,  1777,  he  was  again  obliged  to  fly— that  Brig.  Gen.  Skinner  granted  hfi^i  a  warrant  to  be 
captain  in  the  New  Jersey  Volunteers  in  the  April  following,  that  he  has  not  received  any 
pay  for  two  years,  and  prays  his  Lordship's  recommendation  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  for  a  cap- 
tain's commission  in  tho  New  Jersey  Briiradc."    Anal.  Index.,  p.  458. 

t  Eiv.  Gazette,  No.  22S.    Sparks'  AVashington,  VL  125,  9, 131,  155. 


472  THE    HISTORY    OF 

about  one  thousand  in  number,  were  detailed  for  this  pur- 
pose. Tliey  embarked  at  Red  Ilook,  Long  Island,  at  9 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  of  the  Sith  of  February,  1779,  crossed  the 
Bay  to  the  Bergen  Shore,  landed,  and  marched  over  land  to 
Newark  Bay,  when  they  recrabarked,  the  boats  having  pass- 
ed around  through  the  Kills.  They  landed,  between  two 
and  three  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  25th,  on  the  salt  meadows 
about  a  mile  north  of  Crane's  Ferry.  Having  obtained 
Capt.  Wm.  Luce,  Cornelius  Ilatfield,  Jr.,  and  John  Smitli 
Hatfield,  (who  had  gone  over  to  the  British  in  177S),  as 
guides,  the  42d  Regiment  advanced  immediately,  and  gained 
the  upland.  The  remainder  of  the  force,  througli  a  mis- 
understanding, waited  at  the  place  of  landing  for  further 
orders.  Col.  Stirling,  impatient  for  their  appearance,  came 
to  a  halt,  after  he  had  got  well  up  towards  "Woodruff's  Farms, 
and  sent  back  one  of  the  guides  to  order  them  forward.  The 
officer  in  command  declined  to  receive  the  order  from  the 
lips  of  the  guide,  who,  thereupon,  returned  to  Stirling  for  an 
official  order.  In  this  blundering,  they  lost  about  an  hour 
and  a  half. 

Col.  Stirling,  in  order  to  gain  fuller  intelligence  as  to  the 
state  of  affiiirs  in  the  town,  sent  one  of  the  guides  with  six 
soldiers  to  capture  one  of  the  residents.  They  came  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Hendricks,  and  questioned  him  in  respect  to 
the  troops,  some  of  the  soldiers,  in  the  meantime,  entering 
the  house  of  Mr.  Woodruff,  directly  opposite,  and  beginning 
to  plunder.  Mr.  "Woodruff  made  good  his  escape,  and  gave 
the  information  to  Col.  Ogden,  the  officer  of  the  day.  Gen, 
Maxwell  immediately  called  the  troops  to  arms,  and  march- 
ed them  to  the  rear  of  the  town,  whither  also  the  principal 
part  of  the  inhabitants  retired,  uncertain  as  to  the  number 
and  designs  of  the  enemy. 

A  detachment  was  sent,  v/ith  one  of  the  guides,  the  sliortest 
route  to  "Liberty  Hall,"  the  residence  of  Gov.  Livingston, 
to  apprehend  him.  The  Governor,  happily,  had  left  homo 
some  hours  before,  and  was  passing  the  night  at  a  friend's 
liouse  a  few  miles  distant.  It  was  falsely  reported  by  the 
enemy  that  he  had  left  his  bed  only  five  minutes  before  his 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  473 

house  was  surrounded.  The  house,  of  course,  vras  searched 
in  vain  for  his  person.  His  papers  were  demanded  of  his 
eldest  daughter,  who  had  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to  lead 
them  into  the  library,  and  show  them  a  drawer  filled  with 
intercepted  letters  from  London,  taken  in  a  British  vessel,  a 
part  of  which  they  pocketed,  and  then  carried  off  the  re- 
mainder with  the  drawer  itself.  All  his  recent  correspond- 
ence with  Congress,  Washington,  and  the  State  officers,  was 
in  a  box  in  the  parlor,  which  was  saved  by  this  artifice. 

In  the  meantime,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  proceeded 
directly  to  the  rear  of  the  town,  and  had  every  road  guarded 
except  the  Railway  road,  by  which  several  of  the  inhabitants 
escaped,  before  the  guard  could  reach  it.  The  barracks,  and 
the  Presbyterian  parsonage  then  used  as  barracks,  were 
found  deserted,  and  in  the  rage  of  their  disappointment  the 
enemy  set  them  on  fire  and  they  were  burned  down.  The 
school-house,  or  academy,  adjoining  the  Presbyterian  bury- 
ing ground,  had  been  used  for  storing  provisions  for  the 
troops.  This,  also,  they  fired,  and  destroyed.  While  it  was 
burning,  a  few  of  the  female  neighbors,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Egbert  was  one,  rescued  from  the  ruins  twenty  six  barrels 
of  flour.  A  blacksmith's  shop,  also,  was  burned.  They 
boasted,  also,  that  they  burned  "  the  ferry-house  of  Stephen 
Crane,"  of  which,  however,  the  people  themselves  made  no 
mention. 

As  soon  as  the  light  enabled  Maxwell  to  ascertain  the  force 
and  positions  of  the  enemy,  he  set  his  troops  in  motion,  and 
Col.  Stirling  beat  a  retreat.  The  militia  both  of  this  town 
and  Kewark  took  the  alarm,  and  assembled  with  great  alac- 
ril}^  Cols.  Dayton,  Ogdeu,  and  Barber  conducted  the  pur- 
suit. Abandoning  the  horses  and  cattle  which  they  had 
collected,  the  enemy  retreated  as  they  came,  by  the  way  of 
the  salt  marsh,  usually  regarded  as  quite  inaccessible.  Some 
skirmishing  ensued,  but  the  well-directed  fire  of  two  pieces 
of  artillery  greatly  quickened  their  steps.  After  wading  a 
considerable  distance  in  mud  and  mire,  they  reached  their 
boats,  and  reembarkcd  under  tlie  cover  of  a  galley  and  two 
or  three  gunboats,  not  a  little  galled  by  tlie  fire  poured  in 


474  THE    HISTORY    OF 

upon  tlicm  from  the  shore.  One  of  their  bocats  grounded, 
and  witli  the  hands  on  board  was  captured. 

The  enemy  acknowledged  that  from  four  to  six  of  then- 
number  were  slain,  and  about  forty  were  wounded.  They 
took  with  them  about  a  score  of  the  elderly  men  of  the  place, 
but  soon  after  restored  them  to  their  homes.  Brigade  Major 
Ogden,  who  first  reconnoitred  the  enemy  received  a  bayonet 
wound,  in  his  right  side,  but  not  dangerous.  Lieut.  Keucastle, 
also,  was  wounded,  and  four  privates, — one  man,  a  private, 
was  killed.  Chaplain  Andrew  Hunter,  on  his  return  from 
the  Governor's  house,  whither  he  had  hastened  to  give  the 
alarm,  was  captured,  but  soon  after  made  his  escape.  The 
invasion,  save  in  the  burning  of  the  barracks,  the  pai'sonage, 
and  the  academy,  (a  procedure  worthy  of  a  savage  foe,)  was  a 
complete  failure — a  signal  blunder.'^ 

Four  or  five  weeks  after  this  occurrence.  Gov.  Livingston 
addressed  a  note,  March  29th,  to  Gen.  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
informing  him  that  he  was  "  possessed  of  the  most  authentic 
proofs,"  that  one  of  his  general  officers  had  "  oflTered  a  large 
sum  of  money  to  an  inhabitant  of  this  State  to  assassinate  " 
him — the  "Governor — "in  case  he  could  not  take"  him 
"alive."  Ephraim  Marsh,  Jr.,  of  this  town,  had  deposed 
before  Isaac  Woodruff",  Esq.,  that  Cortlandt  Skinner  had 
offered  him  a  reward  of  two  thousand  guineas  and  a  pension 
for  life,  for  such  an  exploit.  A  reply,  very  curt  and  imper- 
tinent, was  received  from  Sir  Henry,  to  which  the  Governor 
returned  a  withering  rejoinder.f 

The  immense  depreciation  of  the  continental  currency 
began  to  be  seriously  felt  among  all  classes  of  the  commu- 
nity, but  especially  among  the  soldiers  of  the  patriot  army, 
whose  families  were,  in  any  measure,  depending  on  their 
wages.  The  Jersey  Brigade,  under  Maxwell,  stationed  at  E. 
Town,  sent  an  aff'ecting  memorial  of  their  distressed  condi- 
tion, for  want  of  adequate  compensation,  to  the  Legislature. 
Gen.  Maxwell,  also,  urged  their  case,  and  called  attention  to 

*  N.  .T.  Journal,  No.  2.  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  65.  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1429.  Eeinem- 
brancer,  VII.  8C3.  Sparks'  Washington,  VI.  175, 1S2. 191.  Sedswick's  Livingston,  pp.  322-4. 
Barber's  Hist  Coll.  of  N.  J.,  p.  165.    Hist.  Magnzino,  VI.  lSO-1,  2.39. 

t  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  10, 12.    Barber's  Hist.  Coll.  of  N.  J.,  pp.  163-4. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  475 

the  necessity  of  sending  out  of  the  lines  the  tories  who  were 
seeking  every  opportunity  to  induce  the  soldiers  to  desert. 
He  instanced  the  eases  of  Capts.  Kennedy  and  McCloud,  at 
large  on  their  parole,  and  yet  in  the  pay  of  the  enemy, 
"  licensed  spies,  in  our  very  lines,  amongst  our  troops."  He 
then  adds : — 

Mrs.  Chandler  ismucli  in  the  same  "way  here  that  McCloud  is,  with  re- 
spect to  her  living ;  but  in  the  way  of  giving  intelligence  to  the  enemy  I 
think  her  the  first  in  the  place.  There  is  not  a  tory  that  passes  in  or  out 
of  New  York  or  any  other  way,  that  is  of  consequence,  but  what  waits  on 
Mrs.  Chandler ;  and  mostly  all  the  British  officers  going  in  or  out  on 
parole  or  exchange,  Avait  on  her  ;  in  short,  the  Governor,  [Wm.  Franklin], 
the  whole  of  the  tories,  and  many  of  the  whigs.  I  think  she  would  be 
much  better  in  New  York,  and  to  take  her  baggage  with  her,  that  she 
might  have  nothing  to  come  back  for.  Lawyer  Eoss  and  some  other 
noted  tories  here  I  would  recommend  to  be  sent  some  distance  back  in 
the  country.  .  .  There  wants  a  thorough  reform  here.* 

A  gratuity  of  £200,  to  each  commissioned  officer,  and  $40, 
to  each  private,  was  ordered  by  the  Legislature,  the  money 
immediately  forwarded  to  E.  Town,  and  the  brigade,  soon 
after  took  up  their  line  of  march  for  the  Susquehanna.  So 
many  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  brigade  were  residents  of 
this  town,  and  so  long  had  they  been  on  service  at  this  post, 
during  the  war,  that  the  people  of  the  town  took  the  deepest 
interest  in  every  thing  pertaining  to  their  welfare.  It  was 
their  own  right  arm  of  defence.f 

■  Washington  removed  his  headquarters  from  Middlebrook, 
the  first  week  in  June,  and  soon  after  took  post  at  New 
'\^indsor  on  the  North  River.  In  consequence,  as  the  regular 
troops,  that  usually  kept  watch  of  Staten  Island,  were  on  their 
way  to  the  Indian  country,  the  eastern  coast  of  this  town,  was 
considerably  exposed.  Col.  Neilson,  a  vigilant  ofHcer,  was 
left  here  with  a  small  corps,  which,  with  the  militia,  ready  to 
be  called  out  on  any  emergency,  was  thought  sufficient  for 
the  time  being.  Col.  Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  at  a  later 
date,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  State  regiment, 
with  his  headquarters  at  this  post.:]: 

*  N.  J.  Rer.  Correspondence,  pp.  143-154  ;  159-1G3.    Spnrks' Wflslilngton,  VI.  252-5. 
t  Sparks'  Washington,  VI.  253,  5. 
:J  Marshall's  ■Washington,  IV.  05,  C.    N.J.  Kcv.  Correspondence,  p.  17G. 


476  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The  refugees  on  Staten  Island  took  advantage  of  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  forces  here,  and  renewed  their  predatory  excur- 
sions. On  the  night  of  Saturday,  June  12th,  Cornelius  Hat- 
field, Jr.,  with  five  other  "  loyal  refugees,"  as  Gaines  calls 
them,  crossed  over  the  Sound  to  Lieut.  John  Haviland's 
house,  which  they  effectually  plundered  of  its  contents,  and 
seizing  Ilaviland  and  the  Captain  of  one  of  the  guard  boats, 
whom  they  had  also  surprised,  they  returned  with  them  in 
safety  to  the  Island.  A  few  nights  after,  Friday,  ISth,  the 
same  party,  with  other  tories,  and  several  British  soldiers,  re- 
peated the  experiment,  and  landed  at  Halstead's  Point, — 

From  whence  they  stole  np  in  small  parties,  amongst  their  friends, 
where,  probably,  they  obtained  fall  information  of  the  strength  and  situa- 
tion of  our  guard  at  Ilalsted's  house,  which  they  attacked  about  day-light 
in  the  morning  ;  the  guard  being  vigilant  escaped,  (except  one  man  killed), 
and  gave  the  alarm  to  the  town,  the  villains  in  the  meantime  plundered 
the  house  of  almost  every  thing  portable,  took  off  his  riding  chair,  and 
made  Mr.  Halsted  a  prisoner,  who,  however,  had  the  address  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  surprize  these  British  worthies  were  thrown  into  by  the 
firing  of  a  single  gun,  and  made  his  escape  from  them ;  had  thej  stayed 
a  few  minutes  longer,  they  would  probably  have  paid  dear  for  their  pre- 
sumption ;  a'S  it  was,  they  had  two  men  wounded,  one  of  them  mortally.* 

To  these  troubles  M'as  added,  at  midsummer,  June  20th,  a 
panic  respecting  the  negroes  of  the  town  : 

On  Sunday  night  last  it  was  discovered  that  the  negroes  had  it  in  con- 
templation to  rise  and  murder  the  inhabitants  of  Elizabeth  Town.  Many 
of  them  are  secured  in  gaol.t 

This  conspiracy  was,  of  course,  attributed  to  the  tories,  and 
with  the  plundering  incursions,  had  the  effect  to  quicken  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  finding,  July  6th,  inquisitions, 
and  entering  judgment  in  favor  of  the  State  against  the  fol- 
lowing fugitives  and  ofienders,  viz. : — 

Isaac  Mills,  John  Stiles,  jun.,  George  Marshall,  James  Frazee,  jun., 
Ichabod  Oliver,  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  John  Slone,  Robert  Gault, 
Joseph  Marsh,  John  Ackley,  Cornelius  Iletficld,  jun.,  Oliver  De  Lancey, 
•and  Jolm  Lee,  jr.,  in  the  County  of  Essex.  (It  is  added)  Notice  is  hereby 
given  that  all  the  real  estates  that  lately  belonged  to  the  above  fugitives 

*  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1443.  Now  Jersey  Journal,  No.  19.  N.  J.  Rev.  Correspondenco, 
p.  17G.  t  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  19. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  477 

within  the  bounds  of  Elizabeth  Town,  will  be  sold  at  public  vendue,  on 
Monday  the  sixteenth  day  of  August  next,  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Smith, 
innkeeper,  in  Elizabeth  Town  aforesaid,  or  on  the  premises ;  and  also  that 
part  of  the  estate  late  the  property  of  Cavalier  Jouet,  that  was  sold  to  a 
certain  Nathaniel  Eubbell  [son  of  Rev,],  unless  the  said  Ilubbell  appears 
and  pays  the  purchase-money  for  the  same,  before  the  day  of  sale.* 

The  representations  of  Gen.  Maxwell  in  respect  to  the  re- 
moval of  tories  from  the  State  were  not  without  effect : — 

A  Motion  was  made  at  Elizabeth  Town  last  Thursday,  [12th  of  Aug.], 
(says  Gaines),  to  remove  all  the  suspected  Persons  from  that  place;  agree- 
able to  a  Law  lately  passed  in  that  province  ;  but  the  Motion  could  not 
be  carried,  it  being  strongly  opposed  by  Gov.  Livingston,  who  said  it  was 
impolitic  to  the  highest  Degree,  and  that  it  would  only  increase  the  Num- 
ber of  their  Enemies,  t 

At  the  convening  of  the  Legislature,  Oct.  2Tth,  1779,  Liv- 
ingston was  the  fourth  time  elected  Governor  of  the  State. 
Great  efforts  had  been  made,  by  means  of  the  press  and 
otherwise,  on  the  part  of  his  enemies — "  copperheads,"  as 
they  would  have  been  called  at  a  later  period — to  prevent 
his  reelection.  TJiey  could  command  in  the  Legislature, 
however,  only  nine  of  the  thirty-eight  votes.  The  result  was 
higlil}'-  gratifying  to  his  patriotic  townsmen,  and  all  the  true 
l)atriots  throughout  the  State.  :j: 

With  the  commencement  of  the  winter,  the  main  body  of 
the  army  under  Washington  took  up  their  quarters  at  Mor- 
ris Town.  It  proved  to  be  one  of  the  severest  winters  on 
record.  The  cold  set  in  early,  and  storm  succeeded  storm, 
piling  up  the  snow  in  every  direction,  until  January  3d,  1780, 
when  one  of  the  most  terrific  storms,  ever  remembered,  set 
in,  from  which  the  army  suffered  dreadfully.  The  snow 
covered  the  earth  to  the  depth  of  from  four  to  six  feet,  the 
roads  were  everywhere  obstructed,  and  almost  nothing  could 
be  had  for  the  sustenance  of  the  troops.  Washington  was 
compelled  to  resort  to  forced  requisitions  on  the  several 
counties  of  the  State.  Col.  Matthias  Ogden  was  appointed 
to  collect  the  cattle  and  grain  required  of  the  County  of 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  23.  t  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1-152. 

t  Sedgwick's  Livingston,  pp.  .338-9. 


.J.Y8  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Essex,  The  State,  to  its  honor  be  it  spoken,  though  so 
greatly  impoverished  by  a  four  years  war,  came  nobly  to  the 
rescue.  The  crisis  was  firmly  met,  and  safely  passed.  The 
army  vra^  fed  and  furnished.  * 

The  extraordinary  severity  of  the  cold,  and  its  steadiness, 
closed  up  the  rivers,  the  Sound,  Newark  Bay,  and  even  the 
harbor  of  IsTew  York.  The  isolation  of  the  City  and  the 
Island  existed  no  longer.  The  ice,  even  in  the  Bay  of  New 
York,  was  of  sucli  solidity,  that  an  army  with  all  its  artillery 
and  baggage  could  cross  with  greater  facility  than  on  the 
firm  earth.  The  authorities  at  New  York  were  full  of  ap- 
prehension, and  took  measures  to  concentrate  their  forces,  in 
case  of  an  attack.  Extraordinary  vigilance  was  called  for, 
on  both  sides  of  the  line,  f 

As  the  troops  had  now  received  their  needed  supplies,  and 
a  portion  of  them  might  be  favorably  employed  in  an  attempt 
on  Staten  Island,  Gen.  Wm.  Irvine,  who  had  been  sent  down 
some  time  before,  with  a  detachment,  to  this  post,  was  in- 
structed to  obtain  information  "  of  the  enemy's  strength, 
corps,  situation,  and  works,"  on  Staten  Island ;  to  ascertain 
the  state  of  the  ice  at  Halstead's  Point,  and  at  the  Blazing 
Star  Ferry  ;  and  to  act  in  concert  with  Col.  Dayton,  in  mak- 
ing the  necessary  preparations.  Great  caution  was  to  be 
used  in  keeping  the  design  secret.  A  large  number  of  sleds 
or  sleighs— several  hundred — were  procured,  with  all  the 
necessary  ammunition,  rations,  tools,  guns,  and  spare  shoes. 
Various  detachments  were  called  in,  and  detailed  for  the 
service — amounting  to  about  2500  men — all  to  rendezvous 
in  this  town  on  the  evening  of  Friday,  the  Hth. :}: 

The  expedition  was  jDut  under  the  command  of  Lord  Stir- 
ling, and  it  was  designed  to  capture,  if  possible,  the  entire 
force  of  the  enemy  on  the  Island,  supposed  to  be  about  1200 
men.  It  was  believed  that  the  communication  by  water  with 
the  city  was  cut  ofi".  The  expedition  set  off,  in  good  order, 
early  in  the  morning  of  Saturday  the  15th.     They  crossed 

*  Sparks'  Washington,  VI.  437-41.  Th.ichei's  Military  Journal,  pp.  176-S2,  6.  Barber's 
II.  Coll.  of  N.  J.,  pp. 3SS-92.    Gordon's  Rev.  War,  III.  42,  8. 

♦  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  VIII.  781,  2,  5.    Hist  Mag.,  VIII.  CS. 

X  Sparks'  Washington,  VI.  441-7.    Marshall's  Waahington,  IV.  199-200. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  4Y9 

safely  on  the  ice,  at  De  Hart's  Point,  to  Mercereau's  dock- 
yard. At  tlie  forks  of  the  Blazing  Star  road,  they  divided, 
one  column  proceeding  by  Dongau's  mills,  and  the  other  by 
the  back  road  towards  the  watering  place  [Tompkinsville]. 
Lient.-Col.  Willet  was  detached  to  surprise  Buskirk  and  his 
force  of  two  hundred  provincials  at  Decker's  Ferry.  But 
the  enemy  had  obtained  early  intelligence  of  the  invasion, 
and  on  all  sides  retired  to  their  works.  The  two  columns 
effected  a  junction  on  the  heights  above  the  works  at  the 
same  time.  They  found  the  enemy  strongly  fortified,  and 
entrenched,  also,  behind  an  abattis  of  snow,  about  ten  feet 
in  height.  Communication  by  water  with  the  city,  also,  they 
found  to  be  open.  After  fully  reconnoitring  the  position, 
and  remaining  over  night,  they  retired  about  sunrise  the 
next  morning,  making  good  their  retreat,  and  arriving  at 
De  Hart's  Point  about  11  o'clock  A.  M.  At  Decker's  Ferry 
they  captured  and  destroyed  nine  sailing  vessels.  They  took 
eight  or  ten  prisoners,  and  received  several  deserters.  One 
of  the  enemy  was  slain,  as  were  three  of  their  own  men. 
Many  of  the  men,  also,  were  frost-bitten,  and  all  suffered 
considerably  from  the  severity  of  the  cold,  the  snow  being 
three  or  four  feet  deep.  '^' 

Taking  advantage  of  this  opportunity  a  number  of  worth- 
less characters  followed  the  troops  to  the  Island,  and  com- 
mitted various  depredations  upon  the  people ;  Rivington 
says,  to  the  extent  of  $10,000.  "Washington  had  given  strict 
orders  not  to  allow  anything  of  the  kind.  After  their  re- 
turn from  the  Island,  Lord  Stirling  reclaimed  the  property 
as  far  as  possible,  and  issued  orders  that  whoever  had  been 
guilty  of  plundering  should  restore  what  they  had  thus 
taken  to  the  Hev.  Mr.  Caldwell,  that  it  might  be  sent  back 
to  the  owners,  f 

This  expedition  hail  the  effect  to  increase  the  vigilance  of 
the  enemy,  whose  number  in  garrison  was  thereupon  doubled. 
While,  on  the  otlier  hand,  the  forces,  on  this  side,  disheart- 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  51.  N.  J.  Gazette,  Nos.  109, 110.  Eivington's  Gazette,  Nos.  845,  7, 
8,350.  Thacher's  Journal,  p.  1S4.  Marshall's  Washington,  IV.  201-2.  Sparks' Washington, 
VI.  442-S.    Sparks'  Corr.  of  the  Ilev.,  II.  3S0-1. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  381.    Spark's  Washington,  VI.  446. 


480  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ened  bj  their  failure,  suffered  a  relaxation  of  both  vigilance 
and  enterprise.  Preparations  were  accordingly  made,  by 
the  enemy,  for  retaliatory  raids  on  this  town  and  Newark, 
on  the  night  of  Tuesday,  Jan,  25,  1780,  and  in  both  cases 
they  succeeded.  The  N^.  Jersey  Journal  of  the  27th  makes 
the  following  statements  : — 

A  party  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred  infantry,  un- 
der the  command  of  Colonel  Van  Buskirk,  of  tbe  new  levies,  and  about  sixty 
dragoons,  said  to  be  under  the  command  of  Captain  Steward,  of  the  seven- 
teenth light  dragoons,  with  several  refugees — the  whole  in  number  nearly 
four  hundred — crossed  on  the  ice  from  Staten  Island  to  Trembly's  Point, 
about  three  miles  from  Elizabeth  Town,  last  Tuesday  night.  From  thence 
they  were  conducted  by  Cornelius  Iletfield,  Job  Iletfield,  and  Smith  Ilet- 
field,  their  principal  guides,  the  nearest  and  most  retired  route  to  Eliza- 
beth Town.  They  entered  the  town,  in  two  divisions,  before  the  alarm 
was  sounded.  As  soon  as  the  troops  that  were  in  town  (consisting  of 
about  sixty  men)  perceived  their  danger,  they  retreated ;  however,  they 
took  a  major,  who  was  commandant  of  the  place,  and  two  or  three  cap- 
tains that  lodged  in  town  that  night,  and  a  few  troops.  They  then  set 
fire  to  the  presbyterian  meeting  and  court-house,  which  were  con- 
sumed ;  plundered,  insulted  and  took  off  some  of  the  inhabitants,  and  re- 
treated, with  great  precipitation,  by  the  way  of  De  Hart's  Point,  whose 
house  they  likewise  consumed.'*' 

"A  gentleman  at  Elizabetli  Town,"  in  a  letter,  written  on 
the  29th,  an  extract  from  which  was  published  in  the  !New 
Jersey  Gazette,  says, — 

The  enemy  paid  us  a  visit  here  last  Tuesday  evening;  they  were  in 
town  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Buskirk,  of  the  New  Levies :  The  plan  was  well  concerted,  and 
as  well  executed ;  they  evaded  our  guards,  and  were  in  town  before  any 
one  knew  it. — They  have  taken  forty  or  fifty  privates  and  several  officers, 
with  ten  or  twelve  of  the  inhabitants.  Hajor  Williamson  and  Captain 
Gifford  fell  into  their  hands.  Mr.  Belcher  Smith,  [son  of  Wm.  Peartree 
Smith],  in  attempting  to  escape,  was  likewise  taken.  They  burnt  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  the  court  house,  plundered  Jecamiah  Smith, 
but  no  other  houses  of  any  consequence,  as  they  Were  afraid  to  enter  them, 
and  staid  but  a  little  time  before  they  pushed  off.t 

Rivington,  in  his  paper  .of  Jan.  29th,  gives  the  British  ver- 
sion of  the  afliiir  : 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  51.  +  N.  J.  Gazette,  Nos.  110, 112. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  4S1 

On  Tuesday  night,  tho  25th  inst.,  the  rebel  posts  at  Elizabeth  Town 
were  coinpletely  surprised  and  carried  ofl'bj  diflerent  detachments  of  the 
king's  troops.  Lieut.  Col.  Buskirk's  detachment, — consisting  of  about 
120  men  from  the  1st  and  4th  battalions  of  Brig.  Gen.  Skinner's  brigade, 
with  12  dragoons  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Stuart, — moved  from 
Staten  Island  early  in  the  night,  and  got  into  Elizabeth  Town  without 
being  discovered,  between  the  hours  of  10  and  11.  With  little  resistance, 
they  made  prisoners  2  majors,  3  captains,  and  47  privates,  among  whom 
were  5  dragoons,  with  their  horses,  arms,  and  accoutrements.  Few  of 
the  rebels  were  killed,  but  several  were  wounded  by  the  dragoons,  though 
they  afterwards  escaped. 

The  services  were  performed  without  loss.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  some  of  the  rebel  officers  brought  to  town  on  Thursday  last,  .  .  .  from 
Elizabeth  Town :  Maj.  Ecclcs,  of  the  5th  Maryland  regiment ;  Col.  Belt, 
of  the  4th  regiment,  from  Prince  George  Co. ;  Mr.  B.  Smith,  son  of  Pear- 
tree  Smith ;  Maj.  Williamson  and  his  brother.* 

Eivington's  statement  as  to  the  persons,  and  the  strcngtli 
of  the  detachment  engaged  in  this  retaliatory  foray,  is,  proba- 
bly, to  be  accepted  as  at  least  semi-official.  Abraham  Bus- 
kirk,  according  to  Gaines'  Register  for  ITSl,  M-as  Lieut.  Col. 
Commandant  of  the  fonrth  battalion  of  New  Jersey  volun- 
teers, or  tories,  mider  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  Cortlandt 
Skinner,  Esq.  Neal  Stewart  was  a  Lieut,  of  Col.  Bayard's 
Orange  Rangers.  The  guides  were  natives  of  the  town, 
familiar  with  all  the  roads  and  all  the  residents  of  the  place.f 

Washington  speaks  of  the  event,  two  days  after,  as  "  the 
late  misfortune  and  disgrace  at  Elizabeth  Town."  Not  less 
than  2000  men,  nnder  Col.  Moses  Ilazen,  were  stationed  that 
night  along  the  shore  of  the  frozen  waters  from  Paulus  Ilook 
to  Amboy,  in  small  detachments,  one  of  which,  sixty  only  in 

*  Kivington'sGazette,No.  34S.  Barber's  Hist.  Coll.  of  N.  J.,  pp.  1C6-7.  Thacher's  Journal 
pp.  156-T. 

t  Uist.  Magazine,  VIII.  355,  6.  The  names  of  the  persons  captured,  as  subsequently  re- 
ported, were,  "Major  Ecclcston,  Major  Williamson,  Captain  Gray,  Captain  Thomas  AVoodruff, 
Captain  Samuel  Moorehouse,  Captain  Isaac  Scudder,  Captain  W.  [B.]  Smith,  Capt:iin  (jilford 
[Giflford],  John  Culles,  Ja.  Knot,  William  Fruckcr,  John  Sullivan,  Charles  Gough,  John  Gor- 
mond,  John  Eoebly,  John  Lumox,  Theodorilc  Lindsey,  James  Davison,  Joseph  Farsou,  John 
Blades,  John  Crcaton,  John  Eyon,  Thomas  Gordon,  John  King,  Joseph  Austin,  James  Dues, 
Michael  Coughlon,  John  Miles,  Michael  Rowland,  John  Fisk,  E.  Pruktt,  Isaac  Dukcson,  James 
Morrison,  Jonathan  Hackson,  Benjamin  Garrison,  Philip  Kiiolt,  Abraham  Kosier,  John  Brown, 
Andrew  Patterson,  Andrew  McFarland,  David  Buddel,  Albert  Slarret,  Henry  Eendert,  Ralph 
Price,  Ab.  Price,  Jerub  Price,  John  Gray,  John  Mulford,  James  Shay."'  Kot  more  than  twelve 
or  fifteen  of  these  wore  residents.  The  remainder  were  soldiers.  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1i7C. 
Rivington's  Gazette,  No.  851. 

31 


482  THE    HISTORY    OF 

uuinber,  under  Major  Eccles,  was  dctailcc)  for  this  important 
post.* 

"The  Court  House"  was  "a  small  frame  shingle  covered 
building,  which  had  never  been  adorned  with  paint ;  and  in 
the  same  condition,  and  style  of  architecture,  was  the  adja- 
cent building,  the  Presbyterian  Meeting  House,  both  of  which 
respectivel}''  occupied  the  ground  whereon  now  stand  the 
structures  devoted  to  the  same  objects."  Such  is  tlie  descrip- 
tion of  these  buildings  as  given  by  the  late  Capt.  Wm.  C.  De 
Hart.  They  were  among  the  oldest  and  most  venerable 
buildings  of  the  town.  The  church  was  ornamented  by  a 
steeple,  surmounted  by  a  ball  and  weathercock,  furnished, 
also,  with  a  clock.  It  was  the  most  conspicuous  and  the 
most  valued  building  in  the  town — hallowed  as  the  structure 
in  which  their  pilgrim-fathers  had  worshiped  God,  in  which 
they  themselves — so  many  of  them — had  been  consecrated 
to  God  in  baptism,  and  in  which  the  great  and  revered  Dick- 
inson, the  honored  Spencer,  and  the  still  more  renowned 
Whitefield,  had  preached  God's  word.f 

The  destruction  of  these  buildings  is,  by  common  consent, 
attributed  to  Cornelius  Hatfield,  Jr.,  whose  venerable  parents. 
Col.  Cornelius  and  Abigail,  were  among  the  most  excellent 
and  honored  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  most 
thoroughly  patriotic.  The  father  had  been  a  trustee,  and 
was  then  an  elder  of  the  church.  The  mother  died,  on  the 
27th  of  April,  in  the  year  following,  in  the  YOth  year  of  her 
age,  greatly  lamented.  The  renegade  son  was  a  man  of  great 
energy  of  character,  and  of  commanding  influence  among 
the  refugees.  During  the  previous  two  years  he  had  resided 
on  Staten  Island,  continually  watching  opportunities  to  molest 
and  capture  his  former  friends  and  neighbors,:}: 

As  the  son  had  destroyed  their  church  edifice,  so  the  father 
opened  the  doors  of  a  large  "  Ped  Store  House,"  that  belong- 
ed to  him,  which  was  fitted  up  for  the  jJuriDOse,  and  used, 
thenceforward,  as  a  meeting-house.  It  was  on  the  other  and 
most  populous  side  of  tl!e  creek,  on  the  east  side  of  Cherry 

*  Sparks'  Washington,  VI.  452,  3. 

t  Passages  In  tho  Ilistory  of  E.  T.,  No.  III.    Murrny's  Notes,  p.  4C. 

i  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  115. 


ELIZABEin,    NEW    JERSEY,  483 

St.,  near  West  AYatcr  st.,  and  nearly  opposite  Capt,  Da 
Hart's  house.  It  was  afterwards  removed  to  tlie  opposite 
side  of  the  road,  rebuilt  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Edward 
Price.* 

As  soon  as  Washington  heard  of  the  affair,  lie  dispatched 
Maj.-Gen.  Arthur  St.  Clair,  Jan.  27th,  to  investigate  the 
causes  of  the  disaster,  to  guard  against  future  inroads  of  the 
hind,  and  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  a  retaliation  ; — at 
the  same  time  to  take  command  of  all  the  forces  below  the 
Hills.  On  Friday,  the  2Sth,  St.  Clair  reports,  from  Crane's 
Mill,  as  follows : — 

I  arrived  at  Col.  Ilazen's  Quarters,  the  night  before  last,  and  yesterday, 
•with  him,  visited  the  several  posts,  which  I  found  to  be  Rahway,  Crane's 
Mills,  Connecticut  Farms,  Elizabeth  Town  and  Newark.  Elizabeth  Town 
and  iSTewark  are  occupied  by  small  detachments  only,  and  guards  are 
posted  at  De  Hart's  and  llalstead  Points.  A  small  guard  is  also  kept  at 
the  New  Blazing  Star  from  the  post  at  Rahway.  .  .  In  Elizabeth  Tq.wn  I 
find  a  four  days'  guard,  consisting  of  one  hundred  men  with  a  Field 
Officer.  This  I  reduced  to  a  Captain  and  fifty  to  be  relieved  daily.  .  . 
The  guards  at  De  Ilart's  and  llalstead  Points  are  certainly  much  ex- 
posed. 

Notwithstanding  these  precautions,  another  foray  was 
made  on  Sunday  evening,  SOtli  of  January,  which  is  thus 
described  in  a  tory  paper  : — 

Last  .Sunday  evening  a  party  consisting  of  thirteen  mounted  refugees 
went  from  Staten  Island,  and  [at  Rahway]  in  tbe  vicinity  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  New  Jersey,  surprised  Mr.  Wynantz,  a  lieutenant  of  the  rebel 
militia,  and  eight  private  men  of  Colonel  Jacques'  regiment,  [that  had 
been  on  a  party  of  pleasure  with  some  young  ladies].  Few  republicans 
on  this  continent  arc  more  remarkable  for  their  implacable  opposition  to 
his  Majesty's  government  than  some  of  these  prisoners ;  they  were  all  the 
same  evening  securely  lodged  on  Staten  Island.  They  were  found  at  a 
fandango,  or  merry-making,  with  a  party  of  lasses,  who  became  planet 
struck  at  the  sudden  separation  from  their  Damons.  The  further  trophies 
of  this  successful  excursion  are  three  handsome  sleighs  with  ten  good 
horses,  all  of  which  were  yesterday  driven  to  New  York  over  the  ice  from 
Staten  Island,  an  enterprise  never  yet  attempted  since  the  first  settlement 
of  this  country.f 

*  rassagcs  in  the  History  of  E.  T.,  No.  II. 

t  Kivington's  Gazette,  No.  849.  Gaines' Mercury,  No.  1477.  Moore's  Diary  II.  257 -S. 
N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  111. 


48i  THE    niSTORY    OF 

»  The  ice-blockade  continuing,  the  tories  took  anotlier  ride 
into  Jersey  on  the  10th  of  February  "with  similar  results  : — 

On  Thursday  niglit  last  tbo  enemy,  under  the  command  of  Generals 
Stirling  and  Skinner,  visited  Elizabeth  Town,  entirely  upon  a  plundering 
party.  Among  other  houses,  they  plundered  Doctor  Barnet's,  Messrs. 
William  P.  Smith,  William  Herriman,  Matthias  llalsted  and  Doctor 
Wynantz;  the  two  former  in  a  most  barbarous  manner.  The  house- of 
Mr.  Smith  they  searched  throughout  for  Mr.  Elisha  Boudinot,  who  thoy 
thought  was  concealed  there;  but  fortunately  both  he  and  Mr.  Smith 
lodged  out  of  town.  After  terrifying  the  women  and  children,  they 
heroically  marched  off  with  their  plunder  and  five  or  six  prisoners.* 

The  horrors  of  that  dreadful  winter  could  not  be  forgotten 
by  that  generation.  The  condition  of  the  people,  in  their 
almost  defenceless  exposure  to  the  barbarian  incursions  of 
the  rapacious  foe,  was  deplorable  in  the  extreme.  But  the 
more  they  suffered  for  their  country's  cause,  the  more  fixed 
and  deep-rooted  was  their  determination  never  again  to  sub- 
mit to  the  now  more  than  ever  hated  rule  of  the  cruel  and 
haughty  Briton. 

It  is  surprising,  that  any  of  the  people  should  have  con- 
tinued, in  these  circumstances,  to  reside  on  the  borders  of  the 
Sound,  especially  when  it  was  every  where  frozen  over,  and 
could  be  crossed  in  perfect  safety  by  the  refugee  marauders. 
So  long  as  this  natural  bridge  lasted,  these  incursions  con- 
tinued. The  following  statement,  made,  on  "Wednesday, 
March  29th,  shows  what  was  now  of  not  infrequent  occur- 
rence : — 

Last  Friday  night  [24th]  some  villains  from  Staten  Island  came  over  to 
Elizabeth  Town,  and  carried  off  Matthias  Ilalstead,  Esq.,  a  worthy 
citizen.t 

Even  after  the  departure  of  the  ice,  these  forays  were  re- 
peated. On  the  2Gth  of  April,  a  record  is  made  as  fol- 
lows : — 

A  party  of  the  enemy  from  Staten  Island,  consisting  of  about  thirty 
men,  attempted  to  surprize,  last  Sunday  night  [23d]  a  small  guard  at  Hal- 
stead's  Point,  but  through  the  alertness  of  the  centinels  (one  of  -which 

♦  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  112.  Mr.  Smith's  house  was  the  former  residence  of  Gov.  Belcher  ; 
Mr.  Coudlnot  was  the  8on-iu-law  of  Mr.  Smith.  t  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  09. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  485 

they  killed)  their  plan  wa3  eflfectually  marred.  They  plundered  Mr.  Ha^ 
stead  of  beds  and  bedding,  tlio  family's  -wearing  apparel,  and  seven  or 
eight  head  of  creatures.* 

Thus  passed,  in  alarm  and  terror,  the  ever-memorable  win- 
ter of  1779-80 — memorable  for  the  severity  of  the  season, 
and  for  the  devastation  made  by  the  merciless  foe. 

*  N.  J.  Jourcal,  No.  03, 


486  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CIIAPTEE    XXII. 
A.  D.  ivso-nss. 

Knypliausen  invades  E.  T.  in  force  —  Passage  of  the  Brit.  Army  through  the 
town  —  Uprismg  of  the  Militia  —  Skirmislies  —  Severe  Fight  near  Spring- 
field—  "Wife  of  Rev.  J.  Caldwell  murdered  —  Village  of  Ct.  Farms  burned 
down  —  Retreat  of  the  British  to  the  Point  —  Thunder-Storm  —  Skirmishes 
at  the  Point  —  Second  Advance  of  the  British  Army  —  Battle  of  Springfield 

—  Village  burned  —  Retreat  of  the  Foe  to  S.  Island  —  Bravery  of  the  Militia 

—  Partisan  Warfare  —  Capture  of  Col.  Ogden  and  Capt.  Dayton  —  Raids  of 
Refugees — Cowboys  —  Night  Patrols  —  Marauding  Parties  —  Surrender  of 
Cornwallis  —  Exchange  of  Prisoners  —  Desperadoes  —  Forays  —  Predatory 
Raids  —  Maj.  Crane's  Exploits  —  Peace. 

The  campaign  of  17S0  opened  late.  The  frost  had  pene- 
trated the  earth  to  an  unusnal  depth,  and  tlie  roads,  at  the 
breaking  np  of  winter,  were,  for  a  considerable  period,  al- 
most impassable.  On  the  ISth  of  May,  Governor  Robertson 
of  New  York,  in  one  of  his  despatches,  speaks  of  the  "  late- 
ness of  the  season,  there  not  yet  being  a  blade  of  grass." 
Robertson  and  Knyphansen,  the  general  in  chief  of  the  Brit- 
ish forces  in  and  about  ISTew  York,  were  concocting  meas- 
ures to  capture,  or  expel  from  JSTew  Jersey,  the  patriot  army. 

Confident  of  speedy  victory,  Ivnyphausen  made  vigorous 
preparations  for  an  invasion  of  East  Jersey.  The  time  chosen 
was  tlie  Gth  of  June — the  very  day,  when,  as  afterwards  ap- 
peared, a  vast  body  of  rioters  were,  and  during  the  next  day 
continued  to  be,  pillaging  and  burning  the  metropolis  of  the 
Empire,  and  were  masters  of  London.  Of  the  inception  of 
the  invasion,  Gov.  Robertson  reports  to  Lord  Germain  as 
follows : 

On  the  Gth  of  June  wo  sail'd  witli  as  many  troops  as  could  safely 
bo  spared  from  the  defence  of  this  Province — 6000 — to  Staten  Island ; 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  487 

from  tlienco  we  landed  our  advanced  guard  the  same  night  at  Elizahetli 
Town,  where  they  waited  the  landing  of  a  second  embarkation  hj  the 
return  of  the  boats — these  Bodys  moved  on,  with  orders  to  try  to  sur- 
prize Maxwell's  Brigade  of  Jersey  Troops,  stationed  near  to  the  road  we 
marched  by,  to  endeavor  to  get  possession  of  the  strong  post  at  Short 
hills,  to  wait  there  the  arrival  of  the  third  embarkation  of  the  army — from 
whence  if  our  intelligence  should  show  circumstances  favorable,  it  was 
iotended  to  march  directly  with  the  whole  against  Washington,  who  had 
been  sending  his  stores  from  Morristown,  but  was  still  incumbered  there 
with  a  great  many.  * 

The  Coldstream  Guards,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Ed- 
■\vard  Mathew,  sailing  down  the  hay,  disembarked  at  Staten 
Island,  where  they  were  joined  by  other  troops,  regulars  and 
provincials.  Here  the}''  were  formed  into  three  divisions  ; 
the  first  under  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Stirling ;  the  second, 
under  Brig.-Gen.  Mathew ;  the  third,  comprising  the  Cold- 
stream Guards,  and  others,  under  Maj.-Gen.  Tryon:  the 
whole,  under  the  general  command  of  Maj.-Gen.  Knyphausen. 
As  soon  as  formed,  they  marched  forward  to  the  landing  op- 
posite E.  Town  Point,  arriving  in  the  night,  and  unobserved. 
The  first  division  crossed  the  Sound  in  flat-boats,  and  landed 
on  the  meadows,  near  the  Point ;  where  they  halted  until,  in 
like  manner,  the  second  and  third,  with  the  light  artillery, 
had  crossed,  before  day.  Early  on  Wednesday  morning, 
the  whole  force  were  in  motion.  Stirling,  being  the  youngest 
General,  led  the  advance. 

In  the  mean  time,  word  was  brought  to  Col.  Dayton  of  the 
Jersey  Brigade,  that  the  British  were  at  the  Point.  Having 
reconnoitred  the  position,  he  stationed  a  guard  of  twelve 
men  at  the  eastern  terminus  of  Water  st.  [now  Elizabeth 
Avenue],  where  the  two  roads  leading  to  the  Old  and  iSTew 
Points  diverge,  with  orders  to  arrest  the  advance  of  the  foe  as 
long  as  practicable,  and  then  retire.  Dayton  hastened  back 
to  the  town,  and  mustered  his  troops  as  quickly  as  possible, 
to  be  ready  for  the  emergency,  and  fallback,  if  outnumbered. 

As  the  enemy  came  marching  forward,  at  the  break  of 
day.  Gen.  Stirling  at  the  head  of  liis  division,  tlie  guards, 

*  N.  T.  Col.  Docmts,  VIII.  793. 


488  THE    HISTORY    OF 

at  the  forks  of  the  road,  allowed  them  to  approach  Avithin 
musket  shot,  when  they  fired,  and  fled  to  town.  One  of  the 
balls  unhorsed  Stirling,  and  fractured  his  thigh.  The  whole 
column  was  thus  brought  to  a  halt,  until  the  wounded  Gen- 
eral could  be  cared  for.  Knyphausen  now  placed  himself  at 
the  head  of  the  division,  and  just  as  the  sun  was  rising  upon 
the  earth,  the  squadron  in  advance  entered  the  town,  passing 
up  Water  street  [Elizabeth  avenue]  and  so  into  Broad  street. 

An  eye-"witnes3  of  the  passage  of  the  troops  through  the  village,  de- 
scribes it  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sights  he  ever  beheld.  In  the  van 
marched  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  of  Simcoe's  regiment,  known  as  the 
"  Queen's  Rangers,"  with  drawn  swords  and  glittering  helms,  mounted 
on  very  large  and  beautiful  horses — then  followed  the  infantry,  composed 
of  Uessians  and  English  troops — the  whole  body  amounting  to  nearly  six 
thousand  men,  and  every  man,  horseman  and  foot,  clad  in  new  uniforms, 
complete  in  panoply,  and  gorgeous  with  burnished  brass  and  polished 
steel.* 

Passing  from  Broad  into  Jersey  st.,  the  columns  of  the 
enemy,  on  their  way  to  the  Short  Hills  and  Washington's 
Camp,  were  led  by  the  guides  along  the  most  frequented 
way,  known  as  the  Galloping  Hill  road,  which,  leaving  the 
Westfield  Eoad,  on  the  line  of  the  present  Central  Rail  Road, 
at  the  extreme  west  point  of  the  town  as  now  bounded,  and 
running  north-westerly,  enters  the  village  of  Union  or  ''  Con- 
necticut Farms,"  south  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In 
passing  through  the  town,  the  troops  were  kept  in  perfect 
order,  committing  no  deeds  of  violence. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  foe  had  landed,  word  was 
sent  as  quickly  as  possible  to  Prospect  Hill  in  the  rear  of 
Springfield,  when  the  eighteen-pounder  signal  gun,  and  the 
tar-barrel  on  the  signal  pole,  were  fired,  and  the  whole  coun- 
try on  both  sicjes  of  the  mountains  was  roused.  Instantly 
the  drums  in  the  camp  at  JMorristown  beat  to  arms,  and 
Washington  and  his  troops  marched  witli  all  speed  to  the 
post  of  danger.  The  militia,  in  every  dircclicn,  seized  their 
firelocks,  swords,  or  whatever  weapon  was  at  hand,  hasted 
to  their  respective  mustering-placcs,  and  were  soon  proceed- 

*  Do  Ilnrfs  "  Taseagcs  in  tho  History  of  E.  Town,"  No.  I. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  489 

ing  by  companies  to  the  field  of  action.  The  whole  town, 
from  the  Sound  to  the  Passaic,  with  all  its  villages,  from 
Springfield  to  Rahway,  was  thoroughly  aroused,  and  pre- 
paring to  resist  and  drive  back  the  invading  foe.  Col.  Day- 
ton, and  that  portion  of  the  Jersey  Brigade  that  was  sta- 
tioned in  and  about  the  old  town,  made  good  their  retreat 
from  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  effected  a 
junction  with  the  other  portions  of  the  brigade  under  Gen. 
Maxwell,  at  Connecticut  Farms.  On  the  way  up,  tliey  were 
joined  by  militia  men,  and,  with  increasing  numbers,  kept  up 
a  continual  skirmishing. 

On  the  rising  ground  just  beyond  the  "West  branch  of 
Elizabeth  River,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  south-east  of 
the  Farms'  church,  a  stand  was  made  by  a  party  of  the 
militia,  about  sixty  in  number,  armed  only  witli  muskets, 
who  succeeded  in  giving  a  temporary  check  to  the  column. 
Maxwell  with  liis  brigade,  and  some  of  the  militia,  took  post 
on  the  high  ground  beyond  the  Farms'  village,  where  they 
not  only  brought  the  enemy  to  a  halt,  but  drove  back  their 
advance,  a  short  distance,  annoying  them  considerably  by 
their  firing. 

Writing  from  the  "  Jersey  Camp,  near  Springfield,  14th 
June,  1780,"  to  Gov.  Livingston,  he  says, 

I  thought  Elizabeth  Town  would  be  an  improper  place  for  me.  I  there- 
fore retired  toward  Connecticut  Farms,  where  Col.  Dayton  joined  me 
with  his  regiment.  I  ordered  a  few  small  parties  to  defend  the  defile 
near  the  Farm  Meeting-house,  where  they  were  joined  and  assisted  in  the 
defence  by  some  small  bodies  of  militia.  The  main  body  of  the  brigade 
had  to  watch  the  enemy  on  the  road  leading  to  the  right  and  left  toward 
Springfield,  that  they  might  not  cut  off  our  communication  with  his  Ex- 
cellency General  Washington.  Our  parties  of  Continental  troops  and 
militia  at  the  defile  performed  wonders.  After  stopping  the  advance  of 
the  enemy  near  three  hours,  they  crossed  over  the  defile  and  drove  them 
to  the  tavern  that  was  Jeremiah  Smith's,  but  the  enemy  were  at  that 
time  reenforced  with  at  least  1,500  men,  and  our  people  were  driven  in 
their  turn  over  the  defile,  and  obliged  to  quit  it.  I,  with  the  whole  bri- 
gade and  militia,  was  formed  to  attack  them,  shortly  after  they  had  crossed 
the  defile,  but  it  was  tho't  imprudent,  as  the  ground  was  not  advantageous, 
and  the  enemy  very  numerous.  We  retired  slowly  towards  the  heights 
toward  Springfield,  harassing  tliem  on  their  right  and  left,  till  they  came 


490  THE    HISTORY    OF 

with  their  advanco  to  David  Meeker's  house,  -where  they  thought  proper 
to  halt.  Shortly  after  the  whole  hrigade,  with  the  militia,  advanced  their 
right,  left  and  front  with  the  greatest  rapidity,  and  drove  their  advance 
to  the  main  body.  We  were  in  our  turn  obliged  to  retire  after  the  closest 
action  I  have  seen  this  war.  We  were  then  pushed  over  the  bridge  at 
Springfield,  [Rahway  river],  where  we  posted  some  troops,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  a  field-piece,  commanded  by  the  militia,  the  enemy  were 
again  driven  back  to  their  former  station,  and  still  further  before  night. 
Never  did  troops,  either  continental  or  militia,  behave  better  than  ours 
did.  Every  one  that  had  an  opportunity  (which  they  mostly  all  had)  vied 
with  each  other  who  could  serve  the  country  most.  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  day  the  militia  flocked  from  all  quarters  and  gave  the  enemy  no 
respite  till  the  day  closed  the  scene.* 

The  fighting  on  this  occasion  took  place  mostly  on  the  ris- 
ing ground,  back  of  the  Farms'  village,  and  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Rahway  river  : — 

In  the  hope  of  ijreserving  the  Farms  [village]  Colonel  Dayton,  who  at 
that  time  commanded  the  militia,  determined  not  to  halt  in  the  settlement, 
but  to  take  post  at  a  narrow  pass  on  the  road  leading  to  Springfield.t 

Both  parties,  therefore,  passed  through  the  village,  without 
damage  to  the  dwelling-houses.  ]\Ianj,  if  not  the  most,  of 
these  houses  were,  at  noon  and  in  the  afternoon,  "  filled  with 
their  wounded." 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  the  British  Commander 
"  learned  from  Prisoners  and  Deserters,  that  AVashington  had 
got  time  to  occuj^y  with  all  his  force  the  strong  post  of  Short 
Hills."  This  information  at  once  put  an  end  to  all  thoughts 
of  advance.  A  retrograde  movement  was,  at  the  close  of  the 
day,  determined  upon,  to  be  executed,  however,  only  after 
night  fall.:|: 

Preparations,  accordingly,  were  made  for  an  encampment. 
Lieut.  ]\(Iatliew,  of  the  Coldstream  Guards,  says, — 

Finding  that  the  night  would  come  on  before  wo  reached  Springfield, 
we  retreated  to  a  very  commanding  ground  near  a  place  or  village  called 
Connecticut  Farms,  which  we  burnt  on  our  retreat  afterwards.  Here 
the  army  divided  their  ground,  and  sent  out  pickets,  expecting  to  lay  here 
the  whole  night.     I  was  on  a  picket.     I  went  on  it  about  five  o'clock  in 

•  Hist.  Magazine,  III.  211..  t  MarshnU's  Washington,  IV.  225. 

$  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  VIII.  793. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  491 

the  evening.    It  was  in  the  skirts  of  a  wood ;  the  rebels  kept  firing  on  it 
from  the  time  I  went  on  till  dark.* 

As  soon  as  it  was  determined  to  advance  no  further,  the 
soldiers  seem  to  have  commenced  the  work  of  phnidering, 
which  M'as  most  effectually  prosecuted,  Gov.  Robertson 
himself  sharing  in  the  plunder.  The  village  consisted  of  a 
house  of  worship  belonging  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  (a 
frame  building),  and  eight  or  ten  dwelling  houses,  besides 
stores,  shops,  and  outhouses.  The  buildings  were  first  given 
up  to  pillage — thoroughly  ransacked,  and  every  thing  portable 
carried  off.  They  were  then  fired  and  burnt  down.  The 
church-edifice  shared  the  same  fate.  The  houses  on  the  road 
running  east  from  the  church,  belonging  respectively  to 
Benjamin  Thompson,  Moses  Thompson,  John  "Wade,  and 
Robert  Wade,  and  the  house  belonging  to  Caleb  Wade,  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  the  church  stood,  were  thus 
destroyed. f 

The  parsonage  was  on  the  street,  running  north  and  south, 
that  bounds  the  village  on  the  west.  It  was  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  street  fronting  west.  The  last  pastor  of  the  church, 
Eev.  Benjamin  Halt,  had  died,  June  27,  1779.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Caldwell,  of  Elizabeth  Town,  by  the  advice  of  friends, 
had,  shortly  after  Mr.  Halt's  decease,  rented  the  vacant  par- 
sonage, and  occupied  it  with  his  family,  having  removed 
thither  from  Springfield.  Mr.  Caldwell  had  vainly  endeav- 
ored, when  the  alarm  was  given  in  the  morning,  to  induce 
his  wife  to  seek,  with  him  and  the  elder  children,  a  place  of 
greater  security.  She  concluded  to  trust  Providence  and 
remain  at  home,  "  under  the  persuasion  that  her  j^resence 
might  serve  to  protect "  the  house  "  from  pillage,  and  that 
her  person  could  not  possibly  be  endangered."  :j: 

Thacher,  who  was  with  Washington,  on  this  occasion,  says, 
in  his  Military  Journal,  that,  "  on  the  arrival  of  the  royal 
troops  Mrs.  Caldwell  entertained  the  ofiiccrs  with  refresh- 
ments, and  after  they  had  retired  she  and  a  young  woman, 
having  Mrs.  Caldwell's  infant  child  in  her  arms,  seated  them- 

•  Hist.  Mag.,  1. 104.  t  Barber's  N.  J.  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  196. 

{  Barber's  N.  J.  Uist.  Coll.,  p.  19fl.      Brown's  Life  of  llov.  Dr.  Finley,  pp.  240, 1. 


492  THE    HISTORY    OF 

selves  on  tlic  bed."     Another  account,  published  seven  days 
after  the  occurrence,  says, — 

Mrs.  Caldwell  retired  into  a  back  room  -wLicb  was  so  situated  that  she 
was  entirely  secured  against  transient  shot  from  either  party,  should  they 
dispute  the  ground  near  the  house,  ■which  happened  not  to  be  the  case. 
The  babe  [Maria]  was  in  the  arras  of  the  housekeeper  [Catharine  Bernard, 
or  a  small  girl,  named  Abigail  Lemington] ;  the  other  child  the  mother 
held  by  the  hand,  all  sitting  upon  the  side  of  the  bed,  when  one  of  the 
barbarians  advancing  round  the  house,  took  the  advantage  of  a  small 
space,  through  which  the  room  was  accessible,  and  tired  two  balls  into 
that  amiable  lady,  so  well  directed  that  they  ended  her  life  in  a  moment.* 

The  circumstances  of  her  death  are  variously  related.  The 
most  particular,  and  the  most  plausible  statement  is  the 
following : — 

The  maid,  who  had  accompanied  her  to  this  secluded  apartment  and 
had  charge  of  the  other  small  children,  on  looking  out  of  a  window  into 
the  back  yard,  observed  to  Mrs.  Caldwell,  that '  a  red-coat  soldier  bad 
jumped  over  the  fence,  and  was  coming  up  to  the  window  with  a  gun.' 
Her  youngest  son,  [Elias  Boudinot],  nearly  two  years  old,  playing  upon 
the  floor,  on  hearing  what  the  maid  said,  called  out — '  Let  me  see !  Let 
me  see ! '  and  ran  that  way.  Mrs.  Caldwell  rose  from  sitting  on  a  bed 
very  near;  and  at  this  moment,  the  soldier  fired  his  musket  at  her  through 
the  window.  It  was  loaded  with  two  balls,  which  both  passed  through 
her  body.t 

Thacher  says,  that,  at  the  sight  of  the  soldier,  Mrs.  Cald- 
well exclaimed — "  Don't  attempt  to  scare  me !  "  when  the 
soldier  fired,  shooting  her  through  the  breast,  and  she  instant- 
ly expired.:}; 

That  it  was  a  British  soldier  that  killed  her  is  fully  estab- 
lished ;  and  that  it  was  not  a  random  shot,  is  also  clear.  But 
that  she  was  known  to  the  murderer,  or  that  he  was  seeking 
to  gratify  a  personal  malice,  is  not  evident.  It  was,  at  all 
events,  an  act  of  fiendish  barbarity,  that  made  the  British 
name  still  more  execrable,  not  only  by  her  townsmen,  but 
by  the  whole  American  people. 

Conflicting  statements,  also,  are  made  as  to  the  disposal  of 
the  corpse.     Thacher  saj's,  that  "a  British  officer  soon  after 

*  N.  J.  Joarnal,  No.  70.  Cutbarlno  Bernard  was  marrieJ,  the  next  year,  to  John  Spicer,  of 
Turkey. 

t  Brown's  Life  of  Finley,  p.  241.  J  Thacher's  Journal,  p.  193. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  493 

came  ,'ind  throwing  his  cloak  over  the  corpse,  carried  it  to 
the  next  house."  A  correspondent  of  the  New  Jersey 
Gazette,  under  date  of  June  13th,  says,  "  I  saw  her  corpse 
and  was  informed  by  the  neighbors,  it  was  with  infinite  pains 
they  obtained  leave  to  bring  her  body  from  the  house  before 
they  set  fire  to  it."  "' 

The  house  to  which  the  body  was  conveyed  belonged  to 
Capt.  Henry  Wade.  It  was  a  small  building,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  [the  site^f  which  has  of  late  been  occupied 
by  the  family  of  Mr.  Phineas  Crilley],  one  of  the  only  two 
dwelling-houses  in  the  village  that  escaped  the  flames. 
There  Mr.  Caldwell  found  it  the  next  morning,  and  thence, 
the  same  day,  it  was,  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  carried 
to  the  grave.  Three  months  after  he  published  a  most  af- 
fecting appeal  on  the  subject,  that  made  a  deep  impression 
on  the  public  mind,  f 

The  expedition  proved  a  miserable  failure.  This  great 
array  of  disciplined  troops,  horse  and  foot,  and  flying  artil- 
lery, so  confident,  in  the  morning,  of  reaching  the  American 
camp  at  Morris  Town,  and  breaking  up  the  rebellion,  w^ere 
held  at  bay  by  a  few  hastily-gathered  militia,  driven  back, 
and,  after  the  inglorious  destruction  by  fire  of  the  little  ham- 
let at  Connecticut  Farms,  compelled,  the  same  night,  in  the 
midst  of  drenching  rain,  and  through  mud  and  marsh,  to  re- 
treat to  the  point  of  departure.     Says  Lieut,  Matlicw, — 

About  ten  o'clock  tlie  whole  army  got  in  motion  and  moved  oil".  It 
was  so  exceedingly  dark,  and  there  was  such  strict  silence  observed,  that 
one  regiment  could  not  perceive  the  adjoining  regiment  going  off. ...  It  was 
the  darkest  night  I  can  remember  in  my  life,  with  the  most  heavy  rain, 

thunder  and  lightning  known  in  this  country  for  many  years .It  rained, 

I  think.  Larder  than  I  ever  knew,  and  thundered  and  lightened  so  se- 
verely as  to  frighten  the  horses,  and  once  or  twice  the  whole  army  halted, 
being  deprived  of  sight  for  a  time.  General  Knyphausen's  horse  started 
so  as  to  throw  the  general. 

"We  continued  our  march  until  we  reached  the  bank  of  the  creek 
[Sound]  which  we  had  crossed  in  the  morning.  Nothing  more  awful  than 
this  retreat  can  be  imagined.     The  rain,  with  the  terrible  tluuuler  and 

*  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  130.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  70,  73. 

t  Barber's  N.  J.  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  197.  N.  J.  Journ.al,  No.  SI.  For  further  particulars,  see 
Mrs.  Ellet's  "  Womcu  of  tlie  Itevolutioii,"'  II.  lOS-113,  73. 


494  THE    HISTORY    OF 

lightiiingr,  tlio  darkness  of  the  night,  the  houses  at  Connecticut  Farms, 
■whicli  wo  had  sot  fire  to,  in  a  Waze,  the  dead  bodies  which  the  light  of 
the  fire  or  tlie  lightning  showed  you  now  and  then  on  the  road,  and  the 

dread  of  an  enemy,  completed  the  scene  of  horror We  halted  at  the  side 

of  the  creek,  and  took  up  our  ground  and  the  whole  army  encamped.  * 

As  the  result  of  tlie  day's  encounter,  Gcu.  Maxwell  re- 
ported one  ensign  [Moses  Ogden,  of  E.  Town,  a3t,  19]  killed, 
and  three  lieutenants  wounded,  seven  privates  killed,  twenty 
eight  wounded,  and  five  ,. missing.  The  militia,  also,  lost 
several  and  had  a  number  wounded.  The  enemy  lost  three 
times  the  number.  Gen.  Stirling  died  of  his  wound,  nearly 
a  year  later. 

The  Tories  were  so  sure  of  the  enemy's  succeeding,  that  they  sent  word 
to  their  friends  in  Elizabeth  Town  that  they  should  pay  them  a  visit  the 
day  after  the  enemy  came  over,  t 

It  is  safe  to  say,  that  the  visit  was  not  paid.  It  is  quite 
certain  that  the  town,  "  the  day  after,"  was  not  a  very  agree- 
able place  for  men  that  could  glory  in  Knyphausen  and  his 
deeds. 

The  scouts  that  folio u'cd  after  the  retreating  foe,  on  their 
return,  reported,  that  they  had  passed  over  to  Staten  Island, 
all  but  about  five  hundred  men  left  behind  to  entrench  them- 
selves at  the  Point.  They  encamped  between  the  Old  Point 
and  De  Hart's  house.  Lord  Stirling,  the  senior  in  command 
below  the  Hills,  is  reported  to  have  said,  thereupon,  to  Gen- 
eral Hand, — "  Take  your  brigade,  Hand,  and  the  two  bri- 
gades of  militia,  and  go  down  and  bring  up  those  fellows  at 
the  Point."  The  columns,  numbering  about  fifteen  hundred, 
were  soon  put  in  marching  order,  to  rendezvous  at  Elizabeth 
Town.  Here  the  troops  were  marshaled  for  the  attack.  The 
Continentals  under  Gen.  Hand,  had  the  centre,  with  a  mili- 
tia brigade  on  the  right  and  left.  They  advanced  in  three 
columns,  designing  to  assault  the  enemy  in  as  manj-  points 
at  once. 

The  advance  corps  of  the  left  brigade  cut  off  and  captured 
the  picket  guard  of  the  enemy.  This  brigade  were  much  ex- 
posed before  reaching  their  point  of  attack,  in  crossing  a 

•  Historical  Magnzinc.  I.  104,  5.  t  Bavbcr'B  N.  J.  Hist.  Col!.,  p.  102. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  495 

meadow,  and  drew  forth  so  heavy  a  fire  of  artillery  from  the 
enemy,  as  to  show  that  they  were  in  full  force.  Hand  con- 
trived, therefore,  to  give  the  attack  the  appearance  of  a  feint, 
and  drew  off  his  troops  so  deliberately  as  to  make  the  enemy 
believe,  that  he  was  simply  executing  a  manoeuvre,  designed 
to  draw  them  from  their  fortifications.  He  succeeded  in  ef- 
fecting his  retreat  to  the  town  without  being  pursued.  The 
cannonade,  at  one  time,  was  very  heavy,  and  would  have 
done  fearful  execution,  had  their  aim  been  lower,  nearly  all 
the  balls  passing  over  the  heads  of  the  troo^js  on  their  ad- 
vance. ■^'" 

The  account,  given  of  this  affair,  by  the  other  side,  is  as 
follows  : — 

On  Thursday  the  eighth  instant,  the  rebels  advaoced  in  some  force  to 
Elizabeth  Town,  and  made  an  attack  upon  the  twenty -second  regiment, 
which  was  posted  some  little  distance  in  front  of  the  line.  •  This  regiment 
Avas  ordered  to  fall  back,  and  the  rebels  conceiving  it  was  the  rear  guard 
of  the  army,  they  advanced  with  some  rapidity,  but  were  soon  checked, 
and  retired  with  precipitation,  t 

The  ground  occupied  by  the  contending  forces  on  this  oc- 
casion is  now  covered  by  the  factories,  warehouses,  and  resi- 
dences of  Elizabeth  Port — tlie  First  Ward  of  the  City  of 
Elizabeth. 

The  British  army  continued  in  tlie  occupation  of  this  post, 
during  the  next  fortnight,  beliind  the  fortifications  thrown 
up  by  the  Americans  more  than  four  years  before,  continual 
skirmishes  taking  place  between  the  lines,  Lieut.  Mathew 
says,— 

During  our  stay  here  wo  erected  three  small  works  by  the  landing  to 
cover  our  retreat,  and  made  a  bridge  over  the  creek  [Sound].  The  bridge 
was  the  best  of  the  kind  I  ever  saw.  There  were  very  large  planks  laid 
across  sloops,  and  wide  enough  for  five  or  six  men  to  march  abreast.  The 
whole  time  we  lay  here,  the  rebels  were  continually  firing  on  our  pickets 
and  advanced  posts ;  by  which  means  they  wounded  and  killed  some 
Yagers  who  were  advanced,  and  also  wounded  Mr.  Hill  of  the  Engineers, 
and  other  officers  ;  and  if  they  could  not  fire  on  our  men  they  would  fire 
on  the  horses.  I 

♦  Jones'  Life  of  Dr.  Green,  pp.  111-4.  t  Eivington's  Gazette,  No.  3S9. 

$  Uist.  Mag.,  I.  105. 


496  TUE    HISTORY    OF 

The  situation  of  the  town  during  this  period  was  any  thing 
but  enviable.  Almost  daily  they  were  visited  by  portions 
of  one  army  or  the  other — placed  between  two  fires. 

Gen.  "Wm.  Irvine,  from  the  "  Camp  Sliort  Hills,  June 
18th,"  wrote  to  his  wife  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  as  follows: 

The  Enemy  lie  still  at  Elizabethtown  Point,  about  ten  miles  from  here. 
We  have  small  iiartics  down  near  them  every  day,  but  there  is  but  little 
damage  done  on  either  side.  We  have  taken  at  diflerent  times  some  forty 
prisoners.  .  .  .  We  have  been  now  thirteen  days  at  this  place  without  Tents 
or  Baggage.  No  covering  except  boughs  of  Trees  and  bark,  which,  how- 
ever, is  cool  and  pleasant  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  and  serves  to  keep  out 
a  good  deal  of  rain.  Notwithstanding  these  privations,  we  have  not  had 
a  man  sick,  since  we  have  taken  the  field.  One  consolation  we  have,  the 
Enemy  are  worse  off  tlian  we  are.  They  have  no  Tents  and  arc  henied 
in  a  narrow  neck  of  land,  whilst  we  have  a  wide  extent  of  country.  You 
may  think  your  situation  happy  indeed  my  love  when  compared  with 
that  of  the  poor  people  of  this  part  of  our  country.  It  grieves  me  be- 
yond expression  to  see  their  distressed  situation — particularly  that  of  the 
women  and  children.  Murder  and  liapine  await  them  wherever  these 
barbarians  come.  Were  it  possible,  I  would  suffer  a  thousand  deaths 
rather  than  see  you  in  the  situation,  some  poor  gentlemen  here  are  forced 
to  see  their  wives  and  daughters  left  in.  * 

The  attempt  to  penetrate  to  "Washington's  Camp,  by  the 
way  of  the  Short  Hills,  was  renewed  a  few  days  later,  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  taking  the  oversight  of  the  aflair.  The  Brit- 
ish left  their  camp  at  the  Point,  before  day,  on  Friday,  the 
23d,  and  marched  forward — an  imposing  force  of  about 
five  thousand  men,  besides  dragoons,  and_  fifteen  or  twenty 
pieces  of  artillery,  superior  to  any  force  that  "Washington 
could  oppose  to  them.  Having  driven  in  the  American 
pickets,  they  pressed  on  without  obstruction  to  Connecticut 
Farms,  which  they  reached  about  sunrise.  From  this  point, 
they  proceeded,  in  two  compact  columns ;  the  right  taking 
the  more  circuitous  road,  on  the  north,  that  leads  through 
Ileadley  Town,  Vauxhall,  and  Milburn,  and  unites  with  the 
main  road  just  below  the  principal  pass  of  the  Short  Hills, 
back  of  Springfield ;  the  left,  taking  the  road  that  leads 
directly  from  "  the  Farms,"  over  the  Ealnvay  river  to  Spring- 

♦  Hist.  Mag.,  VII.  SI. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  497 

field,  with  wliicli  route  they  had' become  painfully  familiar, 
on  their  previous  expedition. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  were  seen,  from  the  signal  station 
on  Prospect  Hill,  the  18-pounder  and  the  tar-harrel  were 
again  fired.  The  militia  began  immediately  to  collect  from 
every  quarter ;  the  troops,  that  were  guarding  the  several 
passes  over  the  Hills,  were  hastily  called  in,  and  posted,  so 
as  at  once  to  resist  the  advancing  foe,  protect  the  American 
flanks,  and  secure  a  retreat,  if  needed.  Major  Lee,  with  the 
horse,  and  the  pickets,  under  Capt.  "Walker,  took  post  at 
Little's  Bridge,  on  the  Yauxhall  road,  supported  by  Col.  Og- 
den's  command.  The  defence  of  the  village,  against  the  left 
column  of  the  enemy,  was  entrusted  to  Col.  Dayton's  regi- 
ment of  the  Jersey  brigade.  Stark's  brigade,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  Maxwell's,  were  drawn  w^  on  the  heights  near 
the  mill  in  the  rear  of  the  village,  with  the  militia  on  the 
flanks. 

In  the  disposal  of  his  regiment.  Col.  Daj'ton  stationed 
Col.  Angell  of  llhode  Island,  with  about  two  hundred  men 
and  a  piece  of  artillery,  at  the  first  bridge  over  the  principal 
stream,  on  the  main  road,  in  front  of  the  town  ;  and  Col. 
Shreve,  with  a  detachment,  at  the  second  bridge,  over  a 
smaller  stream,  on  the  same  road,  behind  the  town,  so  as  tx> 
cover  the  retreat  of  Col.  Angell's  forces.  Tlie  planks  of  the 
bridges  in  front  had  been  removed. 

.As  the  van  of  the  enemy  approached  the  first  bridge,  they 
began  to  manoeuvre,  in  such  a  way,  and  so  long — nearly  two 
liours — as  to  convince  Gen.  Greene,  that  they  were  moving 
on  his  flanks.  In  the  meantime,  the  right  column  of  the 
enemy  advanced,  along  the  Yauxhall  road,  to  the  bridge  de- 
fended by  Major  Lee  and  Captain  "Walker.  Here  they  met 
with  a  stout  resistance  from  the  dragoons  and  pickets  ;  but, 
having  forded  the  river  higher  up,  and  gained  the  point  of 
the  hill  near  by,  Lee  and  "Walker  were  compelled  to  retire. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known,  that  the  right  column  Iiad  reached 
the  bridge  in  front  of  Lee,  the  left  column  advanced  in  force 
against  Col.  Angell  at  the  lower  bridge,  and  after  a  hotly- 
contested  struggle  of  forty  minutes,  compelled  him  to  retire, 
32 


493  THE  HISTORY  of 

bcliind  tlie  second  bridge,  in  good  order,  carrying  off  his 
•U'ounded.  Col.  Slireve,  in  like  manner,  was  compelled  to 
give  way,  after  covering  Angell's  retreat,  when  both  com- 
mands fell  back,  and  joined  Maxwell  and  Stark,  on  the  high 
ground  in  the  rear.  Two  regiments,  Col.  Webb's  (under 
Lt.-Col.  Huntington's  command),  and  Col.  Jackson's,  witli 
one  piece  of  artillery,  were  posted  on  the  A^auxhall  road  to 
the  left,  so  as  to  cover  Lee's  retreat,  and  oppose  the  advance 
of  the  enemy's  right  column,  while  the  main  body  were 
posted  on  the  first  range  of  hills  in  the  rear  of  B^'ram's 
tavern. 

During  the  heat  of  the  contest  with  Dayton's  regiment,  it 
is  related  of  his  chaplain,  Mr.  Caldwell,  that  he  showed  the 
utmost  ardor  in  the  fight,  as  if  he  would  avenge  himself  for 
the  murder  of  his  beloved  wife.  To  supply  the  men  with 
wadding  for  their  fire-locks,  he  galloped  to  the  church,  near 
b}'',  and  brought  back  an  arm-full  of  psalm-books,  and  as  he 
handed  them  around,  he  sliouted — "Now  put  Watts  into 
them,  boys !  " 

Having  gained  possession  of  the  village,  and  observed  how 
every  post  in  front  was  occupied  by  the  continentals,  and  the 
militia  whose  numbers  were  continually  increasing,  the  en- 
emy showed  no  disposition  to  press  forward.  Fearing,  too, 
as  they  learned  from  their  scouts  of  the  approach  of  the 
brigade  sent  out  by  Washington,  that  their  retreat  might  be 
cut  off,  they  determined  to  proceed  no  farther,  but  to  retrace 
their  ste'ps  as  before.  The  work  of  plunder  now  began,  and 
house  after  house  was  rifl.ed  of  its  valuables,  fired  and  burned 
to  the  ground.  Nineteen  dwelling-houses  and  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  were  thus  destroyed.  Only  four  dwelling-houses 
were  spared,  being  occupied  by  their  wounded.  Foiled  com- 
pletely in  their  object,  now  as  before,  they  once  more  took 
up  their  backward  line  of  march,  and  disappeared  as  rapidly 
as  they  came,  pursued  and  galled,  by  a  detachment  of  120 
regulars  under  Capt.  Davis,  and  a  large  body  of  militia,  who 
fell  upon  their  rear  and  flanks,  and  pursued  them  almost  to 
their  fortilications  at  the  Point.  The  sight  of  the  burning 
dwellings  almost  maddened  the  militia,  who  eagerly  sought 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  499 

to  take  off  the  red-coated  marauders.  Maj.  Lee,  with  liis 
dragoons,  also,  fell  upon  their  rear,  and  captured  some  of 
the  refugees  that  accompanied  the  army,  and  some  of  tlie 
tories  who  had  joined  them  and  welcomed  their  coming. 

The  enemy,  crest-fallen,  and  severely  punished  for  their 
audacity,  entered  Elizabeth  Town,  on  their  return,  about  sun- 
set, closely  pursued  by  Stark's  brigade,  which,  in  their  eager- 
ness to  escape,  they  effectually  distanced  by  their  precipitate 
flight.  Having  reached,  before  dark,  the  cover  of  their  for- 
tifications, they  rested  until  midnight,  when  they  crossed  the 
Sound  on  their  bridge  of  boats,  which,  of  course,  they  took 
up  and  removed,  as  their  rear-guard  passed  over.  Gen. 
Dickinson  marched  the  militia  to  the  Point  the  next  day, 
and  effectually  demolished  the  works  which  the  enemy  had 
constructed,  and  then  dismissed  the  brave  yeomanry,  with 
great  reputation,  to  their  homes. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans,  in  the  several  contests  of  tlie 
day,  as  reported  by  L.-Col.-Barber,  Deputy  Adj.  Gen.,  was, 
13  killed  and  49  wounded.  The  militia  had  none  killed, 
only  twelve  wounded,  and  nine  missing.  Only  one  officer 
was  slain,  First  Lieut.  Thompson,  of  the  artillery.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  is  not  recorded.  It  must  have  been  very  con- 
siderable. Lieut.  Mathew  says,  that  "  in  this  expedition  to 
the  Jerseys,  . . .  there  were  not  less  than  five  hundred  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  besides  Officers,"  among  whom  was 
Brig.  Gen.  Stirling.'^ 

Thus  ended,  so  far  as  this  town  is  concerned,  the  most 
memorable  campaign  of  the  war.  The  whole  of  these  ex- 
ploits, from  the  7th  to  the  23d  of  June,  occurred  within  the 
territorial  limits  of  the  Old  Borough.  That,  on  both  these 
occasions,  so  powerful  and  well  organized  a  force  should 
have  been  held  at  bay,  and  then  driven  back,  by  so  small  a 
body  of  continentals,  aided  by  the  militia  from  their  farms 

*  N.  J.  Jourrml,  No.  72.  N.  J.  Gazette,  Nos.  131,  2.  Gordon's  Kev.  "War,  IIL  60.  Thach- 
er'8  Journ.al,  pp.  19G-7.  Marshall's  Washingtou,  IV.  23-1^0.  Gordon's  N." J.,  p.  306.  Bar- 
ber's N.  J.  Hist.  Coll.,  pp.  10.3-5.  Sparks'  Wasbinfiton,  VII.  85-7,  506-9.  Sedgwick's  Livings- 
ton, pp.  351-5.  Duer's  Stirling,  pp.  207-S.  Jrving's  Washington,  IV.  67-72.  Jones'  Lifo  of 
Green,  pp.  115-21.  Tomes'  Battles  of  America,  II.  233-5.  N.  Y.  Col.  Docmts.,  VIII.  791. 
Mooro's  Diary,  II.  291-2. 


500  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  workshops, — not  more  than  a  thousand,  on  the  23d,  hav- 
ing, at  any  one  time,  been  brought  into  action, — reflects  great 
credit  on  both  the  patriotism  and  bravery  of  the  people. 
Washington  was  delighted  vrith  their  services ;  June  25th, 
he  thus  writes  : — 

The  militia  deserve  everything  that  can  he  said  on  hoth  occasions. 
They  flew  to  arms  universally  and  acted  with  a  spirit  equal  to  any  thing 
I  have  seen  in  the  coiirse  of  the  war.  *    • 

From  tills  time  forward,  the  people  were  mostly  permitted 
to  remain  at  home,  in  the  cultivation  of  their  fields,  and  in 
the  pursuits  of  trade.  The  harvests  were  gathered  without 
interruption,  and  the  wastes  of  the  war  were  in  part  repaired. 
As  the  enemy,  however,  still  continued  in  force  on  Staten 
Island,  it  became  necessary  to  guard  against  a  repetition  of 
these  outrages.  In  consequence  of  the  exposed  condition  of 
the  post,  no  more  military  stores  were  to  be  kept  liere — thus 
removing  one  of  the  strong  temptations  to  these  marauding 
expeditions. 

The  partisan  warfare,  from  which  individuals  had  so  se- 
verely suffered,  was  still  continued.  The  refugees  on  Staten 
Island  were  specially  malignant  and  troublesome.  The  fol- 
lowing notice,  published,  ~Nov.  Sth,  shows  something  of  the 
danger  to  which  the  prominent  friends  of  the  country  were 
continually  exposed : — 

On  Saturday  night  last  [4th]  Smith  Iletfield,  Cornelius  Hetfield,  Ellas 
Man,  and  some  others,  came  over  from  Staten  Island  to  Elizabeth  Town, 
where  they  were  informed  that  Col.  [M'atthias]  Ogden  of  the  first  Jersey 
regiment,  and  Captain  [Jonathan]  Dayton,  of  the  tliird,  were  to  lodge 
that  night  at  William  Ilerd's  at  Connecticut  Farms,  to  which  place  they 
hastened,  made  them  both  prisoners,  and  carried  them  off  unmolested  to 
Staten  Island. 

Gaines,  under  date  of  Sep.  23d,  represents  that  the  people 
suffered,  also,  from  the  foraging  parties  of  their  own  army  : — 

Last  "Week  a  Party  of  Moyland's  Light  Horse  were  at  Elizabeth  Town, 
collecting  cattle  for  the  Use  of  the  Rebel  Army.  They  took  a  pair  of  fat 
Oxen  out  of  a  Team  on  the  Road,  and  gave  the  Driver  a  receipt  for  them  ; 
They  then  prcccedcd  to  the  Point  Meadows,  and  took  away  every  Hoof 

*  N.  J.  Gazctto,  No.  132. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  501 

from  tliein,  but  •\vcro  opposed  on  the  Way  by  tlie  Militia  aud  tbo  Com- 
missioners of  the  Place,  who  obliged  them  to  relinquish  their  Booty. 

Under  date  of  Dec.  18,  1780,  Gaines  says, — 

On  Thursday  evening  last  [14th]  Mr.  Elias  Mann  aud  a  Party  of  Men 
under  his  command,  attacked  the  Rebel  Picket  at  Elizabeth  Town  ;  they 
killed  two,  and  took  sis  of  the  Rebels,  one  only  escaped.  The  prisoners 
were  brought  in  here  on  Saturday  last,  with  two  other  Rebels  taken  by 
the  same  enterprising  Party  a  few  days  before.* 

The  same  authority,  l^ov.  25tb,  says, — 

Yesterday  Captain  Cornelius  Hetfield,  with  adventure,  peculiar  to  hiiji- 
S3lf,  after  an  incursion  upon  the  Jonathans  in  Jersey,  brouglit  oil"  a  lieute- 
nant and  five  or  six  others,  t 

This  daring  partisan  seems  constantly  to  have  been  plot- 
ting against  his  former  friends  and  neighbors,  with  an  ambi- 
tion and  courage  worthy  of  a  better  cause.  On  the  25th  of 
January,  1781,  he  and  four  other  refugees,  all  formerly  from 
this  town,  arrested,  on  Staten  Island,  Stephen  Ball,  a  London 
trader  from  Rahway,  (a  son  of  David  Ball),  and  took  him 
first  to  Gen.  Patterson,  and  then  to  Gen.  Skinner,  both  of 
whom  refused  to  proceed  against  him,  on  the  charge  that  he 
had  aided  in  the  execution,  in  1779,  of  Thomas  Long,  a  ISTew 
Jersey  refugee  ;  when  they  took  him  over  to  Bergen  Point, 
and,  without  judge  or  jury,  hung  him,  as  a  sp,y,  by  the  neck, 
until  he  Avas  dead.:}: 

On  Friday,  the  23d  of  February,  the  same  party  came 
by  night  to  Elizabeth  Town,  and  captured  Captain  Craig,  of 
the  State  Regiment,  and  four  other  inhabitants.  The  next 
week,  Thursday,  March  1st,  they  found  their  way  by  night  to 
Railway,  and  carried  off  John  Clawson,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners for  selling  the  confiscated  estates — against  whom, 
therefore,  they  had  a  peculiar  grudge. § 

The  year  1781  was  noted  in  this  neighborhood  for  the  fre- 
quency with  which  the  nocturnal  incursions  of  the  "Cow- 
boys "  and  other  plunderers,  from  Staten  Island,  disturbed 

*  Gaines'  Mercury,  Nos.  1510, 1522.    Eivington's  Gazette,  No.  417. 

t  Ibid,  No.  454.     Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1519. 

X  Eivington's  Gazette,  No.  454.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  105.    Now  York  Gazetteer,  No.  96. 

§  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  105,  T.    Eivington,  No.  4G1.    Gaines,  Nos.  1532.  3. 


503  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  peace  and  comfort  of  the  border  population.  The  fol- 
lowing notices  may  serve  to  show,  to  some  extent,  in  wliat  a 
state  of  excitement  and  serious  alarm,  the  people  of  this  town, 
who  still  remained  in  the  occupation  of  their  dwelling-houses, 
must  have  lived.  The  N.  J.  Journal  of  the  28th  of  March, 
says,— 

Last  "Wednesday  niglit  [21st]  a  party  of  refugees  from  Staten  Island  vras 
over  at  Eahway,  plundering  and  kidnapping  every  one  tliey  came  across. 
Tliey  carried  off,  we  hear,  near  a  dozen  of  the  inhabitants  prisoners. 

^  The  same  Journal  of  the  4th  of  April,  says, — 

On  Monday  night  the  26tli  ult.,  a  detachment  of  eight  men  from  the 
state  troops  in  Elizabeth  Town,  went  over  to  Staten  Island  and  brought  off 
a  Lieutenant  and  one  private  of  the  militia.  They  took  two  more,  but  the 
wind  blowing  fresh,  and  their  boat  small,  incapacitated  them  so  much, 
that  they  could  not  bring  them  over.* 

Retaliation  followed  the  next  day,  of  which  a  statement  is 
made  by  the  same  annalist,  as  follows : — 

On  Tuesday  night,  the  27111  ult.,  about  two  hundred  regulars  and  re- 
fugees from  Staten  Island,  under  the  command  of  Major  Beckwith,  who 
had  eluded,  by  circuitous  routes,  the  vigilance  of  the  different  patroles, 
entered  Elizabeth  Town,  in  four  divisions,  where  they  captured  ten  of 
the  inhabitants,  1  Lieut,  and  3  privates  of  the  State  troops,  and  2  con- 
tinental soldiers.  They  stayed  about  an  hour  and  a-half  in  town,  and 
then  retreated,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and  another  taken  prisoner. 
They  plundered  the  house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Crane  to  a  very  considerable 
amount.! 

It  was  a  party  of  the  3Tth  regiment,  under  command  of 
Capt.  Beckwith,  according  to  the  New  York  papers,  that 
performed  this  exploit : — 

Finding  the  rebels  dispersed  in  the  houses,  ho  immediately  went  to 
their  alarm  post,  where,  by  beating  to  arms,  he  drew  a  Lieutenant  and 
many  of  his  soldiers  to  him,  whom  he  made  prisouers.| 

Among  the  most  active  of  the  partisans,  on  the  American 
side,  was  Capt.  Baker  Hendricks,  a  cousin  of  the  noted  John 
Smith  Ilatfield,  on  the  other  side.  Washington  had  employ- 
ed liim,  at  an  earlier  period,  as  a  spy;  in  which  capacity  he 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  Noj.llO,  111.  t  Ibid.,  No.  111. 

t  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1537.    Kivington's  Gazette,  No.  4T0. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  503 

had  been  allowed  to  trade  witli  the  enemy  on  Staten  Island. 
Gov.  Livingston  had  commissioned  him,  Sept.  19,  1780,  to  fit 
out  two  whale-boats,  the  "  Flying  Squirrel,"  and  "  Charming 
Betsey,"  as  privateers,  to  prey  on  the  enemy's  vessels.  He 
was,  at  this  time  about  2-1  years  of  age.  The  Journal  of  the 
18th  of  April  says, — 

Last  Monday  night  [16tli]  Cnpt.  Baker  Ilendricks  went  from  Elizabeth 
Town  to  Staten  Island  and  brought  off  one  Lieut,  and  a  private  of  the 
Refugees,  and  one  inhabitant. — Previous  to  the  above,  a  party  went  over 
and  brought  off  a  Captain.* 

The  N.  J.  Gazette  of  tlie  9th  of  May  says,— 
On  [Saturday]  the  21st  ult.  a  party  of  about  seventy  of  the  enemy  came 
over  to  Elizabeth  Town,  from  Staten  Island.  They  landed  at  Halstead's 
Point,  and  were  discovered  between  that  place  and  the  town  by  Capt. 
Hendricks,  who  was  patroling  with  about  ten  or  twelve  men,  and  though 
so  much  inferior  in  number,  he  kept  up  a  smart  fire  on  them,  which  pre- 
vented tliem  from  penetrating  farther  into  town  than  Doctor  "Winans's. — 
After  collecting  a  few  horses,  &c.,  fii-ing  through  the  windows  in  the 
room  where  Mrs.  Winans  was  sitting,  by  which  a  boy  was  wounded  in 
the  arm,  and  burning  the  house  of  Mr.  Ephraim  Marsh,  they  went  off  to 
their  boats.f 

A  Xew  York  paper  says,  that  the  party  was  "  a  detach- 
ment of  General  Skinner's  Corps,  under  his  command,"  ac- 
companied, as  usual,  by  Captain  Cornelius  Hatfield  with 
some  of  his  Refugees,  as  guides.     It  says  further,  that 

Captain  McMichael  of  the  Refugee  Post  at  Bergen  Point,  who  had  been 
taken  out  of  a  flag  [boat]  by  the  rebels,  and  held  in  irons,  was  upon  this 
occasion  relieved,  and  restored  to  his  companions.  "We  have  only  to 
regret  the  loss  of  Mr.  Elias  Mann,  who  has  ever  distinguished  himself  on 
all  occasions  since  the  rebellion,  as  a  brave  and  active  Loyalist.  lie  was 
unfortunately  killed  by  a  shot  from  a  skulking  party,  as  the  troops  were 
reembarkiug.     Captain  IletfielJ  and  one  private  were  slightly  wounded.^ 

A  visit  from  the  "Cowboys"  of  Bergen  is  mentioned  in 
the  Journal  of  the  9th  of  May  : — 

On  Friday  last  [ith]  a  party  of  the  enemy  from  the  refugee  post  at 
Bergen  Point  came  over  to  Elizabetli  Town  Point,  and  before  our  people 
were  alarmed,  collected  about  fifty  head  of  cattle,  which  the}'  drove  on 

*  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  234.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  113. 
I  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  170.    N.  J.  .Journal,  No.  114.  }  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1541. 


60i  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  great  mca'lows  wliere  they  took  them  onboard,  under  cover  of  a  field 
piece  and  some  armed  vessels.* 

A  retaliatoiy  visit  to  Staten  Island  soon  followed,  of  wliicli 
no  account  appears  but  in  the  N.  York  papers : — 

On  Tuesday  night  the  8th  Instant,  Captain  Hendricks  (a  noted  Rebel) 
from  Elizabeth  Town,  with  another  Eebel  Officer,  a  Serjeant,  and  eleven 
Privates,  came  on  Staten  Island,  in  order  to  take  off  the  Patrole  of  the 
First  Battalion  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  and  to  plunder  the  Inhabitants,- 
but  finding  the  Patrole,  commanded  by  Ensign  Barton,  too  alert  for  their 
Purpose,  the  Eebels  concealed  themselves  in  a  Wood  a  short  Distance 
from  the  House  of  one  Salter,  and  as  soon  as  they  observed  the  Patrole 
leaving  the  Neighborhood,  they  immediately  surrounded  Salter's  House. — 
The  Patrole,  though  at  a  Distance,  concluding  they  saw  Rebels,  turned 
back,  attacked  and  soon  put  them  to  Flight,  and  notwithstanding  their 
Agility  two  were  made  Prisoners ;  the  Serjeant  loosing  himself  was 
secured  by  the  Militia ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  Ardour  of  the  Troops, 
which  suffered  no  Loss,  the  whole  Gang  would  have  been  taken.  "We 
hear  that  Hendricks  received  a  slight  "Wound  and  that  one  of  his  Party 
was  killed.t 

Tliis  affair  was  served  up  in  the  torj  papei*s,  witli  con- 
siderable embellishment  as  usual.  It  would  no  doubt  have 
appeared  very  different  in  one  of  the  Jersey  papers. 

These  excursions  from  either  side  of  the  border  uniformly 
occurred  by  night,  and  generally,  it  is  presumed,  on  moonless 
nights.  It  became  necessary  to  use  great  vigilance  in  watch- 
ing every  exposed  point,  and  guarding  every  avenue  of  ap- 
proach. Sentinels  were  posted  in  the  streets,  and  called  the 
passer-by  to  account.  On  Saturday  night,  June  2d,  David 
AVoodruff  and  Philip  McCrea  were  walking  together  along 
one  of  the  streets  in  town,  when  they  were  liailed  by  the 
sentinel ;  but  not  answering,  the  sentinel  fired,  and  killed 
McCrca  oil  the  spot.  Sad  scenes  were  of  almost  daily  oc- 
currence.:}; 

That  part  of  the  town  bordering  on  the  Rahway  river  was 
frequently  visited  by  these  rapacious  marauders.  Rivington, 
witli  his  wonted  exaggerations,  in  liis  paper  of  June  30th, 
has  the  following  account : — 

•  N.  J.Jourral.No.  116. 

t  Gaines'  Morrury,  No.  1543.     Klvington's  Gazetto,  No.  4S8. 

i  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  120, 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  505 

Last  niglit  a  detachment  of  the  garrison,  of  ahout  thirty- six  men,  in- 
cluding two  Serjeants,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Hutchinson  and 
Ensign  Barton,  First  Battalion  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  with  about  thirty- 
four  Refugees  and  militia,  under  the  command  of  Captains  Durham  and 
Robins,  landed  at  Trembly's  Point,  near  the  mouth  of  Raway  river,  and 
surrounded  Tairil's  tavern,  in  order  to  take  three  rebel  light  horse,  whose 
business  was  to  patrole  down  the  Sound,  and  to  give  notice  of  any  troops 
coming  from  Staten  Island,  but  unfortunately  those  fellows  were  gone  to 
Westfield.  The  troops  then  proceeded  to  one  Captain  Amos  Morse's,  who 
was  surprized,  and  taken  out  of  bed  with  four  other  rebels,  after  this  they 
took  between  thirty  and  forty  head  of  cattle,  amongst  which  are  six  good 
oxen,  and  about  eighty  sheep,  which  were  drove  to  Trembly's  Point.  Tho 
rebels  collected  to  the  amount  of  about  forty  harassing  the  rear  as  usual. 
Lieut.  Hutchinson  formed  an  ambuscade  unperceived  by  the  rebels,  which 
had  its  desired  cfFoct,  fifteen  rebels  past  hollowing  damn  the  Refugees, 
cut  them  down ;  up  tho  troops  arose  from  the  place  where  they  were 
secreted,  the  rebels  observing  this  stood  aghast,  threw  down  their  arms, 
others  stood  with  arms  in  their  hand,  on  this  occasion  ten  were  made 
prisoners ;  some  time  after  this,  about  twenty  Rebels  collected  near  the 
Point,  on  whom  a  charge  was  made,  and  some  taken  prisoners,  the  troops 
and  the  refugees  then  embarked  with  the  greatest  regularity  and  good 
order,  with  all  their  cattle  and  sheep,  and  came  safe  to  Staten  Island ;  not 
one  of  the  troops  received  the  least  injury,  one  of  the  refugees  received 
a  spent  ball  on  his  tliigh,  which  had  no  other  eifect  than  leaving  its  mark. 
The  troops  and  refugees  behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery  on  this  occa- 
sion, twenty  rebels  are  made  prisoners,  two  of  whom  are  wounded,  some 
were  killed,  its  not  doubted  but  several  were  wounded,  as  several  were 
heard  to  scream  and  hollow ;  the  names  of  the  prisoners  follows : — Cap- 
tain Amos  Morse,  Isaac  Marsh,  John  Everit,  Hambleton  Roberts,  George 
Mitchel  Deeds,  Isaac  Ilaynes,  William  Brant,  Richard  Lee,  Jacob  Brook- 
field,  Gershom  Brookfield,  Jeremiah  Bird,  Isaac  Drake,  Asher  Coddington, 
David  Thorp,  John  Tucker,  David  lletfield,  Joseph  Hynes,  WiUiam  OUver, 
sen.,  Ebenezer  Williams,  and  William  Oliver,  jun.  Tho  above  Captain 
Morse  is  the  notorious  villain  mentioned  in  a  late  hand  bill  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  death  and  sufferings  of  that  unfortunate  victim,  Mr.  Thomas 
Long,  who  died  by  the  hand  of  rebel  cruelty,  to  which  we  beg  leave  to 
refer  our  readers.* 

The  JST.  Jerse}'  Journal  of  the  27th  of  June,  says  that  this 
visit  occurred  "yesterday  morning,"  and  that  "  our  people 
.  .  .  killed  two  of  the  enemy  which  they  left  on  the  field,  but 
it  is  supposed  they  had  several  more  killed  and  wounded 

•  Klvlngton's  Gazette,  No.  496. 


506  THE    HISTORY    OF 

which  they  carried  off.     Two  of  tlieir  ptarty  deserted  and 
came  over  to  our  troops."  * 

The  northern  part  of  the  town  received  attention  soon  after. 
The  Mercury  of  the  23d  of  July,  says, — 

Yesterday  evening  Lieutenant  O'oadiali  Meeker,  and  fourteen  Privates, 
of  the  Few  Jersey  Rebel  Militia,  were  sent  to  Town  [New  York]  from 
Staten  Island,  tliey  were  taken  the  Night  before  by  a  Party  of  Refugees 
between  Newark  and  Elizabeth  Town  under  tho  command  of  Captain 
Hetfield.t 

Lord  Cornwall  is  surrendered,  Oct.  17tli,  his  whole  array 
and  munitions  of  war  at  Yorktown,  Ya.,  to  Gen.  Washington. 
That  grand  event,  as  soon  as  knowm,  was  everywhere  cele- 
brated with  demonstrations  of  delight  and  exultation.  To 
the  extent  that  it  raised  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  the 
patriots,  it  depressed  and  discouraged  the  refugees  and  their 
British  supporters.  Preparations,  therefore,  soon  after  began 
to  be  made  for  emigration  to  the  British  provinces,  great 
apprehensions  being  felt,  among  them,  for  their  personal 
safety,  at  the  close  of  the  war  now  so  obviously  drawing  to 
an  end.  Tlie  refugees  on  Staten  Island  began  to  find  out, 
that  the  border  warfare,  in  which  they  had  so  long  been  en- 
gaged, was  the  worst  kind  of  policy  for  their  personal  in- 
terests— that  it  was  the  surest  possible  way  of  preventing 
their  own  restoration  to  the  favor  of  their  countrymen,  and 
the  recovery  of  their  confiscated  estates. 

From  this  time  the  war  with  Staten  Island,  which  had 
been  carried  forward  so  persistently  for  more  than  five  years, 
lost  much  of  its  asperity,  and  sensibly  declined  in  spirit.  Not 
that  it  was  wholly  intermitted,  nor  that  vigilance  was  no 
longer  demanded  on  the  outposts.  Desperate  characters 
enough  there  were  on  the  Island,  who  knew  that  they  had 
too  deeply  injured  their  townsmen  to  expect  forgiveness  ;  and 
these  might,  at  any  time,  make  a  sudden  foray  upon  the 
stock,  and  plunder  tho  people. 

An  entire  exchange  of  prisoners  had  taken  place  early  in 
September,  so  that  the  citizens,  as  well   as  the  soldiers,  who 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  123  t  Gaines'  Morcurj-,  No.  1553. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  507 

had  been  captured  bj  these  marauding  parties,  and  had  not 
died  in  prison,  had  been  restored  to  their  homes,  and  were 
permitted  to  unite  with  their  townsmen  in  their  demonstra- 
tions of  joy  over  the  surrender  of  their  old  enemy.  Lord 
Cornwallis. 

So  long  a  war,  degenerating,  as  it  had  done  in  this  locality, 
into  a  series  of  predatory  forays  and  midnight  surprises,  had 
trained  and  let  loose  on  society  a  class  of  desperadoes, — 
thieves  and  cut-throats, — ready  to  prey  on  any  unfortunates 
who  fell  into  their  hands.  An  instance  of  the  kind  is  related 
in  the  ]^ew  York  papers  of  the  10th  of  JS[ovember  : — 

Last  Saturday  [Stli]  William  Iletfield,  an  iiiLabitantof  Elizabeth  Town, 
Eahway,  came  to  Staten  Island  with  a  small  quantity  of  flour  to  dispose 
of,  &c.  .  .  .  On  his  return  in  the  evening,  he  was  met  in  the  Sound  by  one 
Peter  Terrat,  a  noted  thief,  who  supports  himself  and  a  gang  of  such  mis- 
creants, by  robbing  and  plundering ;  to  him  and  his  party  Hetfield  sur- 
rendered himself;  but  after  he  was  a  prisoner,  Terrat  thought  Hetfield 
threw  something  overboard,  on  which  the  infernal  fiend  took  a  pistol  out 
of  his  pocket  and  shot  him  dead,  laid  the  body  on  the  bank  of  the  Sound 
and  went  off  exulting  with  the  other  prisoners  he  had  taken.  Hetfield 
has  left  a  wife  and  several  children  to  lament  their  loss.* 

The  victim  was  the  son  of  David  Hatfield,  (an  Elder  of  the 
Railway  churcli,  who  had  been  captured  in  June,  and  had 
now  been  restored  to  his  home),  and  a  cousin  of  J.  Smith 
Hatfield,  the  desperado  of  Staten  Island.  The  latter,  having 
ventured  to  return  openly  to  town  in  a  flag-boat,  was,  to- 
gether with  one  of  his  comrades,  Lewis  Blanchard,  (son  of 
John  Blanchard  and  nephew  of  Capt.  Cornelius  Hatfield), 
seized  by  some  of  the  Westficld  people,  loaded  with  irons, 
and  hurried  off  to  Burlington,  where  he  was  kept  in  close 
confinement.  This  gave  occasion  to  the  foray,  of  whicli  tlie 
New  York  papers  of  the  Gth  of  February,  1782,  made  men- 
tion as  follows : — 

Last  Friday  night  [1st]  a  party  consisting  of  thirty  Refugees,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Cornelius  Hetfield,  proceeded  from  Staten  Island  to 
Elizabeth  Town,  where  they  took  nine  prisoners ;  amongst  them  Mr. 
Reed,  a  rebel  contractor ;  all  were  brought  to  Staten  Island,  where  they 
are  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  is  Mr.  Smith  Hetfield,  lately  seized  by 

*  OMncs'  Mercury,  No.  15C9.    Kivington's  Gazette,  No.  534. 


508  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  TVestfioId  people,  thougli  lie  was  then  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag  of 
truce,  carried  into  Burlington,  and  there  loaded  with  irons ;  these  rebels 
are  by  the  Refugees  kept  in  close  durance  as  hostages  for  the  safe  return 
of  Smith  Iletfield,  a  valuable  individual  of  their  body.  His  companion, 
Lewis  Blanchard,  fortunately  escaping  from  the  rebels  at  Princetown, 
travelled  two  miles  into  a  wood,  where  he  was  concealed  till  he  could  dis- 
engage himself  from  the  chains  with  which  he  was  loaded,  and  after 
being  flead  by  the  intense  frosts  is  arrived,  an  object  of  commiseration 
amongst  his  overjoyed  friends  at  Staten  Island.* 

The  Sound,  at  this  time,  was  frozen  over,  of  which  advan- 
tage was  taken.  A  very  difi'erent  account  of  this  affair  is 
given  hy  the  Journal  of  the  6th : — 

On  Friday  night  a  party  of  Refugees,  consisting  of  blacks  and  whites, 
having  formed  a  plan  to  intercept  the  people  of  this  side  as  they  passed 
into  the  meadows  for  salt  hay,  came  over  and  concealed  themselves  in  a 
swamp,  and  had  made  upwards  of  a  dozen  people,  with  their  horses  and 
sleds,  prisoners,  when  the  alarm  being  given,  they  were  pursued  so  close 
that  two  of  their  party  fell  into  our  hands  together  with  all  they  had 
previously  captured.t 

It  would  scarcely  seem  that  these  two  accounts  relate  to 
the  same  event,  and  yet  it  is  not  at  all  prohahle  that  two 
such  forays  occurred  the  same  night. 

Soon  after  the  murder  of  the  London  trader  related  above, 
the  tragedy  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Caldwell's  death  occurred,  Nov. 
2j:th,  filling  the  whole  community  with  sadness  and  grief. 
The  particulars  of  this  lamentable  event  will  appear  on  a 
subsequent  page. 

The  following  notice  of  Capt.  Hendricks'  exploits  is  found 
in  the  Journal  of  the  12th  of  December : — 

Last  Thursday  sennight.  Captain  Baker  Ilendricks,  with  a  party  of  men 
in  whale  boats,  went  down  Newark  Bay,  near  the  Kills,  when  he  boarded 
and  stripped  two  wood-boats,  and  took  one  prisoner — and  on  Thursday 
night  last  ho  landed  a  small  party  of  men  on  Bergen  Neck,  near  the 
Refugee  post,  when  he  took  two  prisoners;  and  on  his  return  took  three 
noted  villains,  with  provisions  of  all  kinds.| 

A  visit  from  some  of  the  "  Cowboys  "  of  Staten  Island  is 
thus  described  in  the  Journal  of  the  5th  of  December  : — 

•  Oalncs'  Mercury,  No.  15S2.    Kivingtan's  Gazette,  No.  559. 
T  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  155.  J  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  147. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  509 

Last  Saturday  niglit  [1st]  seven  Refugees  from  Staten  Island  landed  at 
Halstead's  Point,  with  the  expectation  (as  their  leader  told  them)  of 
meeting  some  of  their  quondam  friends  with  fat  cattle;  but  Captain 
[Jonathan]  Dayton  having  notice  of  their  intention  collected  a  party  of 
men,  and  knowing  the  route  they  were  to  take,  laid  in  ambush  for  them, 
though  unfortunately  a  muddy  place  in  the  road  had  turned  them  a  little 
out,  and  obliged  his  party  to  fire  through  two  fences,  otherwise,  in  all 
probability,  they  would  have  killed  every  one  the  first  fire ;  however  they 
killed  one,  mortally  wounded  another,  and  took  three  prisoners ;  the 
other  two,  favoured  by  the  shade  of  the  night,  and  a  good  pair  of  heels, 
made  their  escape.  Three  of  the  party  were  left  in  the  gunboat,  but 
hearing  a  boat  of  ours  coming  out  of  the  creek,  pushed  over  to  Staten 
Island  shore,  nevertheless  she  fell  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  Eandall. 
— It  seems  their  leader,  Swain  Parscl,  was  a  deserter  from  our  army.  On 
his  information  David  Oliver,  a  villain  who  has  long  been  the  supporter 
of  the  illicit  trade,  and  a  dread  to  the  inhabitants  on  the  lines,  was  taken 
the  same  night  concealed  in  a  house  at  Rahway.* 

Two  days  afterwards, — 

Sunday  night  [23d]  Captain  Baker  Hendricks  wont  over  to  Bergen  and 
made  eight  of  the  enemy  prisoners.t 

At  the  opening  of  navigation  in  the  s]3ring,  the  winter 
having  been  unusually  severe, — 

Lieutenant  Blanchard  sailed  with  a  party  of  men  in  a  whale-boat  last 
Sunday,  [March  10th],  and  took,  off  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  a  whale-boat, 
in  which  was  a  Mr.  Woodrofte  and  four  other  active  rebels  belonging  to 
New  Jersey.! 

On  the  night  of  the  following  Thursday  [14th], — 

A  party  of  royal  horse  thieves  under  the  command  of  the  celebrated 
Lewis  Robbins,  , .  made  an  incursion  into  Rahway.  They  set  out  for  West- 
field,  to  seize  Sheriff  Marsh,  but  as  the  roads  were  bad,  and  learning, 
probably,  that  the  Sheriff  was  not  at  home,  they  turned  back,  and  made 
their  way  to  old  David  Miller's,  capturing  him,  some  of  his  sons,  and  his 
horses.  Having  paroled  the  old  man,  because  of  his  infirmities,  they 
proceeded  to  Peter  Trembly's,  whom  they  seized  and  robbed  of  all  his 
money  and  papers.  They  took,  also,  a  Peter  Horn,  But,  at  the  sudden 
discharge  of  a  gun,  they  paroled  their  prisoners  and  fled. 

Tlie  next  night,  Capt.  Baker  Hendricks,  and  JMr.  Luther 
Baldwin,  with  a  small  party  of  men,  went  over  in  a  whale- 
boat  to  Staten  Island,  where   they    "surprized  and   took  a 

♦  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  1-16.  t  Ibid.,  No.  149.  :  RiviDgton's  Gazette,  No.  570. 


510  THE    HISTORY    OF 

sloop  armed  witli  two  tbree-poundcrs,  two  blunderbusses, 
and  manned  witli  five  liands ; "  as  the  sloop  was  aground, 
they  "  stripped  her  of  arms,  sails,  rigging,  cable,  anchor  and 
long  boat."  Two  other  sloops  they  served  in  like  manner. 
Even  the  flag-boats  suffered  from  the  depredators  on  the 
Sound ;  Rivington  says, — 

Last  Friday  [March  ISlli]  a  vessel  with  a  Flag  of  truce  sailed  from  this 
garrison  [N".  York]  for  Elizabeth  Town  Point,  in  which  went  a,  Hessian 
Paymaster  with  a  Iqrge  sum  of  money  for  the  use  of  the  Hessian  prison- 
ers in  Pennsylvania.  Same  night  ahout  12  o'clock,  a  rebel  whale-boat 
boarded  the  flag  vessel  at  said  Point,  the  crew  of  which  seized  the  cash 
which  the  Hessian  gentleman  had  in  charge  for  the  before  mentioned 
purjiose.  Several  other  gentlemen  on  board  the  flag  were  also  robbed 
of  what  cash  they  had  witli  them.* 

Tlic  American  account  presents  quite  a  different  aspect  of 
this  affair : — 

Thursday  night  a  flag  of  trace,  on  her  way  to  this  shore,  was  boarded, 
near  Shuter's  Island,  by  some  men  in  disguise,  and  robbed  of  upwards  of 
two  thousand  guineas,  being  a  part  of  a  sum  of  money  for  the  use  of 
Cornwallis'  army.  They  also  plundered  several  individuals  that  were  on 
board.  The  party  that  committed  the  above  robbery,  were  supposed  to 
be  refugees  from  Xew  York  or  Staten  Island.f 

The  amount,  as  afterwards  appeared,  -was  900  guineas,  the 
losers  having,  as  usual,  magnified  their  loss. 

The  spring  passed  away  in  considerable  quiet.  Early  in 
June,  Hendricks  repeated  his  visits  to  Bergen  : — 

Friday,  passed  through  this  place  [Chatham]  tinder  guard,  seven  tatter- 
demalions, taken  the  preceeding  day  [June  6th]  by  a  party  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Hendricks. 

Last  Thursday  morning  [13th]  Captain  Baker  Hendricks  captured, 
after  some  resistance,  on  Bergen  Point,  five  refugees,  which  he  brought 
off.t 

Yet  at  this  very  time  Hendricks  was  under  accusation  of 
illicit  intercourse  with  the  enemy,  and  Gov.  Livingston 
withdrew  his  commission  as  a  partisan  commander.  § 

The  foray  of  the  first  of  February,  1782,  was  the  last  to 
which  tlic  town  was  subjected.     It  does  not  appear,  that  the 

*  Kivington's  Gazette,  Nos.  571,  5.    Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1587. 
+  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  161.  t  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  175.  §  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  234. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  511 

enemy  ventured  again  to  cross  the  Sound,  after  this  date, 
on  a  marauding  excursion  "svithin  the  limits  of  the  borough. 
The  ■war,  practically,  came  to  an  end,  at  that  date,  in  this 
section.  Some  depredations  were  committed,  and  some 
captures  made,  on  the  waters  in  the  vicinity,  but  none  on 
land.  Capt.  Cornelius  Ilatlield,  disgusted  with  the  results 
of  his  visits  to  his  native  place,  is  found,  April  10th,  together 
with  Captain  Blauvelt,  at  the  head  of  an  expedition  of  tories, 
on  the  armed  brig  Arrogant,  and  capturing,. a  short  distance 
up  the  North  Kiver,  a  "  pettiauger,"  and  some  small  boats, 
with  about  ten  prisoners.* 

In  June,  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  from  this  town,  of 
which  an  account  is  given,  as  follows  : — 

Intelligence  being  received  at  Elizabeth  Town  of  two  wbale  boats, 
fitted  for  a  two  months'  cruise  in  the  Delaware  bay,  lying  at  a  wharf  the 
north  side  of  Staten  Island,  a  plan  was  concerted  to  surprize  and  bring 
them  off,  which  was  put  in  practice  last  Thursday  niglit  [20th],  and  the 
boats,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  safely  moored  at  Elizabeth 
Town  bridge  next  morning  together  with  eighteen  prisoners  that  were 
on  board,  six  of  whom  valuable  Negroes.  The  party,  continentals  and 
volunteers,  consisted  of  upwards  of  thirty,  commanded  by  Major  [Wm.] 
Crane.  There  was  a  sentinel  in  each  boat,  who  hailed  and  attempted  to 
fire  on  the  party,  but  their  pieces  providentially  flashing  in  the  pan,  the 
party,  regardless  of  danger,  rushed  on  them  with  such  impetuosity,  that 
they  had  not  time  to  prime  again,  and  a  few  moments  put  them  in  com- 
plete possession  of  their  object,  without  any  further  alarm.t 

At  the  October  term  of  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer 
for  Essex  Co.,  George  Hair  was  fined  £G00,  "  for  letting 
John  Smith  Iletfield  escape,"  of  which  the  following  is  an 
account : — 

Smith  Iletfield,  an  infamous  refugee,  who  has  been  committing  dep- 
redations on  the  innocent  inhabitants  along  the  lines  ever  since  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  and  was  taken  prisoner  several  mouths  ago, 
made  his  escape  from  the  guard  who  had  him  in  charge,  on  Saturday 
night  last  [Sept.  21st].t 

One  act  more  of  aggressive  liostility,  on  the  part  of 
citizens  of  this  town,  March,  1TS3,  remains  to  be  narrated. 

*  Gaines'  Mercury,  No.  1591.    Eivii  gton's  Gazette,  No.  57S. 
^  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  170.  t  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  24S. 


512  THE    HISTORY    OF 

It  ^vill  be   told,  in   the    words  of  Major  "Wm.   Crane,  the 
leader  of  the  euterjDrise,  as  written  the  next  day  : — 

I  Lavo  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  of  the  capture  of  the  sloop  Katy, 
of  twelve  double-fortified  four- pounders,  containing  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  puncheons  of  Jamaica  spirits,  lying,  at  the  time  of  capture, 
within  pistol-shot  of  the  grand  battery  at  New  York,  and  along  side  of 
the  shij}  Eagle,  of  twenty  four  guns,  which  v>q  also  took,  but  were 
obliged  to  leave  there,  as  she  lay  aground. — The  Captains  and  crews  of 
both  the  vessels  "were  brought  up  by  us  in  the  sloop  to  this  place,  ■where 
■we  have  them  secure.  This  ■was  performed  on  the  night  of  the  third 
of  March  [Monday],  by  six  townsmen,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Quigley  and  myself  Avithout  the  firing  of  a  musket  by  any  of  our  party.* 

The  vessel  and  cargo  were  sold  at  auction,  at  Elizabeth 
Town,  on  Monday  the  17th  of  March,  f 

The  welcome  news  at  length  arrived  at  Philadelphia, 
March  23d,  that  preliminary  treaties  between  Great  Britain, 
France  and  Spain  had  been  signed,  at  Paris,  on  the  20th  of 
January,  thus  rendering  effectual  the  provisional  treaty  of 
-  the  30th  of  November,  1782,  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States.  On  the  reception  of  the  news,  and  of  his 
instructions.  Sir  Guy  Carleton  hasted  to  proclaim  a  com- 
plete cessation  of  hostilities  by  sea  and  land  ;  and  a  similar 
proclamation  was  ordered  by  Congress  en  the  11th  of  April. 
The  order  was  received  at  headquarters  in  ISTewburgh,  l!s".  Y., 
on  the  17th,  and  proclamation  was  made  accordingly  to 
every  regiment  and  corps  of  the  army,  at  noon  of  Saturday, 
the  19th  of  April,  precisely  eight  years  from  the  actual 
.   commencement  of  hostilities  at  Lexington,  Mass. 

*  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  273.  t  Ib:d.,  No.  272. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  513 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

A.  D.  lYGO-nSO. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  Jas.   Caldwell  —  Birth  —  Education  —  Ordination  — 

Settlement  here  —  Visit  of  Whitefield  —  Revival  —  Elders  and  Deacons 

Rules  for  the  Sexton —  Chh.  enlarged  —  Grammar  School  —  Taught  by  Pem- 
berton,  Reeve,  Periam,  Barber,  and  Baldwin  —  Am.  Episcopate  —  Annual 
Conventions  —  Another  Revival  —  Increase  of  Salary  —  Mr.  C.  arraigned  be- 
fore the  Presbytery  and  cleared  —  His  Patriotism  —  Chaplain  of  the  N.  J. 
Brigade  in  the  Northern  Army  —  Return  —  Refuge  from  the  British  at  Tur- 
key—  Assistant  Commissary  General  —  Parsonage  and  Chh.  burned  —  Retires 
to  Ct.  Farms  —  Mrs.  C.  murdered  —  His  Papers  carried  off — Retires  to 
Turkey  —  Chosen  one  of  the  State  Council  —  Murdered  —  Ej^itaph  of  Mr.  C. 
and  his  Wife  —  Their  children. 

After  the  withdrawal  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Kcteltas,  iu  July, 
1760,  the  pulpit  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  remained 
vacant,  more  than  ti  year  and  a  half.  During  this  interval, 
the  sanctuary  was  served  by  not  less  than  twenty  one  diifer- 
ent  preachers.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Treat  supplied  the  pulpit 
twenty  five  Sabbaths ;  Rev.  James  Caldwell,  eleven  Sab- 
baths ;  and  Rev.  Wm.  Kirkpatrick,  eight  Sabbaths.* 

At  length,  the  congregation  directed  their  attention  to 
the 

REV.  JAMES  CALDWELL. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  a  Virginian.  His  father,  John  Caldwel], 
of  Scotch  ancestry,  came  to  this  country  with  four  sisters,  his 
wife,  and  several  children,  from  the  county  of  Antrim,  Ire- 
land. He  settled  first  at  Chestnut  Level,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa. 
Soon  after  he  removed  to  the  new  settlements  in  the  southern 
part  of  Virginia,  and  located  on  Cub  Creek,  a  branch  of  the 
Staunton  river,  in  what  is  now  Charlotte  Co.     Here,  in  the 

♦  liccorJs  of  Trustees  of  Tresb.  Chh. 

33 


514  THE    HISTORY    OF 

■wiklcniesSj  James,  the  youngest  of  seven  children,  was  born 
in  April,  173-i.  The  place  was  generally  known  as  "  the 
Caldwell  settlement,"  or  "  Cub  Creek."  A  daughter  of  one 
of  his  brothers,  also  born  here,  was  the  mother  of  the  Hon. 
John  Caldwell  Calhoun,  of  S.  C,  the  well-known  senator, 
and  leading  statesman  of  the  South.* 

James  was  prepared  for  college  under  the  instruction  of 
the  Kev.  John  Todd,  one  of  the  ministers,  whom  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Davies  introduced  in  1751,  to  aid  him  in  supplying 
the  seven  congregations  then  under  his  charge.  The  classical 
school;  founded  by  Mr.  Todd,  obtained  considerable  reputa- 
tion. He  was  regarded  as  a  "  New  Light,"  as  the  friends  of 
revivals  were  then  called.  "Whitefield  preached  for  him,  in 
January,  1755,  with  wonderful  results.  It  is  probable  that 
young  Caldwell  was  one  of  the  hearers  on  that  occasion,  and 
received  a  life-long  impulse  for  good.f 

As  Davies  was  deeply  interested  in  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  and  Todd  had  graduated  there  in  1749,  Caldwell 
also  entered  there.  lie  came  hither  when  the  college  was  at 
Newark,  forming  an  acquaintance,  while  there,  with  the 
young  maiden  to  whom  he  was  afterwards  married.  The  last 
two  months  of  his  senior  year  were  spent,  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  his  friend  Davies,. who  had  succeeded  Burr  and  Ed- 
wards in  the  Presidency. 

He  graduated,  Sept.,  1759,  and  pursued  his  theological 
course  of  study  under  the  tuition  of  President  Davies.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  July  29, 
1700.  He  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Elizabeth  Town  church, 
on  the  third  Sabbath  after  Mr.  Keteltas'  departure,  and  on 
the  following  two  Sabbaths ;  also  on  the  second  Sabbath  of 
September.  He  was  ordained,  Sept.  17,  1760,  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  and  appointed  by  the  Synod  "  to 
supply  the  southern  vacancies,  particularly  those  in  Caro- 
lina."':}: 

He  received  a  call  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  this 

•  Sprague's  Annsls,  III.  223.  Webster's  Trcsb.  Chh.,  pp.  331,2.  Jenkins' Calhoun, 
pp.  20-1.  t  Webster's  Pres.  Chh.,  pp.  60S-9.    Foote's  Virginia,  2d  Series,  pp.  45,  77,  7S. 

X  Sprague's  Annals,  HI.  229.    Kccords  of  the  Presb.  Chh.,  pp.  807,  811. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  515 

town,  in  November,  17G1,  which  he  accepted.  On  his  return 
from  the  Carolinas,  he  was  transferred  from  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  by  w^hom 
lie  was  duly  installed,  March,  1762,  with  an  annual  salary  of 
£160.  He  was,  at  the  time,  in  the  twenty  seventh  year  of 
his  age,  a  young  man  of  prepossessing  appearance,  and  of 
more  than  ordinary  promise  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Congregation,  at  the  time,  were  Samuel 
Woodruff",  (President),  Stephen  Crane,  Cornelius  Hatfield, 
Jonathan  Dayton,  Benjamin  Winans,  Moses  Ogden,  and  Wil- 
liam Peartree  Smith  ;  all  of  them,  excepting  Woodruff  and 
Smith,  having  served  since  1753. 

Immediately  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Caldwell,  measures 
were  taken  by  the  Trustees,  to  put  the  Church-Edifice  and 
grounds  in  order.     It  was  voted,  April  21,  1762, — 

That  the  Burial  Ground  be  inclosed  with  a  closo  cedar  Board  Fence 
w"^  red  Cedar  Posts  and  that  a  sufficient  Number  of  Posts  be  set  up  before 
the  s'^  Fence  for  the  Convenience  of  fastening  Horses  &c. 

Also  Agreed  that  a  Neat  Pale  Fence  be  built  to  inclose  a  Court  Yard  ia 
the  Front  and  South  End  of  the  Church  -with  a  double  Rail  on  the  out- 
side with  convenient  Turnpikes  to  defend  the  same  from  any  injuries  by 
Horses  &c  and  the  s''  Fences  with  well  painted 

Also  it  is  agreed  that  the  Church  be  painted  within  with  some  light 
Color — and  that  any  other  necessay  repairs  be  done.* 

The  work  was  entrusted  to  Mr.  Samuel  Woodruff,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board,  one  of  the  most  influential  men  of  the 
town,  largely  engaged  in  merchandize. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1763,  just  one  year  after  he  entered 
upon  his  pastoral  ministrations,  Mr.  Caldwell  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Hannah,  the  daughter  of  John  Ogden,  Esq.,  and 
Hannah  Sayre,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  Her  father  was  the  son 
of  Captain  David  Ogden,  and  the  grandson  of  the  first  David 
Ogden,  who  came  with  his  father  John  Ogden,  the  planter, 
from  Long  Island,  and  settled  this  town  in  1661.  Her 
mother  was  a  descendant  of  Joseph  Sayre,  another  of  the 
founders  of  Elizabeth  Town. 

Mr.  Caldwell  and  his  jieople,  in  November,  1763,  were 

•  Trustees'  Book. 


516  THE    HISTORY    OF  ' 

favored  Avitli  a  brief  visit  from  the  apostolic  AVhitefield, 
which  seems  to  have  been  followed  by  a  revived  interest  in 
religion.  On  his  way  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York,  Mr. 
AVhitefield  reached  here  greatly  fatigued  on  the  26th,  and  the 
next  day  being  the  Sabbath,  preached  twice  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  the  Treasurer's  account  showing  that  the  con- 
tributions, that  day,  were  in  consequence  largely  increased. 
He  had  applied  for  the  use  of  St.  John's  church,  but  greatly 
to  the  disappointment  and  vexation  of  a  large  number  of  the 
parish,  his  application  was  denied  by  the  Hector,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Chandler.  Mr.  Whitefield,  in  a  note  to  a  friend,  from 
New  York,  Dec.  1,  1763,  thus  alludes  to  this  visit: — 

Some  very  good  impressions  have  been  made  in  Philadelphia,  and  we 
had  four  sweet  seasons  at  New  Jersey  College,  and  two  at  Elizabeth 
Town  on  my  way  hither.     Some  said  they  resembled  old  times.* 

The  College  had  been  favored  with  a  revival  of  religion 
since  the  preceding  winter,  and  something  of  the  same  kind 
occurred,  as  will  be  seen  presently,  in  this  town  and  vicinity. 
Mr.  Chandler,  in  reporting,  July  5,  1764,  to  the  Society  by 
which  he  was  employed,  the  results  of  his  missionary  labors, 
gives,  also,  an  account  of  Mr.  Caldwell,  and  the  effects  of  his 
preaching : — 

The  Dissenting  Teacher  of  this  place  is  a  man  of  some  parts  and  of  a 
popular  address  and  has  y"  appearance  of  great  Zeal  and  Piety.  He 
preaches  frequently  thrico  on  Sundays  gives  an  Evening  Lecture  every 
Thursday  ia  the  Meeting-house  besides  praying  and  exhorting  from  house 
to  house,  many  of  my  people  of  course  fall  in  with  his  Evening  lectures, 
and  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  some  of  them  are  captivated  with 
y"  appearance  of  so  much  Zeal  and  Piety.  At  y"  same  time  y^  Dis- 
senters almost  to  a  man  are  watching  every  opportunity  to  promote  y" 
cause  and  not  so  much  as  a  negro  can  iaW  in  their  way  but  some  of  them 
will  try  to  proselyte  him  and  they  arc  now  provided  with  a  very  strong 
argument  for  that  purpose  taken  from  those  sudden  and  instantaneous 
conversions  which  within  G  months  have  frequently  happened  in  this  and 
y"  adjacent  Towns  amongst  y"  Dissenters  whereas  there  have  been  none 
in  y"  Church. t 

♦  Clark's  St.  Jc^lin's  Clili.,  pp.  101,2.  Whilcndd's  Letters,  III.  800,1.  Mr.  WhiteHeld 
Tir^iti'd  the  town  .agftin  and  preaclied  ia  the  Trcsbyterian  Church,  during  the  third  week  of 
Juno,  1770.     Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.,  pp.  147-8. 

t  Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.,'p.  10-1. 


'  ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  517 

These  allusions  clearly  indicate,  that  the  "  zeal  and  piety," 
exhibited  in  the  ministrations  of  Mr,  Caldwell,  had  resulted 
in  a  considerable  revival  of  religion.  The  neighboring 
congregation  at  Newark  was  favored  about  the  same  time 
■with  similar  manifestations  of  the  presence  of  the  Divine 
Spirit.* 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1TG5,  the  Elders  and  Deacons  of 
the  church  were  as  follows  :  Elders  :  Samuel  Woodruff, 
Joseph  Lyon,  Cornelius  Hatfield,  John  Potter,  Benjamin 
Winans,  and  Samuel  AVilliaras.  Elders  and  Deacons :  Mat- 
thias Hatfield,  David  "Whitehead,  and  Robert  Ogden. 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  with 
the  exception  of  Moses  Ogden,  resigned  their  places,  two  of 
them,  however,  having  recently  been  chosen  Elders.  A 
new  Board  was  chosen,  December  23,  1765,  composed  of 
Moses  Ogden,  John  Blanchard,' Merchant,  Elias  Boudinot, 
Esq.,  Jonathan  "Williams,  William  •  Harriman,  Benjamin 
Spinning,  and  Captain  Elias  Dayton.  Elias  Boudinot  was 
chosen  President. f 

At  the  election  of  a  new  Sexton,  March  24:,  17CG,  the 
duties  of  the  incumbent,  William  Woodruff',  were  defined 
with  great  particularity,  from  which  much  may  be  learned 
of  the  Avorshiping  assemblies  of  that  period.:}: 

*  Stearns'  Newark,  pp.  227,  8.  t  Trustees'  Book. 

X  "  1st.  He  must  attend  the  Einging  of  the  Bell  at  all  proper  Seasous  when  Divine  Service 
is  to  be  Performed  and  to  open  Doors  and  Windows  when  necessary. 

2d.  He  is  once  every  fortnight  at  least,  to  take  Care  that  the  Church  be  thoroughly  swept 
out.  Seats  &  Isles;  and  that  the  Benches  and  Tops  of  the  Seats  bo  afterwards  v,-cll  &  neatly 
dusted  oflf. 

3d.  Once  every  three  months  the  Alleys  below  the  Pulpit  Stairs  and  Gallery  Stairs  must 
be  Washed  out  and  well  sanded,  and  this  to  be  done  the  Beginniug  of  the  Week  in  order  to 
be  thoroughly  Dry  the  Sunday  following 

4th.  For  Evening  Lectures  You  are  to  get  the  Candles,  Such  as  the  Trustees  shall  direct 
&  Illuminate  the  Church  in  Every  part,  where  places  are  or  Shall  be  Provided  to  receive 
Candles.  And  at  the  Conclusion  of  Prayer  before  Sermon,  you  are  immediately  to  go  up  and 
Snuff  the  Pulpit  Candles  &  the  rest  of  the  Candles  in  the  Church.  When  you  Judge  the 
Sermon  to  be  about  half  finished  you  are  once  more  to  Snuff  the  Candles  in  the  Pulpit,  and 
at  the  Clerks  Desk  :  Now  aud  at  all  other  times,  when  there  is  Occasion,  for  your  going  about 
in  time  of  Service  to  walk  as  Softly  and  lightly  as  Possible 

5thly.  You  are  to  be  very  Careful  of  the  Silk  Hangings  &  Cushion  that  they  receive  no 
Injury  by  Dust  Spots  or  otherwise  and  to  fold  them  Smoothly  to  prevent  Wrinkling;  These 
are  to  be  Used  only  In  the  Day  time ;  Ynu  are  to  put  them  up  just  before  you  King  the  first 
Bell;  on  the  Sunday  Morning  &;  to  take  them  Down  after  Service  in  the  Afternoon  and  to 
Lock  tliem  up  in  the  place  Provided:  Then  you  are  to  put  up  the  Brass  Arms  &  Velvet 
Cushion  which  with  the  Bible  you  must  cover  from  the  Dust,  whenever,  the  Church  Is  to  bo 


518  THE    mSTORY    OF  * 

Me;  sures  Avere  taken,  in  May,  17G6,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation,  to  enlarge  the  house  of  worship  by  an  addition 
to  the  length,  in  the  rear,  of  not  less  than  sixteen  feet,  and 

Swept.    Tou  are  also  to  Observe  not  to  put  up  the  IlaDgings  for  the  Clerks  Desk,  on  the 
Morning  of  Communion  Days 

6(1.  You  are  to  See  that  the  Pulpit  Door  be  always  Opened  ready  for  the  Minister"  En- 
trance &  the  Biblo  opened  on  the  Cushion.  That  the  Doors  of  the  Church  be  kept  Shut  in 
Cold  &  bad  Weather  after  Prayer  is  begun— And  Near  the  Conclusion  of  the  last  Psalm  that 
you  throw  open  all  the  Doors  that  the  Congreg.ition  may  readily  pas.s  out 

7d.  When  Strangers  come  in,  Men  or  Women,  who  appear  to  be  at  any  Loss  for  a  Seat, 
you  are  Immeadiately  to  direct  them  to  the  Strangers  Seat  and  if  that  should  be  full  you  are 
to  Shew  them  any  other  Scat  in  the  Church  where  you  Judge  there  will  be  most  Room, 
whither  among  the  New  or  Old  Seats 

8d.  All  Notes  that  shall  bo  delivered  to  yon  for  the  Minister  Eequesting  prayers,  you  are 
to  carry  up  to  him  while  the  first  Psam  is  Singing 

9d.  When  you  Observe  any  one  or  more  of  the  Collectors  of  the  Contribution  to  be  absent 
you  are  to  take  one  or  more  of  the  Boxes,  while  the  last  Psalm  is  Singing,  and  Carry  the  same 
to  other  of  the  Elders  or  Deacons  present  to  Collect  in  the  Room  of  Such  Absentee,  telling 
them  in  whose  Room  that  such  Person  may  know  where  to  Collect 

lOd.  Tou  are  to  prevent  as  much  as  in  you  lies  all  Undue  Noises  and  Disorders,  and  Suffer 
no  White  Boys  or  Girls  to  be  Standing  or  Setting  on  the  Gallery  or  Pulpit  Stairs — or  any  to 
play  or  Continue  out  of  doors  during  divine  Service — And  to  stop  their  running  out  untillthe 
Blessing  is  given  And  if  at  any  time  you  cannot  prevent  unruly  behaviour  during  Service 
you  are  Immediately  to  Step  to  one  of  the  Magistrates  or  Elders  present  &  Inform  them  of 
the  same — 

lid.  Tou  are  Always  to  take  your  own  Seat  in  the  Pew  on  the  leftside  of  the  Front  Door 
as  the  most  convenient  for  your  Observing  everything  that  passes  within  &.  withont  Doors  & 
where  any  one  of  the  Congregation  who  may  have  Occasion  to  Speak  to  you  may  alway 
readily  find  you — 

12d.  Tou  are  to  keep  the  Church  carefully  locked  up  when  there  is  no  Service,  and  all  the 
Windows  shut  and  to  be  Auswerable  for  any  Damage  received  throw  your  Neglect, 

1.3d.  Tou  are  Weekly  to  wind  up  &  Regulate  the  Church  clock  and  whenever  out  of  order 
to  give  Notice  to  one  of  the  Trustees 

14d  Tou  are  to  Notify  Meetings  of  the  Trustees  to  the  several  Members  whenever  required 
by  the  President 

15d  Tou  are  to  attend  any  little  Services  about  the  Church  or  Clock  whenever  Necessary 
or  required  by  the  President  of  Trustees,  for  the  Time  being,  and  to  Perform  every  Duty 
belonging  to  &  usually  performed  by  the  Sexton  of  a  Church 

ICJ  Tou  are  Carefully  to  Oservo  in  the  burial  of  the  Dead  to  keep  the  Bodies  of  the 
Respective  particular  Families  of  the  Congregation  together  as  much  as  possibly  can  be  done 

17<1  Tou  are  not  to  Suffer  any  person  to  dig  a  Grave  in  the  Burying  Tard  without  your 
M.irking  out  the  Spot,  Nor  are  you  to  Suffer  any  Person  not  of  the  Congregation  to  be 
Interred  in  the  Tard,  Without  the  liberty  of  one  of  the  Trustees 

18d  Tou  are  to  receive  no  higher  Fees  for  your  Services  than  the  Following 

For  Ringing  the  Bell  for  a  funeral  8.6 

For  inviting  to  a  Funeral  3.8 

For  diging  a  Grave  according  to  the  size  of  the  Body  from  0.2.6.  to  ^    T.O 

For  Marking  out  the  Spot  for  another  to  dig  I.O 

For  diging  a  Grave  in  the  Church  according  to  Size  from  0.5.  to  10.0 

To  receive  for  the  Trustees  for  a  Grave  in  Church  for  an  Adult  £-3 

Bo  for  a  Touth  2 

Do  for  an  Infant  1.10" 

The  only  compensation  for  all  these  services,  w.ns  to  be  "  the  Sum  of  Thirty  Nine  Shil- 
lings p'  Annum;  and  the  usual  perquisites  ;"  the  latter  including,  probably,  only  the  above 
fees.— Joseph  Miller  was  appointed  Sexton  In  1667,  at  a  salary  of  £5.— Trustees'  Book. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  519 

to  cover  the  whole  roof  with  new  shingles ;  the  money,  to 
defray  the  expense,  to  be  raised  by  subscription ;  and  the 
Building  Ct)mmittee  to  consist  of  Messrs.  Samuel  Woodruff', 
TVm.  Peartree  Smith,  Samuel  Wood,  Benjamin  Spinning, 
Elias  Dayton  and  Jonathan  Williams. 

Mr.  Woodruff"  was  directed,  a  few  months  later,  to  repair 
the  roof  of  the  steeple,  "  to  amend  the  Ball  and  Cock  on  the 
Top  of  the  Steeple,"  to  make  a  "  Cieling  over  the  Bell  and 
also  paint  the  Eails  &  moldings  of  the  Bellfry  white." 
Something  may  be  gathered,  from  these  records,  as  to  the 
appearance  of  the  steeple.* 

Hitherto,  the  current  expenses  of  the  Congregation  had 
been  met,  by  collections  taken  at  each  public  service  on  the 
Sabbath ;  and  punctually  every  Monday  Mr.  Caldwell  was 
paid,  as  the  Treasurers  accounts  show,  his  weekly  rate  ol 
£3.1.6^.  In  May,  1667,  however,  it  was  resolved  to  offer 
the  pews  in  the  enlarged  building  at  public  vendue  agreeable 
to  certain  lixed  rates,  the  rents  to  be  paid  quarterly.f 

Allusion  has  been  made,  on  a  previous  page,  to  the 
grammar-school,  in  this  town,  taught  by  Tapping  Beeve, 
afterwards  the  son-in-law  of  President  Burr,  and  Principal 
of  the  celebrated  Law  School  of  Litchfield,  Ct.  This  school 
was  commenced  in  the  autumn  of  1766,  by  Messrs.  Peeve 
and  Pemberton.  Mr.  Reeve  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Abner 
Reeve,  and  was  born  at  Fire  Place,  Brookhaven,  L.  I., 
October  17,  1744.  He  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1763,  and 
shortly  after  was  employed  by  Mr.  Timothy  Edwards  of  this 
town,  as  a  private  tutor  to  the  two  children  of  his  deceased 
sister  Burr,  and  so  became  a  member  of  Mr.  Edwards'  family.  '-■■ 
Ebenezer  Pemberton  was  tlie  son  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Pemberton,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  New  York,  where  he  was  born  in  1746.  In  1753  the 
family  removed  to  Boston,  but  the  father  still  retaining  his 
love  for  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  founders,  sent  his  son  to  Princeton  to  be  educated, 
where,  with  his  classmates,  Jonathan  Edwards,  Robert 
Ogden  and  Jonathan  Ogden,  (the  last  two  of  this  town,  and 

♦  Trustees'  Book.  t  Ibid. 


520  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  first  one  a  brother  of  a  citizen  of  this  town),  he  grad- 
uated in  1765.  It  is  easy  to  see  how  Pemberton  (afterwards 
one  of  the  most  eminent  teachers  of  New  England)  was 
bronght  here.* 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  school  succeeded  ;  and,  in 
JVfarch,  17GT,  Reeve  and  Pemberton,  Masters  of  the  Grammar 
School  in  Elizabeth  Town,  "  inform  the  public  that  they  con- 
tinue to  teach  the  Greek  and  Latin  Language,"  and  that  "  a 
commodious  House  is  provided  in  the  centre  of  the  Town  for 
the  accommodation  of  a  large  School ; "  also  that  "  Gentlemen 
of  Education  in  the  town  will  frequently  visit  tlie  School." 
The  terms  were  £5  per  annum,  and  20s.  entrance,  for  tuition. 
Board  to  be  had  in  good  families  for  £20  a  year. 

The  better  to  accommodate  this  school  and  to  give  it  per- 
manency, "diverse  well-disposed  persons"  subscribed  the 
sum  of  seventy  pounds,  payable  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  this  town,  in  trust  for  the  building  of  a 
School-House,  where  the  said  Trustees  should  order.  The 
trust  was  accepted,  Aug.  24,  1767,  and  it  was  ordered, — 

That  a  proper  House  be  erected  oa  the  uppermost  end  of  the  Burial 
Yard  Lot  Under  the  Care  of  Messrs.  ["Wm.  P.]  Smith  &  Spinning  of 
this  Board  and  D''  W'"  Barnct  &  Nehemiah  Wado  of  the  congregation. 

Any  deficiencies,  should  the  subscriptions  made  or  to  be 
made  prove  inadequate,  were  to  be  paid  out  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Ogden's  legacy  of  £100.     It  was 

Voted  That  the  ReV^  D--  Chandler,  the  ReV  M-"  Caldwell,  Mess"  John 

Chetwood,  Timotliy  Edwards,  &  Elias  Boudinot  &  W"  P.  Smith  be  Re- 

j^quested  to  undertake  the  Business  of  Visiting  the  s*  Grammar  School 

*  during  the  first  year,  ....  once  a  Quarter  or  oftner  if  they  think  proper. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  Academy,  [built  of  wood  with 
a  cupola],  that  formerly  occupied  the  site  of  the  Lecture 
Room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  that  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  torch  of  the  enemy,  Feb.  25,  1779.  Mr.  Pem- 
berton left  the  school  in  tlie  sjn-ing  for  a  tutorship  at  Prinqe- 
ton,  and  Mr.  Reeve,  in  tlie  autumn  of  17G9.  They  were  suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  Josepli  Periam,  (born  in  1712),  a  graduate  of 

*  Holfs  N.  Y.  Journal,  Xo.  1241.    Davis'  Life  of  Burr,  I.  26. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  521 

the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1762,  and  "  distinguislied  by  a 
profound  acquaintance  with  mathematics  and  natural  philos- 
ophy." The  Eev.  Dr.  Samuel  Spring,  who  formed  his  ac- 
quaintance at  Princeton  "  could  never  mention  his  name 
without  admiration."  In  1765,  he  was  Tutor  of  the  College ; 
also,  in  1767  and  8.  The  intermediate  year  was  occupied 
with  the  care  of  a  school  at  Princeton,  Mr.  Periam  con- 
tinued in  charge  of  the  school  in  this  town  for  two  years.  In 
1772-3,  he  studied  theology,  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  of 
Bethlehem,  Ct. ;  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  ISTew 
York,  in  1774,  but  the  license  was  withdrawn  in  1775 ;  was 
appointed,  in  1776,  Quarter  Master  of  the  First  Battalion 
[Col.  Ogden's]  of  the  Jersey  Brigade  ;  resumed  the  charge 
of  the  Academy  of  this  Town,  June  1,  1778,  where  he  con- 
tinued, until  his  death,  which  occurred  suddenly,  Sunday 
morning,  Oct.  8th,  1780.* 

Mr.  Francis  Barber  took  charge  of  the  school,  Nov.  1, 
1771,  and  continued  in  this  service  until  the  commencement 
of  the  war.  Mr.  Samuel  Baldwin,  of  Newark,  who  gradu- 
ated at  Princeton,  in  1770,  (with  Messrs.  John  C.  Ogden  and 
Mattliias  "Williamson  of  this  town),  being  then  only  16  years 
of  age,  was  shortly  after  appointed  an  usher,  probably  after 
Mr.  Barber  took  the  charge.  Alexander  Hamilton,  then  a 
lad  of  fourteen,  from  the  West  Indies,  was,  at  this  time,  one 
of  the  pupils.     Mr.  Baldwin  lived  until  the  year  1850.  f 

Among  the  measures  adopted  to  resist  the  appointment  of 
American  Bishops,  the  Consociated  churches  of  Connecticut 


*  Trustees'  Book.  Dr.  Spring's  Eeminiscences,  1. 13.  II.  234-6.  Holt's  N.  T.  Journal, 
No.  1240.  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  26.  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  S3,  86.  Eev.  Jed.  Chapman,  of  "  New- 
ark Mountains,"  Aug.  14, 1772,  writes  to  Rev.  Dr.  ndlamy,  as  follows:  "  I  have  just  an  oppor- 
tunity to  write  a  line  by  Mr,  Perriam,  who  was  formerly  a  tutor  at  Prince  Town  Colledge; 
he  is  a  very  ingenious  young  gentleman— I  trust  a  truly  humble  and  pious  Christian;  one 
whom  I  greatly  love  and  esteem;  a  steady  zealous  friend  to  truth.  lie  comes  with  the  de- 
sign to  spend  some  time  in  the  study  of  divinity  with  you,  and  I  trust  upon  acquaintance 
with  him  you  will  be  pleased  and  think  it  of  great  importance  to  encourage  and  forward 
him."  Dr.  Bellamy  writes  to  his  son,  Feb.  6.  1773,  "  Mr.  Periam  has  become  a  very  serious 
man  since  yon  saw  him."  Proceedings  of  N.  Y.  His.  Soc,  VI.  175.  llis  license  was  with- 
drawn, probably,  because  of  his  advocacy  of  the  visionary  immatcrialistic  theory  of  IMshop 
Berkley,  with  which  ho  was  greatly  enraptured.  His  widow,  Elizabeth,  also  born  in  1742, 
survived  until  April  5th,  1S08.  Their  son,  Joseph,  Was,  for  many  years,  a  successful  teacher 
In  this  town. 

t  Trustees'  Book.    Proceedings  of  N.  J.  H.  Soc,  II. 


522  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  the  S^-nod  of  !N'ew  York  and  Philadelphia  proposed  to 
hold  a  Joint  Convention  at  New  York,  November  5,  17G6. 
The  prevalence  of  the  smallpox  at  New  York  in  September 
led  to  a  change  of  place,  and  it  was  then  agreed  to  hold  the 
first  meeting  in  this  town.* 

Thus  it  came  to  pass,  that,  each  alternate  year,  until  the 
object  of  the  Union  was  effected,  by  the  severance  of  the 
Colonics  from  the  sovereignty  of  Great  Britain,  and  their 
assumption  of  Independence,  the  Convention  met  and  delib- 
erated, in  the  church  of  the  sainted  Dickinson,  (that  most 
vigorous  and  successful  advocate  of  ministerial  parity),  and 
in  full  sight  of  the  Rectory  of  St.  John's,  where  lived  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Chandler,  the  recognized  leader  of  the  Episcopal 
party,  f 

In  May,  1TG9,  Mr.  Caldwell  was  appointed  by  the  Synod, 
to  go  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Witherspoon,  and  "  endeavour  to 
obtain  subscriptions  for  the  college  in  the  lower  parts  of  Vir- 
ginia ;  "  his  pulpit  to  be  supplied  in  his  absence  by  the  Pres- 
bytery. The  same  year  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Trustees 
of  the  college. :}: 

In  April,  1771,  it  was  voted  by  the  congregation,  to  raise 
Mr.  Caldwell's  salary  by  subscription.  Also,  that  Samuel 
tVilliams,  Isaac  Arnet,  Jonathan  Price,  Nathan  Woodruff", 
Jonathan  Williams,  Nehemiah  "VVade,  Joseph  Hainds,  David 
Woodruff,  David  Ogden,  Abraham  Woodruff,  James  Car- 
micthel,  Benjamin  Winans,  Daniel  Price,  Joseph  Meeker, 
Benjamin  Spinning,  and  Daniel  Sayres,  be  appointed  "  to  re- 
main at  the  Church  between  meetings  for  one  Sabbath  in 
order  to  Keep  Silence  &  Christian  Discipline,  two  at  a  time 
in  the  Year.  § 

It  was  also  voted,  by  the  congregation,  April  24,  1772,  to 
pay  the  expences  incurred,  by  Mr,  Caldwell  and  Elder  Mat- 
thias Hatfield,  in  their  attendance  on  Synod,  in  Maj,  1771, 
amounting  to  £5.  13.  0,  and  tliat  such  be  the  standing  rule  for 
the  future. 

*  Records  of  the  Presb.  Chh.,  pp.  S63-4.    Minutes  of  the  Convention,  pp.  6-S. 
t  Minutes  of  the  Convention,  pp.  S-IT.    The  Minutes  wore  published,  at  Hartford,  Ct.,  in 
ISW,  by  order  of  the  General  Association  of  Ct. 

X  Records  of  tho  Presb.  Chh.,  p.  897.  §  Trustees'  Book. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  523 

The  following  record  shows  by  whom  the  affairs  of  the 
church  and  congregation  were  now  administered  : — 

At  a  Meating  of  the  Deacons  Elders  Trustees  &  Committj  of  the 
first  presbyterion  Church  in  Elizabeth  Town  by  order  of  the  president 
at  his  house  on  l^""  Nov'.  1774  Isaac  WoodrulF,  president,  Jonathan 
Williams,  Caleb  Halsted,  David  Ogden,  Isaac  Arnett,  Jonathan  Price, 
Trustees ; — Daniel  Ilalsey,  David  Chandler,  Ezekiel  Woodruif,  Ebe"' 
Price,  Isaac  Ileatfield,  Committy  ; — Deacon  [Robert]  Ogden,  Deacon 
[Matthias]  Ileatfield,  Deacon  [David]  Whitehead,  Deacon  [Oliver] 
Spencer ;  Cornelius  Ileatfield,  John  Potter,  Sam'.  Williams,  Benj". 
Winans,  Elders 

it  was  then  Concluded  that  They  would  Trie  to  Rase  M^  Caldwell 
Sallery  to  Two  hundred  pounds  for  the  present  year,  &  it  was  also 
Agreed  to  Ease  money  by  Subscriptions  to  pay  for  Repairing  the  Steple 
&  all  other  Old  Debts  of  the  Congregation,  &  to  be  out  of  Debt  one 
more.  * 

On  the  return  of  Mr.  Caldwell  from  Virginia,  after  an  ab- 
sence of  several  months,  at  the  close  of  1769,  he  found  some 
young  men  of  his  church  unusually  stirred  up  to  promote  a 
revival  of  religion.  A  catechetical  lecture  was  commenced, 
resulting  in  tlie  awakening  of  several  persons.  Every  IVIon- 
da}''  evening  was  then  set  aj^art  for  prayer  and  conference. 
Backsliders  were  restored,  and  the  careless  aroused.  Seasons 
of  fasting  were  observed.  A  Sabbath  evening  lecture  was 
established,  and  was  attended  by  great  numbers  from  all 
quarters,  impressed  often  to  tears,  and  some  of  every  age 
and  character  awakened.  Religious  societies  were  held 
iu  every  part  of  the  town,  numbering,  in  1771,  eleven, 
and,  in  1772,  twenty.  A  great  reformation  followed,  ex- 
tending to  other  towns  in  the  neigliborhood,  Mr.  Caldwell 
being  sent  for  to  aid  in  promoting  the  w^ork  in  other 
churches.  In  1771,  fifty,  and,  in  1772,  sixty  converts  were 
added  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  A  deeply  inter- 
esting account  of  this  Avork  of  grace,  written,  probably, 
by  Elder  J[oseph]  L[yon],  April  28,  1773,  is  found  in 
Dr.  Murray's  Notes  on-  E.  Town,  pp.  137-151,  printed  from 
a  manuscript  found  in  the  librarj^  of  the  Old  South  Church, 
Boston,  Mass. 

*  Trustees'  Book.  In  April,  17TC,  the  congregation  voted  that  "  the  Sallery"  sboulJ  be 
£1S0,  p'  year. 


524  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Cliarges  were  preferred  to  the  Prosltytery,  Oct.  10,  1775, 
by  Messrs.  Stephen  Morehouse,  Daniel  Price,  and  David 
Chandler,  affecting  the  orthodoxy  of  their  pastor,  Mr.  Cald- 
well ;  which,  however,  were  found  to  be  of  trivial  import, 
and  not  affecting  at  all  his  soundness  in  the  faith,* 

"Whatever  "  uneasiness  "  may  have  grown  out  of  this  mat- 
ter, it  was  speedily  forgotten  in  the  rush  of  events  that  pre- 
ceded and  precipitated  the  "War  of  the  Revolution.  On  the 
questions  then  at  issue,  Mr.  Caldwell's  position  Avas  matter  of 
public  notoriety.  He  waited  not  to  learn  how  the  strug- 
gle was  likely  to  terminate.  His  ardent  temperament  was 
roused  at  the  very  outset,  to  do  and  dare  all  that  man  could 
for  his  country,  for  liberty,  for  independence.  It  appeared 
in  all  his  prayers,  often  in  his  sermons  and  exhortations,  and 
in  all  his  pastoral  intercourse.  No  religious  society  in  the 
land  took  a  bolder,  nobler  stand,  and  few  were  more  effi- 
cient, for  their  country's  cause,  than  Mr.  Caldwell's, — and  not 
a  little  of  it  was  owing  to  the  patriotism  and  fervent  zeal  of 
their  most  energetic  pastor.  Among  his  congregation,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolution,  were  such  men  as  "Wm. 
Livingston,  the  noble  Governor  of  the  State  ;  Elias  Boudinot, 
afterwards  President  of  the  Continental  Congress ;  Abraham 
Clark,  one  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ; 
the  Hon.  Robert  Ogden,  (Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  at 
an  earlier  day),  with  his  three  sons,  Robert,  Matthias,  and 
Aaron,  the  last  two  distinguished  officers  in  the  U.  S. 
Army  ;  the  Hon.  .Stephen  Crane,  Speaker  of  the  Assembly ; 
Elias  Dayton  and  his  son  Jonathan,  both  of  them  sub- 
sequently General  Officers  of  the  Army,  and  the  latter 
Speaker  of  Congress  ;  "Wm.  Peartree  Smith,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  civilians  of  the  day ;  Oliver  Spencer 
and  Francis  Barber,  both  of  them  Colonels  of  the  Jersey 
Brigade ; — and  other  such,  not  a  few.  From  this  one  con- 
gregation went  forth  about  forty  commissioned  officers  (not 

♦  Hecords  of  the  Prcsb.  of  N.  York,  I.  145-151.  Ono  of  the  complainants,  David  Chandler, 
not  only  deemed  himself  wiser  than  his  pastor,  but  regarded  himself  also  as  a  poet.  In  1S14, 
was  published  a  tract  of  21  pages,  entitled  "The  Miscellaneous  Works  of  David  Chandler, 
Elizabeth-Town,  New-Jersey."  It  contains  27  stanzas  on  the  burning  of  the  E.  Town  Meet- 
ing House,  Jan.  25,  1780  ;  IS  stanzas  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Caldwell ;  and  eleven  other  pieces  in 
rhyme,  on  a  variety  of  subjects,  religious  and  political;  all  rather  of  the  doggrcl  sort. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY. 


525 


to  speak  of  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates),  to  light 
the  battles  of  Independence.'^ 

In  April,  1770,  Col.  Dayton's  regiment,  that  had  been 
quartered  in  the  town  during  the  preceding  winter,  received 
orders  to  march  for  the  relief  of  the  northern  army  then  be- 
sieging Quebec.  As  most  of  the  officers  and  many  of  the 
privates  were  members  of  J\Ir.  Caldwell's  congregation,  an 
ardent  desire  was  expressed  for  his  services  as  their  Chaplain. 
Lieut.  Elmer,  in  his  Diary,  Ap.  2Stli,  says, — 

Members  of  the  [Presbyterian]  meeting  set  about  Mr,  CaldwelFs  going 
to  Quebec  with  us,  which  was  agreed  on  after  some  debate.  Drauk  tea 
at  Col.  Dayton's ;  then  went  to  Major  Spencer's  to  lodge.t 

So  it  was  determined  that  Mr.  Caldwell,  whose  consent  vras 
readily  obtained,  should  accompany  his  townsmen  on  their 
northern  expedition.  The  troops  left  the  town  the  following 
day.  But  "  Colonel  Dayton  and  Parson  Caldwell "  did  not 
join  them  until  Saturday,  May  11th,  at  Albany,  K.  Y. 

The  Jersey  brigade,  to  which  the  regiment  was  attached, 
was  stationed,  the  most  of  the  season,  in  the  Mohawk  Yalley. 
On  the  10th  of  June,  Mr.  Caldwell  was  at  Johnstown,  and 
preached  twice ;  on  the  30th,  and  through  the  month  of 
July,  at  German  flats,  preaching  ordinarily  twice  every  Sab- 
bath, and  taking  an  active  part  in  military  operations.  In 
July,  as  already  related,  the  British  troops  had  taken  pos- 
session of  Staten  Island,  the  pteople  of  the  town  became 
greatly  alarmed  for  their  personal  safety,  and  their  relatives 
in  the  Northern  army  became  exceedingly  anxious  for  their 


*  The  following  members 
the  Army  of  the  llovolution: 
Gov.  Wm.  LivingstoD, 
Kon.  Elias  Boudinot, 
Gen.  Elifts  Dayton, 
Gen.  Jonathan  Dayton, 
Gen.  Matthias  Ogdcn, 
Gen.  William  Crane, 
Col.  Aaron  Ogden, 
Col.  Oliver  Spencer, 
Col.  Francis  liarber, 
Maj.  William  Shute, 
Maj.  Thomas  Morrell, 
Maj.  Nthemiah  Wade, 
Maj.  Ezekiel  Woodruff, 
Maj.  John  Ross, 

T  Proceedings  of  N.J.  His 


of  Mr.  Caldwell's  congregation  were  commissioned  officers  in 


Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Oiipt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 
Capt. 


David  Lyon, 
Jeremiah  Ballard, 
Shopard  Kollock, 
►Samuel  Harriman, 
Jonathan  Pierson, 
Obadiali  Meeker; 
David  Woodruff, 
Matthias  Lyon, 
Lewis  Woodruff, 
AVm.  Brittin, 
Benjamin  Winans, 
John  Clawson, 
Cyrus  De  Uart, 


Lieut.  Ephraim  Woodruff, 
Lieut.  Aaron  Hatfield, 
Lieut.  James  Wilcox, 
Lieut.  Edmund  Thomas, 
Lieut.  William  Eamsen, 
Lieut.  Moses  Ogdcn, 
Lieut.  John  Van  Dyke, 
Lieut.  Thomas  Clark, 
Surgeon  William  Barnet, 
Q.  Mas.  Joseph  Periam, 
Q.  M.  Matthias  Ilalstoad, 
Q,  Mas.  William  Woodruff, 
and  probably  others. 


Soc,  II.  101. 


520  THE    HISTORY    OF 

friends  at  home.  Early  in  the  autumn,  Mr.  Caldwell,  there- 
fore, returned  to  his  family  and  people,  where  his  services 
•were  pressingly  needed.  On  the  retreat  of  the  American, 
and  the  advance  of  the  British,  Army,  the  last  week  of  !No- 
vember,  1776,  Mr.  Caldwell  took  his  family  up  into  the 
mountains,  and  found  a  retreat  for  them  in  that  part  of  the 
town,  then  called  Turkey,  and  now  New  Providence.  Ref- 
erence has  been  made,  on  a  previous  page,  to  his  correspond- 
ing, while  here,  w-itli  Gen.  Washington,  and  the  complimen- 
tary notice  given  of  him,  by  the  latter,  to  Congress  :  Also  to 
his  correspondence  with  General  Lee,  the  day  before  the 
capture  of  that  officer  at  Baskingridge.* 

From  this  time  forward,  Mr.  Caldwell  was  occupied,  more 
or  less  continually  in  the  service  of  the  country,  to  the  close 
of  his  life.  The  enemy  having  evacuated  the  town  at  the 
close  of  the  first  week  in  January,  he  returned  to  his  charge, 
and  resumed  his  ministration,  mingling  the  duties  of  the 
pastor  and  the  soldier  together,  as  circumstances  required. 
The  Journals  of  Congress  show  that,  on  March  15th,  1777, 
two  hundred  dollars  were  ordered  to  be  "  paid  Bev,  James 
Caldwell  of  Elizabeth  Town  for  extraordinary  services."  On 
the  27th  of  May,  $4,873.54:  were  ordered  to  be  "  paid  Rev. 
James  Caldwell,  for  the  services  of  a  company  of  light  horse 
of  Essex  Co.,  in  the  State  of  New  Jerse}^,  commanded  by 
Capt.  Jacob  Wynans,  their  horse  hire  and  expenses."  f 

At  various  times  through  the  long  years  of  the  War, 
during  which  his  congregation  was  greatly  scattered,  and 
their  means  of  subsistence,  for  the  most  part,  were  consid- 
erably diminished,  Mr.  Caldwell  served  not  only  as  Chaplain 
of  the  Jersey  Brigade,  but  as  Assistant  Commissary  General. 
From  the  first  of  April,  1777,  to  April,  1779,  instead  of  a 
regular  salary  he  received  for  his  pastoral  services  only  what 
was  contributed  by  the  congregation  on  the  Sabbath.  On 
tlie  morning  of  the  25th  of  February,  1770,  the  old  parsonage- 
house,  (a  long  low  red  shingle-covered  building,  two  stories 
high  in  front,  and  one  in  the  rear),  was  destroyed    by  the 

*  rrocccdinss  of  His.  Soc.  of  N.  J.,  II.  12C,  133,  13S,  144,  155,  165. 
t  Journals,  III.  90,  13S,  205. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  527 

torch  of  the  enemy.  It  was  situated  on  the  old  parsonage- 
lot,  west  of  Race  st.,  fronthig  on  the  Rahway  road  and  nearly 
©iDposite  Cherry  st.  Measures  were  speedily  taken  by  the 
congregation  to  restore  it.  At  a  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion, March  31,  17T9,  it  was 

Voted,  That  David  Ogden,  Jonathan  "Williams,  Ezekiel  Woodruff, 
David  Chandler,  Joseph  Lyon,  Daniel  llalsey  [and]  William  Ilalstcad,  be 
a  Committee  to  manage  the  temporal  affairs  of  said  Congregation  for  the 
Year  ensuing — And  in  particular  to  settle  all  old  accounts — to  raise  and 
put  in  to  the  public  funds  Money  for  procuring  a  Parsonage-House  -which 
shall  be  done  agreeable  to  a  future  Vote  of  the  Congregation. 

Previous  to  ISTovember  18,  1779,  the  sum  of  three  thou- 
sand dollars  had  been  collected  for  this  purpose  and  invested 
in  Loan  Office  Certificates  :  2872  dollars  are  thus  accounted 
for  :— 

Subscribed  to  the  Parsonage  House  and  paid  to  Mr.  Caldwell,  By 
David  Chandler,  870.}  Dollars,  By  Jon*  Williams,  4361  D°,  By  Daniel 
Halsey,  4G1,  By  Samuel  Woodruff,  1104.* 

During  the  year,  1778,  Mr.  Caldwell  resided  in  Spring- 
field ;  and  in  the  summer  of  1779,  he  removed  to  Connec- 
ticut Farms,  in  order  to  be  nearer  to  his  people.  It  was  not 
safe  for  liim  to  reside  at  a  nearer  point.  After  the  murder 
of  his  wife,  he  purchased  a  small  house  at  Turkey  [Xew 
Providence],  and  resided  there  until  his  decease. 

The  church,  as  previously  related,  was  burned  down,  on 
the  night  of  Tuesday,  January  25,  1780,  and  the  services  of 
the  conffreffation  were  thenceforth  held  in  Col.  Hatfield's 
"  Red  Store  House,"  nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  old  par- 
sonage-house. It  was,  probably,  while  preaching  here,  and 
may  have  been,  at  an  earlier  date,  that  "  Mr.  Caldwell,"  as 
related  by  Dr.  McDowell,  "  preached  with  his  pistols  lying 
on  each  side  of  him  on  the  pulpit,  &  centinels  had  to  keep 
watch  during  the  time  of  service."  f 

His  beloved  wife,  it  has  been  seen,  was  killed  at  Con- 
necticut Farms,  June  8,  1780.  The  house  was  plundered 
at  the  same   time,  and  what  was  not  ca^'ried  ofl"  was  des- 

♦  Trustees'  Book.  Passages  in  IIU.  of  E.  T.,  No.  II.  Murray's  Notes,  103-6.  Spragae's 
Annals,  III.  225.  t  Ms.  Sermon  of  Dr.  McDowell,  Jan.  1, 1811. 


528  THE    HISTORY    OF 

trojed.  Many  of  his  papers  were  carried  to  New  York, 
and  some  of  his  correspondence  published  in  Rivington's 
Gazette. 

He  was  at  once  the  ardent  patriot  and  the  faitliful  Chris- 
tian pastor.  The  Sabbath  found  him,  whether  at  home  or  in 
camp,  ready  to  proclaim  the  gospel  with  its  messages  of 
mercy  and  comfort,  to  his  fellow-men  ;  while  he  was  ever 
watchful,  at  other  times,  to  improve  every  opportunity  to 
promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  citizens  and  soldiers.  He 
was  held,  therefore,  in  tlie  highest  esteem,  by  officers  and 
men,  confided  in  by  all,  and  regarded  with  enthusiastic  love 
by  the  rank  and  file.  No  one,  consequently,  save  his  parish- 
ioner. Gov.  Livingston,  was  more  feared  and  hated  by  the 
torics,  and  the  British.  Gladly  would  they  have  kidnapped 
him  if  they  could ;  and,  doubtless,  they  would  have  done  it, 
had  he  continued  to  reside  in  town.  At  the  fall  election, 
of  1780,  he  was  chosen,  by  his  fellow-citizens,  in  testimony 
of  their  high  regard,  a  member  of  the  State  Council. 

Mr.  Caldwell  continued  in  the  discharge  of  the  vari- 
ous duties,  to  which,  in  these  several  capacities,  he  was 
called,  month  by  month,  until  the  autumn  of  1781.  The 
last  record  made  of  him  by  the  Presbytery  was  at  their 
meeting.  May  7,  1782,  at  New  Providence.  It  is  in  these 
words : — 

The  Rev''  M'  James  Caldwell  departed  this  life,  fulling  by  the  hands 
of  a  Cruel  Murderer,  on  the  24"'  of  November,  1781. 

The  circumstances  attending  this  mournful  event  were 
very  fully  announced  in  the  public  prints  at  the  time,  with 
much  minuteness  of  detail ;  not  however  with  particularity 
sufficient  to  settle  some  points,  which,  about  twenty  years 
since,  were  very  fully  and  ably  discussed  by  the  press  of 
this  town  and  Newark.  The  principal  facts,  however,  are 
imdisputed. 

The  following  statement  appeared  in  the  N.  J.  Journal, 
(then  published  by  Shepard  Kollock,  at  Chatham,  N.  J.),  of 
Wednesday,  Nov.  28,  1781,  four  days  after  the  transaction  : 

It  is  with  the  utmost  pain  and  distress  that  we  inform  our  readers  that 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  529 

the  Reverend  Mr.  Jus.  Caldwell,  of  Elizabeth-Town,  was  most  inhumanly 
and  barbarously  murdered  on  Saturday  last  by  a  soldier  belonging  to  the 
years's  men  at  that  i)lace. 

This  worthy  gentleman  being  informed  of  the  arrival  of  a  young  lady 
in  a  flag  from  New  York,  at  the  Point,  whose  family  had  been  peculiarly 
serviceable  to  our  unhappy  fellow-citizens,  prisoners  with  the  enemy, 
proposed  waiting  on  her  and  conducting  her  to  the  town,  as  a  grateful 
acknowledgement  of  the  services  offered  by  her  family  as  above  mentioned, 
lie  accordingly  went  to  the  Point  in  a  chair  for  that  purpose,  and  after 
the  young  lady  had  got  in  the  chair,  the  sentinel  observing  a  handkerchief 
tied  up  in  a  bundle  in  her  hand,  told  Mr.  Caldwell  he  must  seize  it  in  the 
name  of  the  state  ;  on  which  Mr.  Caldwell  jumping  out  of  the  chair,  said 
if  that  was  the  case,  he  would  return  it  to  the  commanding  officer,  who 
"was  there  present ;  but  as  he  stepped  forward,  another  impertinently  told 
him  to  stop,  which  he  immediately  did,  but  notwithstanding,  the  soldier, 
without  farther  provocation,  raised  his  gun  and  shot  him  dead  on  the  spot. 
The  villain  was  immediately  seized  and  eecured.  He  made  but  a  very 
indifferent  excuse  for  this  conduct,  and  still  remains  very  sullen  and  ob- 
stinate. After  his  being  secured,  it  appeared  by  several  evidences  that, 
though  a  soldier  with  us  for  near  twelve  months  past,  he  had  been  seen 
in  New  York  within  a  fortnight  past;  and,  from  several  other  circum- 
stances, there  are  just  grounds  of  suspicion  that  the  ■wretch  had  been 
bribed  to  commit  this  abominable  deed.* 

The  ]Sr.  J.  Gazette,  published  at  Trenton,  Dec.  12,  ITSl, 
eighteen  days  after  the  occurrence,  says  that — 

When  he  arrived  there  [at  the  Point],  the  officer  then  commanding  the 
post  at  Elizabeth-Town,  being  on  board  the  flag-slooj),  asked  him  whether 
he  would  go  on  board.  He  then  stepped  on  board  of  the  sloop,  and  was 
informed  that  the  young  lady  had  already  gone  to  the  town.  Being  about 
to  return,  a  person  in  the  sloop  asked  him  whether  he  would  take  a  small 
parcel  tied  up  in  a  handkerchief.  Mr.  Caldwell  consented  to  take  it, 
went  on  shore,  put  the  bundle  into  a  chair-box,  and  was  driving  off  when 
a  soldier  stepped  up  to  him  and  said,  "I  must  search  your  chair  to  see 
•whether  you  have  not  seizable  goods  in  that  bundle."  Mr.  Caldwell  tlien 
seeing  it  would  be  imprudent  to  run  any  further  risk,  asked  the  soldier 
whether  he  would  suffer  him  to  return  the  bundle  to  the  sloop.  To  this 
request  the  soldier  readily  agreeing,  Mr,  Caldwell  took  the  bundle  out,  of 
the  chair  box,  and  was  stepping  on  board  the  sloop  to  return  it,  when 
the  murderer,  who  was  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  within  about  two  yards 
of  him,  said,  damn  tou,  stop.  Mr.  Caldwell  instantly  stopped,  and  im- 
mediately on  his  stopping,  the  soldier  presented  his  musket  and  shot  him. 
He  fell  down  and  instantly  expired  without  a  groan. t 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  145.  t  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  207. 

34 


530  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The  mournful  occurrence  vv'as  noticed,  also,  by  Rivington, 
of  ISTew  York,  in  his  Gazette,  of  Wednesday,  Nov.  28,  as  he 
learned  it,  probably,  on  the  return  of  the  flag-boat  to  New 
York :—  * 

Last  Saturday,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Caldwell,  Minisfer  of  the  Dissenting 
Congregation  at  Elizabeth-Town,  was  shot  dead  without  any  provocation, 
at  the  Point,  by  a  native  of  Ireland,  named  Morgan,  one  of  the  rebel 
twelve  months'  men.  The  Coroner's  Inquest  brought  a  verdict  of  wilful 
murder  against  him.  Mr.  Caldwell  had  ever  been  an  active  zealot  in  the 
cause  of  Independence,  and  was  much  esteemed  and  confided  in  by  Mr. 
Washington  and  the  republican  leaders.  It  is  saFd  he  lately  promoted  a 
petition  to  the  I^ew  Jersey  Assembly,  for  recalling  the  refugees  to  the 
re-possession  of  their  estate.     Eequiescat  in  pace  * 

These  are  the  only  accounts,  written  and  published  at  the 
time,  of  this  distressing  providence.  As  that  of  the  N.  J. 
Gazette  is  the  most  particular,  and  was  written  after  sufiicient 
time  had.  been  allowed,  to  obtain,  by  means  of  the  Coroner's 
inquest,  and  from  other  sources,  the  exact  state  of  the  case, 
it  is  apparently  most  to  be  relied  upon.  Statements  made, 
after  the  expiration  of  more  than  threescore  years,  though 
purporting  to  be  the  oral  testimony  of  eye-witnesses  as 
remembered  by  a  son  or  other  relative,  are  of  far  less 
value,  and  are  not  to  be  allowed  to  controvert  the  original 
accounts. 

The  lady  whose  advent  occasioned  the  calamity  was  Beu- 
lah,  the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Murray,  for  whom  the 
ship  "  Beulah,"  referred  to  on  a  previous  page,  was  named. 
She  was  married  not  long  after  to  the  celebrated  auctioneer, 
Martin  Iloff'man,  the  father  of  Lindley  Murray  Hoffman, 
who  died  at  New  Y'ork  in  18G2.  Ichabod  B.  Barnet,  who 
was  complicated  in  the  "  Beulah  "  affair,  had  married  another 
of  the  daughters  of  Robert  Murray.  Mrs.  Barnet  resided  in 
this  town.  Iler  sister,  Beulah,  was  expecting  to  make  her  a 
visit  and  had  come  over  in  the  flag-boat,  or  was  expected  to 
come,  for  this  purpose.  It  was  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday, 
that  Mr.  Caldwell  went  down  to  the  Point  to  escort  her  to 
the  town.    The  flag-boat  lay  at  the  ferry- wharf,  at  the  end  of 

•  KlvlDgton'6  Gazette,  No.  539. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  531 

the  Old  Point  road,  now  Elizabeth  avenue,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Creek.  This  had  been  the  flag-boat  station,  for  the 
previous  five  years  or  more,  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners. 
Major  Adams  was,  at  this  time,  the  American  Commissary 
of  prisoners.  The  guard  that  were  kept  posted  at  the  Point 
were  under  the  command  of  Major  John  Scudder.  Lieut. 
David  AYoodruff,  father  of  the  late  Belcher  Woodruff  of 
this  town,  was  near  Mr.  Caldwell,  and,  turning  to  see 
what  the  firing  meant,  saw  him  falling  and  caught  him  in 
his  arms.* 

"Whether  Morgan  was,  at  the  time,  on  duty  or  not  '(which 
is  still  a  mooted  point),  the  discharge  of  his  musket  was  to- 
tally i^njustifiable.  Mr.  Caldwell  was  not  a  vagrant,  nor  a 
stranger.  'No  man  was  better  known.  Morgan,  as  well  as 
the  other  sentinels,  knew  who  he  was.  It  was  in  the  day- 
time, and  every  movement,  therefore,  could  be  seen.  No 
attempt  was  made  by  Mr.  Caldwell  to  escape  with  the  pack- 
age entrusted  to  him,  nor  even  to  disobey  the  orders  of  the 
guard.  The  most,  that  could  possibly  have  been  -warranted, 
was  an  arrest.  Kor  was  this  called  for.  The  officer  of  the 
day  was  at  hand,  with  full  authority  to  admit  Mr.  Caldwell's 
explanation  of  the  case,  or  to  commit  him.  It  was,  unques- 
tionably, a  murder,  entirely  unprovoked.  It  M-as  impossible 
for  the  Coroner's  inquest  to  find  any  other  verdict. 

It  was  generally  affirmed,  at  the  time,  that  the  murderer,, 
as  intimated  in  the  N.  J.  Journal,  was  bribed  by  the  enemy 
to  do  the  dreadful  deed ;  "  and  this  saying  is  commonly  re- 
ported among  "  the  people  "  until  this  day."  ISTo  evidence, 
however,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  was  discovered  of  any 
offer  of  the  kind  having  been  made  to  him.  It  was  not 
strange,  that  it  should  have  been  extensively  believed ;  as  it 
was  known,  that  the  British  authorities  had  offered  a  reward 
for  the  apprehension  or  assassination  of  Gov.  Livingston,  and 
as  no  other  reason  could  be  assigned  for  the  murder.  As  it 
was  not  proven,  it  must  rank  only  with  doubtful  rumors,  and 
not  with  tlie  established  facts  of  history. 

•  Pajsngos  In  tho  lUs.  of  E.  T.,  No.  I.    Essex  Standard— Extra,  April  14,  1640. 


532  THE    HISTORY    OF 

After  the  consternation  of  the  moment,  the  murderer  was 
secured  by  Lieut.  AVoodruff,  and  carried  to  Major  Scudder, 
by  whom  he  was  delivered  to  the  civil  authorities.  Pie  was 
confined  in  what  was  called  the  Robinson  House,  to  await  the 
verdict  of  the  Coroner's  jury."^ 

The  body  of  Mr.  Caldwell  was  carried  to  the  public  house 
at  the  Point.  A  homely  ambulance  was  obtained,  and  the 
body  was  slowly  brought  to  town,  a  crowd  of  people,  greatly 
excited,  gathering  by  the  way.  The  mournful  cortege,  tra- 
dition says,  passed  through  "Water  st.  [Elizabeth  Avenue]  to 
Broad  "fet.,  then  to  Jersey  st.,  and  then  to  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Noel,  on  Jersey  st.,  subsequently  so  Avell  known  as  the 
home  of  General  Jonathan  Dayton,  and  since  as  Miss  Spald- 
ing's Female  Seminary.  The  day  following,  when  the  people 
gatlicred  for  i)ublic  worship,  the  place  where  they  met  might 
well  have  been  named  "  Bochim  " — the  weeping-place.  The 
people  were  crushed  under  the  sad  calamity,  f 

The  funeral  services  were  performed  on  Tuesday,  the  27th, 
the  whole  town  suspending  all  business  and  gathering  in  un- 
controlable  grief  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  ISToel.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Alex.  McWhorter  of  ^Newark  performed  the  services,  and 
preached  from  Ecc.  viii :  8.  An  opportunity  was  given  to 
the  people  to  view  the  corj^se,  in  front  of  the  house  in  the 
open  street. 

After  all  Lad  taken  tlieir  last  look,  and  before  the  coffin  was  closed, 
Dr.  Boudinot  came  forward,  leading  nine  orphan  children,  and  placing 
them  around  the  bier  of  tbeir  parent,  made  an  address  of  surpassing 
pathos  to  the  multitude  in  their  behalf.  It  was  an  hour  of  deep  and 
powerful  emotion  :  and  the  proc2ssion  slowly  moved  to  tlje  grave,  weep- 
ing as  they  wcnt.J 

*  Morgan  was  imprisoned  ;it  Spiingfielcl,  then  at  Burlington,  and  in  January  at  Wcstfield, 
■where,  on  the  21st  of  Jan.  1TS2,  ho  was  arraigned  for  trial.  The  court  sat  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  Chief  Justice  John  Cloves  Symmes  presiding,  assisted  by  two  Associate  Judges,  one 
of  whom  was  Judge  Barnet.  Col.  Wni.  Do  Hart  of  Morristown  was  Morgan's  counsel. 
Ephraim  Scudder,  Benjamin  Meeker,  David  llnss,  Aaron  Woodruff,  and  Mr.  Eyno  were 
members  of  the  jury.  Ho  was  found  guilty  of  wilful  murder,  remanded  to  the  custody  of 
Noah  Marsh,  Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  hung  at  Westfield,  on  Tuesd-iy,  January  29th.  A 
sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion,  by  the  Tnstor  of  the  church,  Kcv.  Jonathan  Elmer, 
from  Jeremiah,  44:  4,—"  Oh!  do  not  this  abominable  thing  that  I  hate."  Morgan  was  a  Ro- 
man Catholic,  and  of  bad  reputation.  He  ecems  not  to  have  made  any  confession  as  to  his 
Intent  in  the  act  for  which  he  suffered. 

t  Passages,  &c.,  Nos.  I.,  II.  Esses  Standard— Extra,  Ap.  14, 1S4C.  Murray's  Notes,  pp.  T6,  7. 

i  Murray's  Notes,  p.  77. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  .  533 

Laid  by  the  side  of  his  wife's  remains,  over  his  body  was 
placed  a  marble  slab  with  the  following  inscription: 

Sacred  to  tlie  memory  of  the  Pwev.  JAMES  OALDAVELL  &  IIANXAH 
bis  wife,  who  fell  victims  to  their  country's  cause  in  the  years  1V80  &  1781. 

He  was  the  zealous  &  faithful  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
this  Town,  where  by  his  evangelical  labours  in  the  gospel  vineyard,  and 
his  early  attachment  to  the  civil  liberties  of  his  country,  he  has  left  in 
the  hearts  of  his  people  a  better  monument  than  brass  or  marble. 
Stop,  Passenger! 

Here  also  lye  the  remains  of  a  woman,  who  exhibited  to  the  world  a 
bright  constellation  of  the  female  virtues.  On  that  memorable  day,  never 
to  be  forgotten,  when  a  British  foe  invaded  this  fair  village,  &  fired  even 
the  temple  of  the  Deity,  this  peaceful  daughter  of  heaven,  retired  to  her 
hallowed  apartment,  imploring  heaven  for  the  pardon  of  her  enemies. 
In  that  sacred  moment,  she  was  by  the  bloody  hand  of  a  British  rufBan, 
dispatched  like  her  divine  lledeemer  through  a  path  of  blood  to  her  long- 
wished  for  native  skies.* 

By  the  joint  action  of  Committees  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  and  the  Cincinnati  of  ISTew  Jersey,  a  much  more 

*  It  is  somewhat  strange,  that  it  should  have  been  recorded,  on  this  monumental  stone 
that  Mrs.  Caldwell  was  killed  on  the  day  when  the  church  of  this  village  was  burned ;  the 
former  event  having  taken  place,  Juno  Sth,  and  the  latter,  Jan.  2fith,  in  1780.  The  anachron- 
ism grew  out  of  the  fact  that  this  Epitaph  was  abridged  from  one  of  much  greater  length,  that 
was  written  by  a  Friend,  [William  Peartreo  Smith,  Esq.],  a  few  weeks  after  her  death,  and 
pubhshed  in  the  N.  J.  Journal,  of  the  1.3th  of  Sept,,  1780,  designed  "  for  Mrs.  Caldwell's 
Tomb,"  supposed  to  be  at  Conn.  Farms.    It  is  well  worth  a  place  in  this  history: 

SACRED  to  the  memory  |  of  Mrs.  11  ANN  AH  CALDWELL,  |  consort  to  the  Eev.  JAMES 
CALDWELL,  |  of  Eliz.abeth  Town,  in  New  Jersey,  |  who  fell  a  victim  to  her  country,  ]  on 
the  7lh  [^th]  of  June,  1760 — aged  forty-two  years  [  and  nine  months.  | 


PASSENGER  !  |  Thou  treadest  over  the  remains  of  a  woman  [  wlio.<e  fair  character,  and 
flnal  catastrophe,  |  merit  a  monument  |  more  durable  than  brass  or  marble ;  |  and  which  will 
remain  |  indelibly  engraven  on  the  breasts  of  her  countrymen,  |  to  the  last  period  of  recorded 
time.  I  She  was,  among  her  se.x,  uncommonly  distinguished ;  |  exhibiting  to  the  world,  | 
through  the  whole  course  of  her  earthly  race,  |  a  bright  constellation  |  of  the  female  virtues.  | 
With  undeviating  punctuality,  |  she  performed  every  religious,  social,  and  relative  duty;  | 
To  a  numerous  offspring,  |  the  tendcrcst  of  mothers :  |  To  her  servants  and  domestics,  |  a 
kind  and  indulgent  mistress  :  |  Of  sonjiigal  fidelity  and  affection,  |  the  most  exemplary 
model.  I  But  what  gave  singular  lustre  \  to  an  assembly  of  virtues  |  w.is — that  condescending 
affability,  |  that  sweetness  of  temper,  1  that  heaven-born  benevolence,  |  which  were  her 
characteristic  and  distinguishing  qualities.  |  A  Bereno  and  placid  aspect,  |  joined  with  the 
softest  accents  of  expression,  |  ever  disarmed  the  resentment  of  her  weapons,  |  and  repressed' 
the  ebullitions  of  ccn.sure  and  malevolence.  |  These  eng.aging  manners  |  attracted  the  jieculiar 
lovo  and  esteem  |  of  her  extensive  acquaintance,  |  among  whom  she  found  not  a  single  enemy. 
I  But,  as  her  crowning  glory,  |  adding  divinity  to  her  graces,  |  she  was  a  SINCERE 
CHRISTIAN! 


"  Od  that  memorable  d.'^y —  |  (an  asra  never  to  bo  forgotten  1  in  the  American  annals)  | 
when  the  army  of  the  British  tyrant  |  entered  into  this  state,  |  and,  -with  merciless  barbarity 


534  THEHISTORYOF 

costly  and  elegant  monument  was  erected  over  the  remains 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell,  which  was  dedicated,  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies,  November  24,  1845,  a  commemoration 
Address  being  delivered,  on  the'  occasion,  by  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.,  of  Princeton,  N.  J. 

Mr.  Caldwell  left  nine  children  (four  sons  and  five  daughters) 
with  but  a  scanty  patrimony  at  the  best.  The  Hon.  Elias 
Boudinot  cheerfully  took  upon  himself  the  administration 
of  the  estate  and  the  care  of  the  children.  In  both  respects 
he  was  eminently  successful.  The  patrimony  was  eventually 
rendered  productive,  the  children  were  well-educated,  and 
all  of  them  became  respectable  and  useful.  They  were,  also, 
greatly  befriended  by  Mrs.  Noel,  Gen.  Lincoln,  President 
Washington,  and  the  Marquis  de  La  Fayette.* 

1.  Margaket,  the  eldest,  was  born,  Jan.  23,  1764,  and 
married  Isaac  Canfield,  of  Morristown,  N.  J. 

2.  John  Dickinson  was  born,  Jan.  29,  1765,  and  died, 
May  11,  1766. 

3.  Hannah  was  born,  Sep.  20,  1767,  and  married,  at 
Philadelphia,  in  1790,  to  James  R.  Smith,  a  Pearl  st.  mer- 
chant, and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Tontine  Cofiee  House, 
N.  York. 

4.  JoiiN  Edwards  was  born,  Feb.  2,  1769.  After  his 
father's  death,  he  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
McWhorter  of  Newark.  The  Marquis  de  La  Fayette,  out 
of  his  great  regard  for  flie  father,  solicited  from  Mr.  Boudinot 

desolated  these  fair  fields ;—  |  laid  this  fixir  village  in  ashes ; —  |  violated  female  chastity; —  | 
and  fired  even  the  temple  of  the  Deity.  |  This  peaceful  daughter  of  heaven,  |  shocked  by 
the  tumults  of  war,  |  retired  to  her  sequestered  and  hallowed  apartments  ;  |  here  seated,  |  In 
calm  and  pensive  contemplation,  |  cherishing  too  a  lovely  innocent  |  in  her  own  innocent 
bosom,  I  weeping  over  the  effusions  of  human  blood —  |  deprecating  the  calamities  of  her 
country—  |  and  imploring  heaven  for  tho  pardon  of  its  enemies,  |  she  was  |  (blush  ye  spirits 
of  their  ancestors  at  the  horrid  tale  1)  |  by  the  ensanguined  hands  of  a  British  ruflian,  |  insti- 
gated by  malice,  cool,  deliberate,  and  infernal—  |  in  one  fatal  moment  |  Dispatched,  |  like  her 
divine  Saviour,  through  a  path  of  blood,  |  to  her  long-wished  for  NATIVE  SKIES  1  |  Leaving 
an  affectionate  companion,  and  nine  children,  |  In  tbeir  tender  and  unformed  years,  |  to  be- 
wail their  unutterable— their  Irreparable  loss.  |  READER  1  |  If  thou  art  a  man  |  thou  canst 
not  refrain  a  sigh  |  at  her  melancholy  story.  |  If  of  the  softer  frame,  |  thou  wilt  drop  a  tear 
at  the  tomb  of  one  |  who  was  the  boast  of  thy  sex :  and  who  would  have  shed  a  thousand  for 
thee,  I  had  her's  been  thine  own  hapless  fate.  |  If— a  lover  of  thy  country  1  thou  wilt  depart 
from  this  spot  I  consecrated  to  her  dust,  |  filled  with  eternal  heart-felt  nonnoR  |  at  the  exe- 
crated name  of  |  A  BRITON."  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  82. 
♦  Brown's  Memoir  of  Finley,  p.  249. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  535 

and  obtained  the  privilege  of  adopting  and  educating  the 
eldest  son.  On  the  departure,  therefore,  of  the  Marquis,  in 
1782,  for  France,  young  Caldwell  accompanied  him  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  family.  He  remained  abroad  until 
1791,  when,  owing  to  the  horrors  of  the  French  Revolution, 
he  returned  to  America.  lie  married  Mrs.  Van  Wyck.  In 
IsTov.  1809,  he  renounced  the  Popery  which  he  had  embraced 
in  France,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Cedar  st.  Presb. 
Church,  ^.  Y.,  devoting  himself  to  the  work  of  benevolence. 
His  name  was  connected  with  almost  every  good  object  of 
the  day.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential 
founders  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  and,  until  his  death, 
its  General  Agent.  He  founded,  in  March,  181G,  the  "Chris- 
tian Herald,"  a  religious  weekly  magazine,  the  first  five 
volumes  of  which  he  edited  and  published  at  New  York. 
He  died  greatly  lamented,  at  his  home  in  N.  York,  March 
9,  1819.* 

5.  James  B.  was  born,  Jan.  8,  1771,  became  a  lawyer, 
took  up  his  residence  at  Woodbury,  I^.  J.,  a  few  miles  below 
Philadelphia,  and  was  for  several  years  before  his  death  an 
honored  Judge  of  Gloucester  Co.,  N.  J. 

6.  EsTUER  Flynt  was  born,  Oct.  26,  1772,  and  was  mar- 
ried, May  16,  1798,  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Finlcy  of  Basking- 
ridge,  N.  J.,  afterwards,  Dr.  Finley,  and  President  of  the 
University  of  Georgia.  She  was  the  mother  of  a  highly  re- 
spectable and  useful  family  of  children.  She  died  at  Leba- 
non, 111.,  in  1844. 

7.  JosiAH  F.  was  born,  Aug.  23,  1774,  entered  the  service 
of  the  U.  S.  government  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  Post  Office  Department. 

8.  Elias  BouDiNOT  was  born,  Ap.  3, 1776,  was  adopted  bj'- 
the  distinguished  citizen  for  whom  he  was  named ;  graduated 
at  the  College  of  N.  Jersey,  in  1796  ;  became  distinguished 
as  the  Clerk,  from  Aug.  15,  1800,  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme 
Court,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  founders,  Jan.  1,  1817, 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  of  which  he  was  the 
Corresponding  Secretary,  nntil  his   death   at  Washington, 

•  Christian  HcralJ,  V.  7C0-4. 


536  THE    HISTORY    OF 

D.  C,  May  31,  1S25.  IIe«»liad  been  licensed  to  prcaeli  by 
the  Presbytery,  and  was  accustomed  to  occupy  vacant  pulpits 
on  the  Sabbath.  His  name  was  given  to  one  of  the  towns  of 
Liberia,  as  his  father's  name  had  been  given  to  one  of  the 
towns  of  Essex  Co.,  N.  J. 

9.  Sarah  was  born,  June  12,  1778,  at  Springfield,  and  was 
married  to  the  Kev.  John  S.  Yredenburg,  pastor,  for  many 
years,  of  the  Ref.  Dutch  chh.  of  Somerville,  N.  J. 

10.  Makia  was  born,  Sep.  29, 1779,  at  Connecticut  Farms, 
and  was  married  to  Robert  S.  Robertson,  a  IST.  York  mer- 
c]iant. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  537 


CHAPTER    XXIY. 

A.  D.   1'74'7-1'790. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  T.  B.  Chandler,  D.D. — Birth  —  Education  —  Catcchist  of 
St.  John's  Chh.  —  Parsonage  —  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  —  Mr.  Chandler  goes 
to  Eng.,  and  obtains  Orders  —  Rector  of  St.  John's  —  Marriage  —  Has  the 
Small  Pox  —  Long  Illness  —  Zeal  for  Episcopacy  —  Obtains  a  Charter  for 
St.  John's  —  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  —  Visit  of  Mr.  Whiteficld  —  Troubles 
in  the  Parish  —  Enlargement  of  the  Parsonage  —  Political  Troubles  —  Hon- 
orary Doctorate  —  Ep.  Controversy  —  Pension  —  Flies  to  England  —  Worship 
suspended  for  Years  —  Resumed  again  —  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  Ass.  Minister  — 
Birth  —  Popularity  —  Settles  at  Newark  —  Rev.  S.  Spraggs,  Ass.  Minister  — 
Dr.  Chandler  10  Years  in  England  —  Returns  home  —  Obtains  the  Offer  of 
an  Episcopate  —  Too  ill  to  accept  —  Death  —  His  Family. 

TiiK  decease  of  the  Rev.  Mr,  Yauglian,  Rector  of  St.  John's 
Church,  in  October,  lT-i7,  left  the  church  for  some  years 
witliout  a  settled  pastor.  All  the  Episcopal  clergymen  either 
came  here  from  the  mother-country,  or  were  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  making  a  voyage  to  England  and  back  again,  to 
obtain  orders.  It  was,  therefore,  no  easy  matter  to  fill  the 
vacancies  made  by  death.  It  required  time  to  send  to  Eng- 
land, and  procure  the  needed  ministry,  unwilling  as  most 
candidates,  at  that  period,  were  to  migrate  to  America.  In 
these  circumstances,  the  vestry  of  St.  John's  were  advised  to 
secure  the  services  of  a  Catcchist,  or  Lay -Reader,  for  the  time 
being.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson,'  of  Stratford,  and  others, 
thereupon,  recommended  a  young  man,  who  was  teaching 
school  at  Woodstock,  Ct.,  and  studying  theology,  at  intervals, 
with  Dr.  Johnson.  They  complied  witli  this  advice,  and  thus 
secured,  as  their  Rector,  the 

REV.  THOMAS  BRADBURY  CHANDLER. 

Mr.  Cliandler  was  in  his  22d  year,  when  he  came  to  tliis 


538  THE    HISTORY    OF 

town.  lie  was  a  descendant  of  William  Chandler,  who,  with 
his  wife,  Hannah,  and  four  children, — Hannah,  Thomas, 
John  and  "William, — came  to  this  country  from  England,  and 
settled  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1G37.  His  son,  John,  born  in 
England,  in  1635,  married,  Feb.  IG,  1650,  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Wra.  Douglas,  and  had  eight  children, — John,  Eliza- 
beth, John  2d,  Joseph,  Hannah,  Mehitablo,  Sarah,  and  Jo- 
seph, all  born  at  Roxbury.  In  1686,  he  united  with  several 
of  his  neighbors  in  the  settlement  of  "Woodstock,  Ct.,  of  the 
church  of  which  he  was  chosen  Deacon,  and  where,  too.  he 
died,  Ap.  15,  1703.  His  son,  John,  born,  April  16,  1665, 
married,  Kovem.  10,  1692,  Mary,  daughter  of  Joshua  Ray- 
mond, of  New  London,  and  had  ten  children, — John,  Joshua, 
"William,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Mehitable,  Thomas, 
and  Hannah.  His  son,  "William,  born,  at  "Woodstock,  No- 
vem.  3,  1698,  married  Jemima  Bradbury,  who  is  thought  to 
have  been  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Bradbury  of  Salisbury, 
Mass.,  whose  father,  "William,  married.  Mar.  12,  1672,  Re- 
becca, the  widow  of  Samuel  Maverick,  and  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  John  "Wheelwright.  Her  father  was  born  Dec.  24, 
1674.  Her  son,  Thomas  Bradbury,  was  born  April  26th, 
1726.  * 

His  early  j'ears  were  spent  on  the  paternal  farm.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1745.  In  1747,  he  was  invited 
to  serve  as  catechist  at  North  Castle  and  Bedford,  "Westches- 
ter Co.,  N.  Y.  ;  but  declined  in  favor  of  St.  Peter's  Church, 
"Westchester.  Directly,  however,  after  tlie  decease  of  Mr. 
Yaughan,  he  came  to  St.  John's,  in  this  town,  about  the  1st 
of  December,  1747,  and  entered  at  once  upon  the  duties  of 
his  mission.  In  commending  him,  at  the  request  "  of  the 
good  people  of  Elizabeth  Tqwh,"  to  the  Propagation  Society, 
Dr.  Johnson  speaks  of  him,  as  having  "  known  him  three 
years  at  least,"  and  as  "  a  truly  valuable  person,  of  good 
parts  and  competent  learning  for  his  time  and  our  circum- 
stances, and  of  good  morals  and  virtuous  behaviour."  The 
Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  also,  spake  of  him,  as  one  who  "  from 
his  furniture  in  learning,  prudence,  gravity,  sincere  piety, 

*  Savage's  Gon.  Diet.,  I.  357.    Sprague's  Annals,  V.  137. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  53<) 

and  good  temper,  as  well  as  agreeable  voice,"  bade  fair  to  be 
"  very  useful  in  the  designs  of  the  Society." 

He  was  consequently  appointed  by  the  "  Venerable  So- 
ciety," in  May,  1748,  their  Catechist  at  Elizabeth  Town,  K.  J., 
on  a  stipend  of  £10.  a  year,  the  church  obliging  themselves, 
in  case  he  should  be  appointed  to  the  mission,  "  to  raise  the 
sum  of  £50  Current  Money  of  the  Province,  per  annum," 
in  addition,  and  to  provide  him  a  convenient  parsonage/'^ 

At  the  close  of  his  second  year,  Dec.  20, 1719,  he  reports,-- 

I  have  not  only  read  Divine  Service,  and  catechized  the  children,  but 
have  constantly  visited  all  Ranks  of  People  in  the  congregation — Particu- 
larly that  part  of  the  congregation  vrhich  lives  in  Raway,  a  place  four 
or  five  miles  distant  from  the  Church. ...  I  have  occasionally  read  di- 
vine service  at  a  Private  House  in  Raway,  and  have  been  surprised  at 
seeing  the  great  concourie  of  People  on  that  occasion.  I  find  there  num- 
bers of  the  Dissenters  well  affected  towards  the  Church ;  and  I  doubt  not 
by  the  Industry  of  a  faithful  Clergyman  in  Elizabeth  Town  a  considerable 
part  of  tlie  Presbyterian  meeting  in  that  place  might  be  gained  over  to 
the  Church. t 

On  tlie  11th  of  December,  1749,  the  church  purchased  of 
Capt.  John  Emott,  (the  step-son  of  Mr.  Yaughan,  and  the  son- 
in-law  of  Mr.  Elias  Boudinot,  senr.),  for  £163,  the  present  par- 
sonage lot,  of  about  four  acres,  with  the  old  dwelling  house 
built,  in  1696-7,  by  Andrew  Hampton.  The  Wardens,  at 
this  time,  were  John  Halsted  and  Henry  Garth  wait ;  and  the 
Vestrymen  were  William  Ricketts,  Jacob  Dellart,  Peter 
Trembly,  Matthias  De  Hart,  Jonathan  llamj^ton,  and  Mat- 
thias Williamson. 

Daring  the  same  year,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wood,  "  bred  to 
Physick  and  Surgery,"  was  appointed  missionary  to  ISTew 
Brunswick,  with  instructions  to  spend  a  Sunday  or  two  every 
month  at  Elizabeth  Town.  At  the  close  of  May,  1750,  he 
had  made  two  visits  only  to  the  town,  his  duty  at  New  Bruns- 
wick permitting  iiim  to  officiate  here  only  on  every  fourth 
Sunday. 

The  most  urgent  representations  were  made  to  the  Society 
for  a  resident  Rector — one  who  could  give  them  his  whole 

•  Brit.  Mngazino,  XXVII.  19.    Clark's  St.  John's,  p.  59.  t  Cl.wk,  pp.  60,  2,  3,  6. 


540  THE    HISTORY    OF 

time ;  and,  in  response,  Mr.  Chandler  was  appointed,  in 
1750,  to  be  their  missionary  at  Elizabeth  Town,  if,  upon  his 
arrival  in  England,  he  shall  be  found  worthy  to  be  ordained 
a  deacon  and  priest.  Among  the  considerations  urged  was 
the  fact  that  "  the  Dissenters  in  this  town  have  live  Minis- 
ters settled,  constantly  to  officiate  in  publick,  to  visit  them  in 
private,  ready  to  serve  on  any  particular  occasion,  and  in  a 
word  that  are  always  with  and  among  them."  These  five 
Presbyterians  were  Messrs.  Spencer,  of  the  First  Chh., 
Symmes,  of  New  Providence  and  Springfield,  Grant,  of 
Westfield,  Thane,  of  Ct.  Farms,  and  Pichards,  of  Pahway. 

In  the  summer  of  1751,  Mr.  Chandler  repaired  to  England, 
was  admitted  to  the  priesthood  by  Dr.  Thomas  Sherlock, 
Bishop  of  London,  and,  early  in  September,  sailed  again  for 
America,  arriving,  at  home,  after  a  passage  of  nine  weeks, 
about  the  first  of  November.  His  salary  or  stipend  was  fixed 
at  £30.  sterling  from  the  Society,  and  £60.  IST.  J.  currency, 
(valued  at  little  more  than  £30.  sterling)  with  a  house  and 
glebe,  from  the  people.  The  communicants  had  increased 
from  forty  to  sixty. 

His  first  official  act,  after  his  return,  was  the  baptism,  Nov. 
3d,  of  Matthias,  the  son  of  Matthias  "Williamson  and  Susan- 
nah Halstead.  His  first  marriage-service  was  on  the  10th, 
and  the  parties  were  Pobert  Milbourn  and  Mary,  daughter 
of  Elias  Thomas,  both  of  E.  Town.  In  the  course  of  the  fol- 
lowing year,  1752'  he  was  himself  married  to  Jane,  the 
daughter  of  Capt.  John  Emott,  and  Mary,  the  daughter  of 
Elias  Boudinot,  senr. 

At  the  close  of  1754,  the  congregation  included  So  families, 
and  the  communicants  numbered  ninety.  But  the  pecuniary 
strength  of  the  parish  had  decreased.  Of  the  £60  engaged 
by  subscription  £28  had  dropt  by  deaths  and  removals ;  most 
of  the  principal  parishioners  had  died  or  moved  off,  and  the 
greater  part  were  poor,  mau}^  of  them  being  "  the  proper 
objects  of  every  kind  of  charity."  The  missionary  was  in 
straits,  provisions  of  all  kinds  being  as  dear  in  this  town  as 
in  the  most  populous  cities  of  the  land — meat  of  all  sorts 
being  actually  dearer  here  than  in  the  jST.  York  market.     On 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  541 

these  accounts  he  sought  an  increase  of  stipend  from  the 
Society.     It  is  probable  that  his  request  was  granted. 

In  1757,  during  the  prevalence  of  the  sniall-pox,  of  which 
President  Edwards,  and  his  daugliter,  Mrs.  Burr,  died  in  the 
spring  of  1758,  Mr.  Chandler  was  prostrated  by  the  terrible 
scourge,  and  did  not  recover  from  its  ill  effects  for  nearly 
three  years,  his  face  retaining  its  foot-prints  to  the  end  of 
life.  In  addition  to  liis  labors  here  as  parish-priest,  lie  per- 
formed a  large  amount  of  missionary  labor,  in  visiting  and 
officiating  in  the  remote  parts  of  the  town  back  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  in  the  town  of  Woodbridge.  His  ministrations  at 
the  latter  place,  at  the  commencement  of  the  year  1702,  had 
required  of  him  more  than  3000  miles  of  travel  and  nearly 
200  sermons,  for  all  which  he  liad  received  of  tlieni  in  gratui- 
ties not  more  than  five  guineas. 

Mr.  Chandler  complains,  about  this  time,  of  "  that  general 
harmony  and  good  understanding  which  "  subsisted  "  between 
y*'  Church  and  the  Dissenters  ; "  the  latter  seeming  to  think 
"  that  no  material  advantage  "  was  "  to  be  had  by  conform- 
ing to  y®  Church,"  and  the  former  being  disjDOsed  "  to  return 
y''  compliment  in  their  opinion  of  y^  Dissenters."  lie  feared 
that 

Possibly  in  time  we  may  come  to  think  that  y^  unity  of  Christ's  body 
is  a  chimerical  doctrine — that  Schism  is  an  Ecclesiastical  Scarecrow — 
and  that  Episcopal  is  no  better  than  y«  leathern  mitten  ordination. 

As  Mr.  Chandler  had  been  bred  an  Independent,  and  had 
become  in  early  youth  a  convert  to  Episcopacy,  it  was  natural 
for  him  to  magnify  the  impol'tance  of  the  Episcopal  pecaliari-, 
ties.  "With  all  the  zeal,  therefore  of  a  proselyte,  he  sought 
to  widen,  rather  than  to  narrow,  the  breach  between  "the 
Church  "  and  "  the  Meeting,"  as  it  was  customary,  then  and 
long  after,  till  within  a  few  years,  to  call  the  two  denomina- 
tions of  Christian  people  into  which  the  town  was  mainly 
divided.  This  object  he  sought  to  promote,  principally  b}'- 
the  circulation  of  controversial  Tracts,  copies  of  Avhicli  he 
desired  might  be  sent  him  from  abroad.  But,  this  supply 
being  precarious,  his  own  pen  was  presently  called  into  re- 
quisition. 


542  THE    HISTORY    OF 

As  Gov.  Belcher  had  granted  a  Charter  to  the  Presbyterian 
churcli,  so,  on  the  accession  of  Gov,  Josiah  Hardy,  Oct.  29, 
1761,  application  was  made,  by  the  Rector,  Church  Wardens 
and  vestry  of  St.  John's  church,  for  a  similar  favor,  which, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  was  received  with  favor,  and  a  Charter 
of  Incorporation  was  granted,  bearing  date,  July  20,  1762. 
It  appoints  "  John  Ilalsted  and  Jacob  De  Ilart  to  be  the  first 
and  Present  Church  Wardens  of  the  said  Church  and  Henry 
Garth  wait,  Jonathan  Hampton,  Amos  Morss,  Ephraim  Tcrrill, 
Matthias  AVilliamson,  John  De  Hart,  John  Ogden,  Cavalier 
Jouet  and  John  Chetwood  to  be  the  first  and  Present  Vestry- 
men of  said  Church." 

The  only  changes  made  in  these  names  for  the  next  fifteen 
years  were  in  the  substitution,  from  time  to  time,  of  John 
Herriman,  Edward  Thomas,  and  George  Ross,  for  Cavalier 
Jouet  and  John  De  Hart,  the  latter  serving  as  Secretary. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  visit  of  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefield  to  this  town,  in  November  1763,  and  the 
refusal  of  Mr.  Chandler  to  grant  him  the  use  of  his  pulpit. 
Popular  as  Mr.  Whitefield  was  among  all  classes,  a  division 
was  thereby  created  in  the  parish,  and  a  great  part  of  the 
people  were  much  oftcnded.  The  number  of  communicants 
was  reduced  to  about  seventy -five,  of  whom  seldom  more 
than  fifty  could  be  got  together  at  any  time.  The  revival  of 
religion  which  prevailed  in  the  town  during  1764,  also, 
tended  to  embarrass  Mr.  Chandler  in  his  ministrations,  op- 
posed as  he  was  to  every  thing  of  the  kind.  In  February, 
1765,  he  writes  as  one  somewhat  depressed,  and  says, — 

Altho'  some  few  persons,  none  of  whom  are  of  any  influence  have  heen 
seduced  from  y*-'  Church  in  y"  year  past,  by  those  acts  mentioned  in  my 
Letter  of  July  5th,  and  notwithstanding  that  several  Families  of  my  Con- 
gregation have  moved  to  other  parts  of  the  Province  I  have  still  under 
my  care  97  Families  who  profess  themselves  of  y*  Church  and  whom  I 
believe  in  general  to  be  as  good  Christians  as  their  Neighbors  whatever 
may  be  pretended — 

Matters  began  to  wear  a  more  hopeful  apj^earance  at  the 
close  of  the  next  half  year.  The  services  of  the  church  were 
better  attended — never  more  so,  and  an  enlargement  of  the 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  543 

parsonage  was  provided  for  by  a  generous  subscription.  The 
addition,  then  made,  consisted  of  that  part  of  the  present 
building  used  as  a  Study,  Dining  Room,  &c. 

At  the  commencement,  howeyer,  of  the  following  year,  Mr. 
Chandler  was  constrained,  in  consequence  of  the  Stamp  Act 
agitation  then  at  its  height,  to  feel  and  say,  that  "  the  duty 
of  a  Missionary  [Episcopal,  of  course]  in  this  Country  is  now 
become  more  difficult  than  ever."  While  deprecating  the 
continuance  of  the  policy  of  the  government,  he  still  pro- 
fessed his  fixed  resolution  to  abide  by  the  cause  of  Parliament 
rather  than  of  the  people — a  resolution  from  which  he  never 
swerved.  In  17GG,  the  University  of  Oxford  conferred  on 
him,  at  the  solicitation  of  Rev.  D^  Johnson,  of  New  York, 
the  Degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.* 

Thus  far  D''.  Chandler  had  published  nothing.  The  struggle 
in  reference  to  an  American  Episcopate  was  now  in  progress, 
and  exciting  deep  interest.  Several  pamphlets  had  already 
appeared  on  both  sides,  from  the  pens  of  Mr.  Apthorp,  and 
D".  Johnson  and  Caner,  for,  and  of  D^  Mayhew,  against,  the 
project.  At  the  solicitation  of  D^  Johnson,  whose  infirmities 
would  not  allow  of  his  undertaking  the  work  himself,  and  by 
appointment  of  the  Clergy  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey, 
met  in  convention  at  Shrewsbury,  Oct.  1, 17G7,  D"".  Chandler 
(stimulated  thereto,  doubtless,  by  the  Anti-Episcopal  Con- 
vention at  E.  Town,  in  November),  prepared,  and  published 
at  New  York,  in  June,  1767,  an 

Appeal  to  the  Public  in  behalf  of  the  Chxirch  of  England  in  America  : 
"Wherein  the  Original  and  N"aturo  of  the  E[)iscopal  Office  are  brieOy  con- 
sidered, Eeasons  for  sending  Bishops  to  America  are  assigned,  The  Plan 
on  which  it  is  proposed  to  send  them  is  stated,  and  the  Objections  against 
sending  them  aro  obviated  and  confuted.  With  an  Appendix,  giving  a 
brief  account  of  an  Anonymous  Pamphlet,     pp.  118. 

The  Rev.  D^  Charles  Chauncy,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  responded, 
1768,  in  a  pamphlet  entitled — "  The  Appeal  to  the  Public 
answered,  In  Behalf  of  the  Non-Episcopal  Churches  in 
America,  containing  Remarks  on  whatD""  Thomas  Bradbury 
Chandler  has  advanced,"  &c. ;  pp.  206.    Soon  after  D""  Chand- 

*  X.  T.  Col.  Docmts.,  VII.  80T,  517,  8,  537,  COG,  5D2.    Chandler's  Johnson,  pp.  192-S. 


544  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ler  published  "  The  Appeal  Defended,  or  The  proposed 
American  Episcopate  Vindicated,  In  answer  to  the  Objec- 
tions and  Misrepresentations  of  D""  Chauncy  and  others." 
This  drew  forth  a  rejoinder  from  D""  Channcy,  Jan.,  1770, 
with  the  title,— "  Eeply  to  D^  T.  B.  Chandler's  Appeal 
defended;"  which  was  answered  by  D"".  Chandler  in  1771, 
in  a  pamphlet  of  2-10  pages,  entitled, — "The  Appeal  farther 
Defended,  in  Answer  to  the  further  Misrepresentations  of 
D^  Chauncy."  "" 

Notwithstanding  this  pamphlet  controversy,  Dr.  Chandler 
continued  in  the  regular  discharge  of  his  parochial  duties, 
occasionally  going  forth  on  missionary  tours,  and  once,  Xov., 
1769,  far  up  into  Sussex  Co.,  then  almost  the  outer  edge  of 
civilization.  In  July,  1770,  he  refers  to  the  fact,  that  "  the 
Dissenters  of  late  have  become  more  friendly  in  appearance 
than  ever,"  sometimes  exceeding  in  number,  in  their  attend- 
ance, on  special  occasions,  his  own  people.  In  the  course  of 
the  two  or  three  following  years,  the  congregation  had  so 
much  increased,  as  to  determine  the  people  to  enlarge  the 
capacity  of  the  church  edifice.  But,  in  177^,  it  was  resolved 
to  rebuild  entirely  ;  the  foundations  of  a  new  building,  85 
by  50  ft.,  were  laid  around  the  old  building  ;  materials  were 
collected,  and  money  subscribed  to  defray  the  expense.  But 
the  first  shock  of  war  put  an  end  to  the  work,  not  to  be  re- 
sumed by  that  generation. 

D'  Chandler  (says  Dr.  Eudd)  found  liis  situation  painful  and  unpleas- 
ant, as  -well  from  the  active  part  -which  he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  take,  as 
from  the  violent  feeling  generally  entertained  against  the  church  of  which 
ho  was  a  minister.  Tliese  considerations  induced  him  to  leave  the  colo- 
nies and  go  to  England. t 

Just  before  his  departure  he  received  a  letter  from  John 
Pownall,  Under-Secretary  of  State,  bearing  date,  April  5, 
1775,  as  follows  : — 

I  am  directed  by  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth  to  acquaint  you  that  His 
Majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased  from  a  consideration  of  your  merit  & 

*  Chandler's  Johnson,  pp.  114-C.    Spraguc's  Annals,  V.  139, 140.    Sedgwick's  Livingston, 
pp.  13:-140.    Chh.  Review,  IV.  571.    Clark's  St.  John's  Chh.  pp.  117-lSS. 
t  Hist.  Notices  of  St.  John's  Chh.,  pp.  15, 16. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  545 

services  to  signify  His  Commands  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Trekvy  that  they  do  make  and  allowance  to  you  out  of  such  Funds  as 
their  Lordshijis  shall  think  proper  of  two  hundred  Pounds  per  annum, 
the  said  allowance  to  commence  from  the  first  of  January  last.* 

Dr.  Chandler  continued  to  officiate  here  until  the  middle 
of  Maj'-,  1775,  when,  probably  alarmed  by  the  sacking  of  the 
house  of  his  friend,  Dr.  Myles  Cooper,  at  N.  York,  on  the 
night  of  the  10th  of  May,  he  found  refuge,  with  him,  on  the 
Kingfisher,  Capt.  James  Montague,  a  British  ship  of  war,  in 
the  harbor  of  N.  York.  On  the  24:th  of  May,  in  company 
with  Dr.  Cooper  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Cook,  he  sailed  in  the 
Exeter,  for  Bristol,  Eng.f 

The  church  were  left  without  a  supply  for  the  pulpit,  and, 
as  the  combat  thickened,  were  greatly  scattered,  more  espe- 
cially after  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Public  wor- 
ship w^as  at  length  suspended,  and  the  church-edifice  unoc- 
cupied on  the  Sabbath.  As  houses  were  needed  for  hospitals 
and  barracks,  resort  was  had  occasionally  to  the  churches. 
The  fences  were  used  for  fuel,  nor  was  the  church-yard  spared. 
St.  John's  suffered  most,  as  it  was  not  used  on  the  Sabbath. 
^Nearly  all  the  wood-work  of  the  interior  was  destroyed y. 
"  and  two  attempts  to  burn  the  building  by  putting  fire 
under  the  pulpit  were  providentially  defeated.  .  .  About  the 
year  1779  or  1780,  the  congregation  began  to  assemble  in  a 
private  house  "  for  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath.:}: 

The  Easter  elections  were  resumed  in  1778,"  no  record 
previously  occurring  for  four  years,  John  De  Ilart,  Stephen 
Burrows,  and  Wm.  Williamson,  taking  the  places  of  Jonathan 
Hampton,  (who  had  died  in  1777,  a  refugee),  Jacob  De  Hart, 
and  Henry  Garthwait.  Jeremiah  Garthwait  is  named  as 
sexton.  In  1779,  the  election  was  held  "  at  the  church."  It 
is  probable,  that  from  this  time,  or  perhaps  earlier,  worship 
was  resumed  there. 

An  impostor  obtained  possession  of  the  pulpit  for  a  season 
— "  an  artful  man,  who  pretended  to  hold  the  sacred  oflice, 
and  for  a  time  acted  as  a  clergyman  here."     lie  "  was  soon 

•  N.  Y.  Col.  Docamts.,  VIII.  509.  t  Pa.  Journal,  of  May  31, 1775. 

I  Dr.  Rudd's  Discourse,  pp.  IS,  19. 

35 


546  THE    n],STORY    OF 

after  exposed,  and  fled  from  the  odium  wliicli  he  had  brought 
upon  himself,  and  the  punishment  -which  his  offence  de- 
served." * 

Soon  after,  the  church  obtained  the  occasional  services  of 
the  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  of  Newark.  His  father,  Uzal,  was 
the  grandson  of  the  first  David  Ogdcn ;  a  brother,  also,  of 
Judge  John,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Caldwell.f 

After  the  destruction  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1780,  many,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  worship 
there,  resorted  to  the  Episcopal  church,  especially  when  Mr. 
Ogden,  Mrs.  Caldwell's  cousin,  was  to  preach.  So  evangelical 
and  impressive  were  his  discourses,  that  lie  became  quite  a 
favorite  with  the  Presbyterians,  who,  after  Mr.  Caldwell's 
death,  were,  for  several  years,  without  both  a  pastor  and  a 
church-edifice.  A  powerful  revival  of  religion  prevailed  in 
that  congregation,  in  1784-5,  promoted,  in  a  good  degree,  by 
the  preaching  of  Mr.  Ogden  in  the  Episcopal  church. :{: 

Mr.  Ogden  was  chosen,  June  8,  1784,  one  of  the  Assistant 
Ministers  of  Trinity  Church,  IST.  York,  with  a  salary  of  £500 
a  year  ;  with  leave  of  absence  for  two  thirds  of  the  year  for 
four  years,  and  to  receive  one  third  of  the  salary.  The  re- 
maining portion  of  the  year,  he  preached  here  and  at  IS^ew- 
ark,  with  an  occasional  visit  to  Sussex  Co. 

This  arrangement  continued  to  the  close  of  1787  ;  was  re- 
newed in  1788,  and  terminated  in  the  spring  of  1789.  Dur 
ing  the  latter  part  of  this  period,  in  1788,  he  had  become  the 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Newark,  serving  them  one  half 
of  the  time,  and  receiving  from  St.  John's,  for  the  other  half, 
the  sum  of  £120,  his  residence  being  at  Newark.  In  1786-7, 
the  Church  and  steeple  were  put  in  a  state  of  repair,  and  the 
seats  rented  for  revenue.  In  April  1789,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Spraggs,  of  Mount  Holly,  N.  J.,  was  invited  to  become 
the  "resident  minister,  .  .  .  constantly  to  ofiiciate"  in  this 
churcli.  § 

Dr.  Chandler  remained  in  exile  the  full  period  of  ten  years 

*  Dr.  Rudd's  Discourse,  p.  19.  t  Newark  Bicentennial,  p.  143. 

i  Sprngtie'8  Annal?,  V.  3GS. 

§  Vcstry-Book.    Bcrrlan'a  Trinity  Chh.,  N.  T.,  pp.  lCS-170. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  547 

— a  pensioner  n])on  the  royal  bounty, — bis  family  continuing 
to  occupy  tbe  rectory  as  befoi-e,  tbrougb  all  the  gloonay  pe- 
riod of  tbe  war.  The  government  at  home  gladly  availed 
themselves  of  bis  long  experience  in  American  affairs,  and 
often  sought  of  him  information  and  advice.  Says  Prof. 
McVickar, — 

From  a  manuscript  journal  kept  by  Dr.  Cliandler  during  his  absence, 
and  now  [1836]  in  tbe  possession  of  tbe  autbor,  we  find  bim  still  laboring 
for  those  whom  be  bad  left ;  raising  funds  for  bis  destitute  brethren  ; 
urging  upon  tbe  government  plans  of  conciliation,  and  upon  tbe  bishops 
with  whom  be  seems  to  have  lived  in  habits  of  intimate  friendship,  the 
completion  of  his  long-cherished  plan  of  an  American  Episcopate."  * 

Dr.  Berrian  affirms,  that 

lie  was  received  with  such  a  marked  and  universal  respect  into  the  so- 
ciety of  the  most  distinguished  persons  as  has  very  rarely  been  rendered 
to  any  one  from  our  country  in  private  life.t 

In  tbe  State  Paper  Office  at  London,  is  preserved  a  "  Pe- 
tition of  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  D.D.,  Rector  of  St. 
John's  Church,  Elizabeth  Town,  ISTew  Jersey,  and  others,  to 
the  King,  supposed  to  have  been  presented  early  in  1777,  to 
the  effect,  '  that,  in  consideration  of  their  eminent  services  to 
bis  Majesty,  and  that,  having,  at  considerable  expense,  dis- 
covered a  tract  of  land  on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio,  in  the 
Province  of  Canada,  tlie  settlement  of  which  must  soon  take 
place,'  they  pray  bis  Majesty  to  grant  them  a  mandamus  for 
100,000  acres  of  land  in  the  said  spot."  ^ 

He  continued  to  cherish,  almost  to  the  last,  the  expectation 
of  tbe  restoration  of  the  royal  authority  in  America.  As  late 
as  Dec.  3,  1781,  be  wrote,  from  London,  to  tbe  Pev.  Abra- 
ham Beach,  of  New-Brunswick,  K.  J., — 

The  late  blow  in  Virginia  [Cornwallis'  Surrender]  has  given  us  a  shock, 
but  has  not  overset  us.  Tliougb  the  clouds  at  present  are  rather  thick 
about  us,  I  am  far,  very  far,  from  desponding.  I  think  matters  will  take 
a  right  turn  and  then  tbe  event  will  be  right.  § 

About  the  year  1780,  a  small  scab  on  his  nose,  a  relic  of 

♦  Professional  Tears  of  Ilobart,  p.  22.  t  Berriau's  Hobart,  p.  73. 

t  Analytical  Index  of  N.  J.  Docmts.,  p.  455.  §  Clnrk,  p.  200. 


54:8  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  small  pox  of  1757,  developed  in  the  form  of  a  cancer,  and 
gave  him  much  concern.  Every  expedient  for  a  cure  proved 
nnavailing.  He  spent  a  summer  on  the  Isle  of  Wight,  living 
mostly  on  goat's  milk  ;  but  without  the  hoped-for  benefit,* 

In  May,  1783,  after  the  proclamation  of  Peace,  several  of 
the  Episcopal  clergy  of  'New  York  and  Connecticut,  Drs. 
Learning,  Inglis  and  Moore,  with  others,  wrote,  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Seabury,  (on  his  way  to  obtain  the  Episcopate),  to  the 
Archbishop  of  York,  a  letter  of  commendation,  in  which 
they  say,— 

"We  take  tliis  opportunity  to  ioforni  your  Grace,  that  we  liave  consulted 
his  excellency  Sir  Guy  Carleton  on  the  subject  of  procuring  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Bishop  for  the  province  of  Nova-Scotia,  on  which  he  has  ex- 
pressed to  us  his  entire  approbation,  and  has  written  to  administration, 
warmly  recommending  the  measure.  We  took  the  liberty,  at  the  same 
time,  of  mentioning  our  worthy  brother,  the  Eev.  Doctor  Thomas  B. 
Chandler,  to  his  excellency,  as  a  person  every  way  qualified  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  the  Episcopal  office  in  that  province,  with  dignity  and  hon- 
our. And  we  hope  for  your  Grace's  approbation  of  what  we  have  done 
in  that  matter,  and  for  the  concurrence  of  your  influence  with  Sir  Guy 
Oarleton's  recommendation  in  promoting  the  design.  We  should  have 
given  this  information  sooner  to  your  Grace,  but  that  we  waited  for  Doc- 
tor Seabury's  departure  for  England,  t 

Writing  from  London,  Sept.  3,  1783,  Dr.  Seabury  says, — 

Dr.  Chandler's  appointment  to  Nova  Scotia,  will,  I  believe  succeed. 
And  possibly  he  may  go  thither  this  autumn,  or  at  least  early  in  the 
spring.  But  his  success  will  do  no  good  in  the  States  of  America.  Ilis 
hands  will  be  as  much  tied  as  the  Bishops  in  England ;  and  I  think  he 
will  run  no  risks  to  communicate  the  Episcopal  powers. 

Again,  writing,  respecting  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
from  London,  May  3,  1784,  he  says, — 

Dr.  Chandler  has  been  with  him  to-day  on  the  subject  of  the  Nova 
Scotia  Episcopate,  which,  I  believe,  will  be  effected.! 

It  was  estimated,  that  not  less  than  30,000  refugee  royal- 
ists had  removed  from  the  States  to  Nova  Scotia,  many  of 
whom  were  from  New  York  and  its  vicinity.  Hence  the 
zeal  to  provide  an  Episcopate  for  their  benefit,  as  very  few 

♦  Sprnguo,  V.  1-10.  t  Churchman's  Masazlno,  1st  Ser,  III.  115, 15T,  194. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  549 

of  them  pertained  to  any  otlier  bod}^  tlian  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. It  is  evident,  that  Dr.  Chandler  was  pleased  with  his 
nomination  to  the  bishopric,  and  that  he  sought  to  procure 
the  appointment.  It  was  this  that  kept  him  abroad,  more 
than  two  years  after  the  treaty  of  peace,  though  earnestly  en- 
treated by  his  jieople,  in  1783,  to  return  and  resume  the 
duties  of  his  rectorship,* 

In  a  letter,  written  at  London,  April  23,  1785,  to  Bishop 
John  Skinner,  of  Longsidc,  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  he  makes 
the  following  statements: — 

Tou  may,  perhnps,  have  heard,  that  after  having  been  separated  eight 
years  from  my  family,  -which  I  left  in  New  Jersey,  I  have  been  detained 
here  two  years  longer,  with  the  prospect  of  being  appointed  to  the  super- 
intendency  of  the  Church  in  our  new  country.  This  business,  though  the 
call  for  it  is  most  urgent,  is  still  jjostponed ;  and  it  appears  to  be  in  no 
greater  forwardness  now  than  it  did  a  year  ago.  In  the  meanwhile,  I  am 
labouring  under  a  scorbutic,  corrosive  disorder,  which  renders  a  sea  voyage 
and  change  of  climate  immediately  necessary,  I  therefore  thought  proper 
to  wait  upon  the  Archbishop  [Moore]  a  day  or  two  ago,  to  resign  my  pre- 
tensions to  the  Nova  Scotia  Episcopate,  that  I  might  be  at  liberty  to  cross 
the  Atlantic  and  visit  my  family,  consisting  now  of  a  most  excellent  wife 
and  three  amiable  daughters.  His  Grace  would  not  hear  of  my  giving  up 
my  claim  to  the  above-mentioned  appointment,  but  readily  consented  to 
my  visiting  my  family,  on  condition  that  I  would  hold  myself  in  readiness 
to  undertake  the  important  charge  whenever  I  might  be  called  for,  which 
I  promised,  in  case  my  health  should  admit  of  it.  Accordingly  I  have 
engaged  a  passage  in  a  ship  [the  Greyhound,  Capt.  Dunn]  bound  to  New- 
York,  which  is  obliged  to  sail  by  this  day  fortnight.t 

Dr.  Chandler  reached  Xew  York,  Sunday,  June  19,  1785, 
but  too  infirm  to  resume  his  parochial  charge.  In  the  course 
of  the  following  year,  the  long-sought  Episcopate  of  Nova 
Scotia  was  offered  him,  but  his  health  was  too  much  impaired 
for  him  to  think  of  performing  its  duties,  and  he  Avas  com- 
pelled to  decline  it.  At  his  suggestion,  the  oflice  was  confer- 
red on  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Charles  Inglis,  D,  D.,  who  had 
removed  from  New  York  to  Nova  Scotia  at  the  close  of  1783, 
and  who  was  consecrated  at  Lambeth,  Aug.  12,  1787. 

Very  rarely  was  Dr.  Chandler  able  to  pcrtbrm  any  official 

•  Sprnguo,  V.  lil,  1S3.  t  Annals  of  Scottish  Episcopacy,  in  Chn.  Journal,  IV.  9S. 


550  THE    UISTORY    OF 

services  after  liis  return ;  five  times  only  officiating  in  tlie 
marriage  service,  (for  Elias  B.  Dayton,  George  Joy,  Michael 
Hatfield,  Aaron  Ogdeu,  and  Capt.  Cyrus  Dellart),  and  occa- 
sionally at  a  funeral.  At  the  request  of  the  Yestry,  however, 
he  retained  the  Kectorship  and  Rectory  as  long  as  he  lived. 
He  died,  at  home,  June  17, 1790,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his 
age. 

The  funeral  services  were  performed,  on  Saturday,  the  19th, 
at  St.  John's  Church.  The  Right  Rev.  D"*.  Samuel  Provoost, 
the  Rev.  D^  Benjamin  Moore,  the  Rev.  D"".  Ahraham  Beach, 
the  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  the  Rev.  Richard  Moore,  and  the  Rev. 
George  Ogilvie,  served  as  pall-bearers.  The  burial  service 
was  read  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Spraggs,  and  Bishop  Provoost. 
D^  Beach  preached  from  1  Cor.  15:  55, — "  O  Death!  where 
is  thy  sting,"  &c.'^ 

He  had  six  children  : 

1.  Mary,  baptized  June  10,  1753,  died  early. 

2.  William,  baptized,  May  23,  1756,  graduated  at  King's 
College,  N.  Y.,  1774,  entered  the  British  service,  was  Captain 
of  the  New  Jersey  Volunteers,  was  stationed  on  Staten  Island, 
went  abroad  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  died  in  England, 
Oct.  22,  1784,  in  his  29th  year. 

3.  Mary  Ricketts,  baptized,  Nov.  15,  17C1,  died  unmar- 
ried, at  home,  June  28,  17S4,  a  year  before  her  father's 
return,  in  her  23d  year. 

4.  Elizabeth  Catiiarixe,  baptized,  July  22,  1764,  was 
married,  Jan.  19, 1786,  by  her  father,  to  Elias  Bayley  Dayton, 
son  of  Gen.  Elias  Dayton,  of  this  town.  She  died,  Nov.  6, 
1806,  in  her  43d  year. 

5.  Jane  Tongkelou,  baptized,  Sep.  27, 1767,  was  married, 
May  3,  1796,  by  Rev.  Menzies  Raynor,  to  "William  Dayton, 
whom  she  survived  many  years,  dying,  in  her  native  place. 
She  was  buried,  Jan.  31,  1859. 

6.  Mary  Goodin,  baptized.  Sept,  11,  1774,  an  infant  when 
her  father  left  home  at  the  commencement  of  his  ten  j-ears' 
exile,  was  married,  May  6,  1800,  to  the  Rev.  John  Ileniy 
Hobart,  the  youthful  incumbent  elect  of  St.  George's  Church, 

♦  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  850. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  55I 

Hempstead,  L,  L,  and  subsequently  tlie  liiglilj  honored 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York. 

Mrs.  Chandler,  to  whom  an  annual  pension  was  allowed 
by  the  British  government,  after  the  decease  of  her  husband, 
survived  him  more  than  eleven  years.  She  died,  on  Sunday, 
Sept.  20, 1801,  in  her  G9th  year. 

D^  Chandler  is  represented,  as  having  been 

A  large  portly  man,  of  fine  personal  appearance,  of  a  countenance 
expressive  of  high  intelligence,  though  considerably  marred  by  the  small 
pox,  of  an  uncommonly  blue  eye,  of  a  strong  commanding  voice,  and  a 
great  lover  of  music.  He  had  fine  powers  of  conversation,  and  vas  a 
most  agreeable  companion  for  persons  of  all  ages.  He  was  very  fond  of 
home,  fond  of  retirement  and  of  study,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  his 
congregation.  His  antipathy  to  any  thing  but  British  rule  continued  to 
the  last.  Besides  the  controversial  tracts  already  named,  he  wrote  the 
Life  of  Samuel  Johnson,  D.  D.,  the  first  President,  of  King's  College,  in 
New  York,  which  was  published,  after  his  decease,  at  N.  York,  in  1805. 
He  also  published  at  Burlington,  in  1771,  dedicated  to  Gov.  Wm.  Frank- 
lin, "  A  Sermon  Preached  before  the  Corporation  For  the  Relief  of  the 
Widows  and  Children  of  Clergymen,  in  the  Connection  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  America,  at  their  Anniversary  Meeting  on  the  2d-of  October, 
1771,  at  Perth  Amboy."  * 

*  See,  for  many  of  the  above  facts,  Clark's  St.  John's  Churcli ;  and  Sprague's  Annals,  V. 
137-142. 


552  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTEE   XXY. 

A.D.  118Z-1195. 

Return  of  Gov.  Livingston  —  Sad  Changes  —  Visit  of  Washington — Refugees 
remove  to  N.  Scotia  and  N.  Brunswick  —  "  New  Jersey  Journal "  established 
—  U.  S.  Constitutional  Convention  —  Fourth  of  July  Celebrations  —  New 
Charter — Death  of  Gov.  Livingston  —  Death  of  Gen.  M.  Ogden  —  Rage  for 
Speculation  —  Lotteries  —  Schools  —  Circulating  Library  —  Congressmen  — 
Death  of  Mayor  De  Hart. 

The  eight  years  war  of  tlie  Eevolution  came  to  an  end, 
April  19,  1783.  All  acts  of  hostility  between  the  belligerents 
terminated  on  that  day.  The  fugitive  patriots,  who  had 
sought  protection  for  their  families  in  places  remote  from  the 
scene  of  conflict,  began  now  to  return  to  their  forsaken,  and, 
in  many  instances,  desolate  homes.  "While  the  refugee  loyal- 
ists, who  had  so  long  been  waging  a  bloody  war  with  their 
neighbors,  were  compelled,  in  order  to  their  personal  safet}", 
to  go  into  exile. 

By  the  return  of  Gov.  Livingston  to  his  home,  the  last 
week  in  April,  this  town  once  more  became,  practically,  the 
capital  of  the  State ;— "  the  first  time  in  seven  years,"  he  says, 
"  that  I  have  had  any  place  which  I  could  properly  call  my 
horned  Part  of  the  time  he  had  resided,  here,  in  his  own 
house,  while  his  family  found  a  refuge  at  Baskiugridge,  or 
Parcipany ;  afterwards  he  resided  at  Trenton,  and  his  good 
lady  at  the  homestead,  to  keep  it  from  destruction — the 
Governor  making  only  occasional  visits  to  his  home. 

It  is  not  strange,  that,  on  his  return,  he  should  feel  solitary 
and  sad,  as  he  took  his  accustomed  walks  about  town,  and 
should  say,  that,  "instead  of  my  quondam  agreeable  com- 
panions, the  village  now  principally  consists  of  unknown, 
■unrecommendcd   strangers,  guilty-looking   torics,  and   very 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  553 

knavish  wliigs."  A  great  and  visible  change  had  come  over 
the  place  and  people.  The  venerable  house  of  worship  that 
he  had  so  religiously  frequented  on  the  Sabbath  was  gone ; 
with  the  court  house  adjacent,  and  the  academy  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  burying-ground ;  the  i^arsonage  house,  too,  and 
the  barracks,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  The  town  looked 
desolate,  of  course.* 

Old  friends,  moreover,  had  departed.  Death  had  dealt 
severe  blows  on  the  town.  Caldwell,  the  "rousing  gospel- 
preacher,"  and  his  most  excellent  wife  had  fallen  victims  of 
the  war.  Barber,  the  young  collegian,  who  had  quitted  the 
headship  of  the  Academy  for  the  tented  field,  and  had  be- 
come a  highly  valued  officer  of  the  Jersey  Brigade  had  come 
to  an  untimely  end  a  few  weeks  before.  Periam,  also,  his 
successor  in  the  Academy,  had  died  ;  Judge  Stephen  Crane, 
Speaker  of  the  Assembly  ;  Jonathan  Hampton,  so  conspicuous 
before  the  4th  of  July  1776  ;  Garret  Noel,  the  X.  York  book- 
seller; John  Clauson,  the  Commissioner  of  Confiscated 
Estates  ;  and  the  venerable  Deacons  Whitehead  and  Hatfield, 
with  many  others,  had  gone  the  way  of  all  the  eartli. 

Others  were  in  exile  or  had  removed.  Dr.  Chandler,  of 
St.  John's,  had  not  yet  returned  from  England.  Cavalier 
Jouet,  Ichabod  B.  Barnet,  Broughton  Reynolds,  Wm.  Luce, 
and  others,  had  become  refugees.  Barnet  died  in  1783. 
Robert  Ogden,  Speaker,  had  removed  to  Sussex  Co.  Wm. 
Peartree  Smith,  Esq.,  the  Governor's  bosom  friend,  had  re- 
moved to  Newark.  Others  had  gone,  designing  to  return 
after  the  war,  but  came  not  back.  The  war  had  made  sad 
havoc  with  the  old  residents,  and  quite  changed  the  face  of 
society.  Many  years  were  required  to  repair  the  damage, 
to  recover  from  the  confusion  into  which  all  business  had 
been  thrown,  and  to  regain  lost  property. 

Late  in  thesummer  of  1783,  Gen.  Washington  and  his  lady 
had  occasion  to  pass  through  the  town,  and  the  opportunity 
was  embraced  to  express  to  the  venerated  hero,  the  people's 
higli  estimate  of  his  person  and  scrvices.f 

♦  Sedgwick's  Livingston,  p.  246. 

t  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  23T,  8.    Sparks'  Washington,  VIII.  474-5. 


554  THE  niSTORY  or 

As  tlie  time  drew  nigh  for  the  evacuation  of  the  City  of 
New  York,  (Nov.  25,  1783),  the  last  foot-hold  of  British 
power  on  the  sea-board,  where  the  refugees  from  this  vicinity 
and  elsewhere  could  freely  express  their  hostility  to  the 
whigs  and  the  new  order  of  things,  it  became  necessary  for 
the  loyalists  who  had  been  hopelessly  compromised  by  the 
war,  to  secure  for  themselves  and  families  a  residence  in 
some  part  of  the  British  dominions.  The  greater  part  of 
those  who  hailed  from  this  town  made  choice  of  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick;  and  several  families,  who  had  been 
permitted  to  reside  here  duruig  the  war,  were  now  constrain- 
ed to  take  their  dc})arture.  Measures  were  taken,  in  the 
following  year,  to  complete  the  confiscation  of  the  estates  of 
those  against  whom  inquisitions  had  been  found  and  judg- 
ment entered,  1778-9.  All  persons  indebted  to  these  refugees 
were  required  to  pay  the  amount  to  the  agents  appointed  by 
the  State  to  receive  these  sums  ; — Samuel  Hays  of  Newark, 
being  the  agent  for  the  county  of  Essex.* 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  town,  a  weekly 
newspaper  was  established  here  as  early  as  April,  1785,  the 
publication  of  which  has  been  continued  to  the  present  day. 
The  "  New  Jersey  Journal "  was  first  issued  at  Chatham,  N. 
J.,  that  place  having  been  chosen  rather  than  one  below  the 
Short  Hills,  because  of  its  greater  safety,  the  enemy  never 
having  been  able  to  penetrate  that  section.  The  first  number 
bears  date,  Feb.  10,  1779.  It  was  owned  and  edited  by  Mr. 
Shepard  Kollock.  He  was  born  at  Lewes,  Del.,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1750.  He  learned  the  art  of  printing,  in  the  oflice  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Chronicle  at  Philadelphia,  under  the  eye 
of  AVilliam  Goddard.  At  20,  he  removed,  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health,  to  St.  Christopher's,  W.  Indies,  where  he  practised 
his  art.  At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  with  Great 
Britain,  he  returned  home,  entered  the  army,  and  served 
with  Col.  Ncill  of  the  Continental  Artillery,  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant, till  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  1778 ;  when,  by  and 
with  the  advice  of  Gen.  Knox,  he  established  his  "  Journal," 
to  aid  his  countrymen  in  their  patriotic  work. 

*  N.  J.  Gazette,  No.  313. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  555 

The  paper  was  of  great  service  to  the  patriot  cause,  and  con- 
tinued to  be  issued  at  Chatham,  until  the  war  was  fallj  end- 
ed. Immediatelj  after  the  evacuation  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  the  wortliy  editor  removed  his  press  to  that  city, 
opened  a  book  store  at  Xo.  22  Hanover  square,  and  com- 
menced, December  3d,  the  publication  of  the  "  New  York 
Gazetteer  and  tlie  Country  Journal."  The  first  month  it 
was  issued  weekly  ;  but,  with  tlie  beginning  of  1784,  tri- 
weekly, on  Monday,  Wednesday,  and  Friday,  until  the  27th 
of  July  ;  after  that,  semi-weekly,  on  Tuesday  and  Friday, 
until  August,  1786  ;  when,  having  entered  into  partnership 
with  George  Carroll  and  John  Patterson,  Mr.  Kollock 
issued  the  paper,  under  the  name  of  the  "  New  York  Gazet- 
teer or  Daily  Evening  Post,''  until  December  14, 1786,  when 
it  was  discontinued  for  want  of  support.  He  removed,  Aug. 
13,  1784,  to  "the  corner-house  in  "Water  st.  opposite  the 
Coifee  House,"  in  Wall  st. 

During  a  part  of  this  time,  he,  also,  conducted  a  weekly 
paper  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  established  as  early  as 
July,  1784  ;  transferring  it  to  this  town,  not  later  than  April, 
1785.  The  precise  date  of  the  transfer  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained, no  copies  of  the  E.  T.  paper  previous  to  Nov.  8, 1786, 
having  been  found.  The  New  York  Gazetteer  of  Ap.  29, 
1785,  asks  patronage  for  "  the  N.  Jersey  paper,  printed  at 
Elizabeth  Town."  It  was  styled  the  "  New  Jersey  Journal 
and  Political  Intelligencer."  Tlie  latter  part  of  the  name 
was  dropped,  Wednesday,  June  13,  1792.  December  5, 
1797,  the  day  of  publication  was  changed  to  Tuesday,  as  at 
present. 

Mr.  Kollock  was  a  zealous  patriot,  and  a  strenuous  ad- 
vocate of  Republican  principles,  adhering  to  tlie  party 
wliich  elected  Jefierson  to  the  Presidential  chair.  He 
defended  the  administration  in  the  war  of  1812-15,  and 
supported  John  Quincy  Adams  for  President.  He  re- 
tired from  the  printing  business  Sep.  1.  1818,  (having  sold 
out  to  Peter  Chatterton,)  held  the  position  of  postmaster 
until  1829„  for  35  years  was  a  Judge  of  the  Court  ot 
Common   Pleas   for    the   County  of  Essex,    and   closed    a 


556  THE    HISTORY    OF 

long  and  useful  life  in  Christian  hope,  Jnlj  28,  1839,  aged 
88  years.* 

In  the  proceedings  that  led  to  the  formation  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  this  town,  by  means  of  its 
"  Journal "  and  public  men,  took  an  active  and  prominent 
part.  In  the  preliminary  Convention  at  Annapolis,  Md., 
Sept.  11-14,  178G,  Congressman  Abraham  Clark,  of  this 
town,  was  one  of  the  three  representatives  of  N.  Jersey. 
In  the  Convention  that  framed  the  Constitution,  and  that 
commenced  its  sessions  at  Philadelphia,  May  14,  1787,  the 
State  made  choice  of  six  of  its  eminent  citizens,  as  rep- 
resentatives, three  of  •whom,  Gov.  "Wm.  Livingston,  Hon. 
Abraham  Clark,  and  Hon.  Jonathan  Dayton,  were  well- 
known  citizens  of  this  borough,  men  of  mark,  of  vigorous 
intellect,  and  the  former  two,  particularly,  of  long  experience 
in  State  affairs.  Mr.  Clark,  however,  was  prevented  from 
attending,  Livingston  and  Dayton  both  took  part  in  the 
deliberations,  and,  on  the  17tli  of  September  1787,  affixed 
their  names  to  that  noble  charter. f 

The  Fourth  of  July  had  already  at  this  time  become  the 
great  day  of  the  year,  and  was  celebrated  with  the  utmost 
pomp  and  hilarity.  In  1787,  Capt.  Meeker's  Light  Horse, 
Capt.  Crane's  Grenadiers,  Capt.  Williamson's  Infantry,  and 
Capt.  "Williams'  Artillery  paraded,  the  federal  salute  was 
fired,  the  bells  were  rung,  service  was  held  in  the  church, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Ogden  preached  an  appropriate  sermon,  and 
a  grand  dinner  was  served  at  Prentice's  tavern.  In  1788, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Austin  delivered  the  sermon  ;  the  military, 
under  command  of  Gen.  Ogden,  paraded,  and  were  reviewed 
by  Gov.  Livingston  ;  "  an  elegant  bower  Avitli  13  arches 
was  prepared  for  the  company  to  associate  [for  dancing] 
after  dinner,  but  the  rain  prevented  until  the  next  day, 
when  a  most  brilliant  assembly  of  Ladies  added  a  double 
lustre  to  the  rejoicings."  In  the  subsequent  years,  the 
sermon  gave  place  to  the  oration,  and  the  reading  of  the 

•  Newark  Daily  Advertiser,  July  30,  ISSa.  Files  of  N.  J.  Journal,  la  N.  J.  Hist.  Soc. 
Library  at  Newark. 

t  Gordon's  N.  Jersey,  pp.  829,  330. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  557 

Declaration  of  Independence  became  a   fixed   service   for 
the  day.* 

Tlie  Charter  of  the  borough  having  been  obtained  in  Colo- 
nial times,  it  was  suffered  to  lapse,  after  July  4, 1776,  so  that 
the  people  had  been  practically  disfranchised.  Various 
changes  in  its  provisions  were  needed,  in  order  to  adapt  it  to 
the  new  order  of  things.  Application,  therefore,  was  made 
to  the  Legislature,  and  an  Act  was  passed,  ISTov.  28,  1789, 
"  To  Establish  and  Confirm  the  Charter,  Rights  and  Privi- 
le2:es  of  the  Borough  of  Elizabeth."  In  the  amended  Char- 
ter,  it  is  provided, 

That  Samuel  Potter,  John  Scudder,  Benjamin  Pettit,  John  Tucker, 
Obadiah  Meeker,  Jesse  Clark,  John  Hendricks,  Amos  Morse,  William 
Harriman,  Samuel  Tyler,  William  Darby,  and  David  Crane,  be  the  present 
Common  Council ;  that  William  Halsted  be  Sheriff  of  the  Borough  and 
Town  Corporate ;  and  William  Shute,  Chamberlain  and  Treasurer ;  Na- 
than Woodruff,  Marshal ;  and  Amos  Morse,  John  Scudder,  William  Wood- 
ruff'and  Mattliias  Meeker,  Assessors  ;  Jeremiah  Ballard,  John  Craig,  Jesse 
Clark,  and  Kobert  Wade,  Collectors ;  David  Ross,  High  Constable  ;  Wil- 
liam Southwell,  Joseph  Stansbury,  Samuel  Norris,  Noadiah  Potter, 
Charles  Guilman,  and  Moses  Austin,  Constables,  apd  Edward  Thomas, 
John  Craig,  Jesse  Clark,  and  David  Crane,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  t 

Under  the  new  Charter,  John  De  Hart,  Esq.,  was  chosen 
Mayor,  and  Gen.  Elias  Dayton,  Eecordcr:  John  Ross,  Jedi- 
diah  Swan,  Jeremiah  Ballard,  Stephen  Crane,  and  Robert 
Wade,  Aldermen. 

Hitherto,  no  measures  appear  to  have  been  taken,  by  the 
town  authorities,  to  restore  the  ruins  of  the  war.  But,  on 
the  10th  of  December,  1789,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Corpo- 
ration,— 

That  Mr.  D^llart,  Mr.  Dayton,  Mr.  Harriman,  &  Mr  Ballaid  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  view  the  Ground  where  the  old  Court  House  stood  &;  to  ascer- 
tain where  the  boundaries  are,  &  to  obtain  draughts  for  building  a  new 
Court  House.  J 

Gov.  Livingston  died,  July  25,  1790,  in  the  G7th  year  of 
his  age.     His  excellent  wife,  Susannah  French,   had  died 

•  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  193,  247.  t  rattcreon's  Lawa  of  N.  J.,  abridged,  p.  99. 

t  Corporation  Eccord8,_I..6. 


558  THE    HISTORY    OF 

July  17,  1789.  His  remains  were  interred  on  the  27th,  with 
civic  and  military  honors.  A  vast  concourse  of  people  from 
every  quarter  assembled  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
Dr.  McWhorter,  of  Newark,  preached  from  Job  16  :  22,  An 
admirable  Memoir  of  his  Life,  prepared  by  Theodore  Sedg- 
wick, Jun.,  was  published  at  New  York,  in  1833. 

Gen.  Matthias  Ogden,  also,  was  taken  away  soon  after,  in 
the  vigor  of  his  manhood.  His  remains  were  deposited  in 
the  Presbyterian  burying-ground,  and  the  -place  is  marked 
by  a  monumental  stone,  on  which  is  inscribed  the  following 
epitaph  : — 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  General  Matthias  Ogdex,  who  died,  on  the 
31  day  of  March,  1791,  aged  36  years.  In  him  were  imited  those  various 
virtues  |  of  the  Soldier,  the  Patriot  and  the  Friend,  \  which  endear  men 
to  Society.  |  Distress  failed  not  to  find  relief  in  his  |  bounty,  |  Unfortu- 
nate merit  a  refuge  in  his  |  generosity.  | 

If  manly  sense  and  dignity  of  mind, 

If  social  virtues  lib'ral  and  refin'd, 

Nipp'd  in  their  bloom,  deserve  compassion's  tear, 

Then  reader,  Weep !  for  Ogden's  dust  lies  here. 

"Weed  his  grave  clean  yo  men  of  genius,  {  for  he  was  your  kinsman!  | 
Tread  lightly  on  his  ashes,  ye  men  of  feeling,  |  for  he  was  your  brother ! 

He  married,  in  April,  1776,  Hannah,  a  daughter  of  Col. 
Elias,  and  sister  of  Jonathan,  Dayton ; — "  the  best  of  women," 
as  Burr  called  her.  She  was  born  in  1758,  and  died,  Dec. 
11,  1802,  surviving  her  husband  nearly  twelve  years.  They 
had  four  children  :  Francis  Barber,  for  many  years  U.  S. 
Consul  at  Liverpool,  Eng. ;  George  M.,  afterwards  of  New 
Orleans,  La. ;  Peter  Y.,  compromised  with  Aaron  Burr  in 
the  Blennerhassett  affair;  and  Jane  Chandler,  born,  Nov., 
1784,  and  died  Sept.  9,  1785.* 

The  opening  of  the  "Western  country  for  settlers,  together 

with  the  great  and  increasing  opportunities  for  trade  as  well 

as  agriculture  in  the  older  settlements,  engendered  a  spirit 

of  speculation,  felt  most  in  the  large  cities,  but  spreading  its 

,  infection  throughout  the  country.     The  rage  for  gambling  in 

♦  Dnvls's  LIfo  of  Burr,  I.  47-57,  62,  CO,  77,  SO,  94,  97.  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  390.  Old  Mer- 
cbanta  of  N.  T.,  L  259. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  559 

tlie  funds  reached  the  highest  pitch,  in  the  summer  of  1791. 
U.  S.  Bank  Scrip  rose  nearly  100  per  cent,  in  two  days,  or 
500  per  cent,  on  the  amount  paid  in.  The  process  of  inflation 
went  on,  until,  on  the  1st  of  April  [fitting  day]  of  the  next 
year,  the  bubble  burst — bankruptcy  ensued,  and  prices 
depreciated,  involving  multitudes  in  ruin.'-^ 

The  mania  that  issued,  as  might  have  been  expected,  so 
deplorably,  was  fostered,  to  some  extent  by  legislation, 
unwisely  sanctioning  the  obtaining  of  money  for  public  ob- 
jects, by  Lottery.  Among  others  the  Elizabetii  Town  and 
JS'ew  Brunswick  Church  Lottery  was  authorized  in  1Y80.  It 
was  advertised,  in  Kollock's  N.  Y.  Gazetteer,  June  16, 1786, 
the  object  being,  so  far  as  this  town  was  concerned,  "  towards 
finishing  a  building  erected  by  the  Presbyterian  Congregation 
in  Elizabeth  Town."  Isaac  WoodruflJ",  Jonathan  Dayton,  and 
Aaron  Lane  were  the  E.  T.  ]\[anagcrs.  The  profits,  as 
acknowledged,  in  May,  1789,  were  $1365.  Encouraged  by 
the  success  of  this  operation,  the  Corporation  of  the  borough 
applied  for,  and  obtained  a  grant  of  a  Lottery  to  raise  the 
sum  of  £2500  for  "  rebuilding  the  Court  House  and  Gaol," 
"  and  finishing  the  Academy,"  "  which  during  the  late  war 
wore  occupied  for  the  use  of  the  United  States,  and  burnt  by 
the  enemy."  It  was  proposed  to  sell  13,800  tickets,  of  which 
7472  were  to  be  prizes,  from  two,  to  five  hundred,  dollars, 
each.  The  Lottery  was  to  be  drawn  in  three  classes,  one 
dollar  for  the  first,  two  dollars  for  the  second,  and  four  dollars 
for  the  third,  class  of  tickets.  The  Managers  were  Jonathan 
H.  Lawrence  and  Elias  B.  Dayton,  f 

More  than  twelve  years  elapsed  before  the  final  accounts 
of  the  Managers  of  the  Lottery  were  rendered  and  settled. 
Frequent  references  are  made,  in  the  Ilecords  of  the  Corpo- 
ration, from  year  to  year,  in  the  mean  time,  to  troubles 
growing  out  of  the  sale  of  tickets,  and  the  payment  of  prizes. 

The  Academy  appears  to  have  been  in  successful  operation, 
(although  the  building  was  in  an  unfinished  state),  from  the 
first  of  June,  1789,  on  which  day  it  was  opened  for  pupils. 
Mr.  Patrick  Murdock,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Edin- 

•  N.  J.  Journnl,  Nos.  408,  442,  445.  t  lb.,  Nos.  421,  424,  458,  484. 


560  THE    HISTORY    OF 

burgli,  who  liad  taught  for  several  years  at"Wihnington,  took 
charge  of  the  Latin  School,  and  Mr.  Luther  Ilalsej,  of  the 
English  department.  The  Trustees  were — E,ev.  David  Aus- 
tin, President,  Gov.  Wm.  Livingston,  Judge  John  Chetwood, 
Hon.  Jonathan  Dayton,  John  De  Hart,  Aaron  Ogden,  Mat- 
thias "Williamson,  and  George  Ross.  In  November  1790, 
Mr.  Murdock  was  succeeded  by  Col.  John  Taylor,  subsequently 
Professor  in  Union  College,  1^.  Y.  Board  was  to  be  had  for 
£20,  in  good  families,  and  Tuition  was  £5  a  year.* 

Col.  Taylor  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  C.  Blackman,  (Yale, 
1793) ;  and  he,  in  Sep.  1796,  by  Henry  James  Feltus,  a  young 
Methodist  exhorter,  M'ho  had  come  over,  in  1795,  from  Eng- 
land, afterwards,  the  Rev.  D^  Feltus,  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
K.  Y.  He  had  charge  of  the  Academy  for  two  years,  and 
was  succeeded,  in  1798,  by  James  Stevenson,  of  Morristown ; 
and  he,  in  1799,  by  David  Young  (Yale,  1798),  famous  in 
subsequent  years  for  his  astronomical  calculations.  He  gave 
place,  in  1801,  to  Edmund  D.  Barry,  of  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  "an  exile  of  Erin,"  well  known  in  after  years,  as  the 
Rev.  E.  D.  Barry,  D.  D.  (Epis.),  and  a  most  successful  teacher. 
His  successor,  in  1803,  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Lilly,  of  St. 
John's  Church,  of  whom  mention  is  made  on  a  subsequent 
page.  To  him  succeeded,  in  1806,  Henry  Mills  (C.  N.  J., 
1802),  afterwards  the  Rev.  H.  Mills,  D.  D.  (Prcsb.),  of  Auburn 
Theo.  Sem.,  IST.  Y.  William  Belden  (Yale,  1803),  followed, 
till  1812,  long  a  successful  Pub.  School  Teacher  in  New  York. 
He  was  followed,  in  1812-13,  by  Edward  Allen  (C.  N.  J., 
1815),  and  again,  1815-17.  He  has  been  a  most  useful 
Presbyterian  minister,  more  than  half  a  century.  Moses 
Smith,  previously  of  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  followed  in  1817.  f 

A  Young  Ladies'  Scliool  was  commenced,  in  April  1789, 
by  Anne  AVilliams,  in  the  house  opposite  John  Blanchard's. 
A   similar  school  was   opened,  May  1,  1791,  by  Madame 

•  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  292,382,  8C9.  The  following  announcement  appeared  in  the  N.  J. 
Journal  of  Aug.  1, 17S7:  "Monday  [July  30]  an  handsome  edifice  was  reared  in  this  town  to 
be  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  science.  ...  It  is  to  be  denominated  the  Elizabeth  Town 
Academy." 

+  N.J.  Journal,  Nos.  676,  769,  90S,  944,  10S2,  1209,1483,  1736.  Fish's  St.  Ann's  Chh,, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  pp.  29-39.  '}y'i 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  501 

Capron,  a  French  ladj,  in  wliicli  the  French  language,  French 
manners,  and  French  accomplishments  were  taught.  It  was 
the  period  of  the  French  Revolution,  and  it  was  all  the 
fashion  then  to  shout  for  the  French  Republic,  and  fraternize 
with  French  democracy.  Mons.  St.  Aivre  was  her  Dancing 
Master,  under  whose  auspices,  a  ball  was  given  at  AVales's 
Tavern,  Sep.  7,  1791,  and  another,  Oct.  13,  "  when  16  young 
ladies  performed  the  Bow  Dance,  the  Minuet  de  la  Cour,  la 
Gayotte  and  Allemande."  Mons.  Dillon  succeeded  him  the 
following  year.  Madame  Tapray,  in  March,  1795,  succeeded 
Madame  Capron.  In  the  spring  of  1799,  Messrs.  Mitchell, 
Nugent  and  Dupot  each  opened  a  Dancing  School  in  the 
town.* 

A  Medical  School,  also,  was  opened  here,  in  1790.  D^  Paul 
Micheau,  of  Richmond,  Staten  Island,  who  had  commenced 
practice  in  the  town,  in  April,  1789,  advertised,  Feb.  1790, 
a  complete  course  of  Medical  Lectures  to  be  given,  at  -4  P.  M., 
from  May  10th  to  July  25th.     Charge,  £5.  f 

Thus  early  after  the  war,  the  town  began  to  be  distinguish- 
ed for  its  institutions  of  learning.  Pains  were  taken  to  obtain 
the  best  instructors  in  all  departments  of  knowledge,  many 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  2Sr,  893,  411,  417,  4T5,  596,  810,  811,  814. 

t  Ibid.,  Nos.  287,  832.  D'  Micheau  married,  March  5,  1701,  Maria,  the  daughter  of  Peter 
Vergereau,  Jr.,  and  Abigail,  daughter  of  Col.  Cornelius  Ilatfleld.  Mrs.  Micheau  died,  Aug. 
15, 1 793,  before  completing  lier  2l8t  year.  Over  her  grave,  in  the  Presbyterian  burying  ground, 
her  fond  husband  erected  a  monument  with  this  inscription  : — 

"  Closed  are  those  eyes  in  endless  night,  Fair  as  the  break  of  op'ning  day, 

No  more  to  beam  with  fond  delight,  Calm  as  the  summer's  evening  ray, 

Or  with  affection  roll ;  Truth,  Tirtuo  was  her  guide. 

Etern.il  silence  seals  that  tongue.  When  sister  spirits  call'd  her  hence. 

Where  sense  and  soft  persuasion  hung,  Obedience  bow'd  at  life's  expense. 

To  captivate  the  soul.  She  sigh'd,  she  sunk,  she  died ! 

Oh,  she  was  all  that  thought  could  paint,  Immort.al  saint  I  supremely  bright  t 

The  mortal  rising  to  the  saint,  Look  down  through  skies  of  purest  light, 

In  every  deed  of  life.  And  bid  affliction  cease. 

At  once,  the  fatal  arrows  end  Ob,  smooth  thy  husband's  lonely  bod, 

The  fondest  child,  the  kindest  friend,  In  visions  hover  round  his  head. 

And  most  endearing  wife.  And  hush  his  mind  to  peace." 

It  was  mainly  through  his  agency,  and  at  his  suggestion,  that  a  "  Medical  Society  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey  "  was  formed  in  1790,  of  which  D'  Isaac  Morse,  of 
this  town,  was  the  efficient  Secretary.  It  met  quarterl}-,  generally  in  this  town  or  New.ark. 
N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  890,  402.    Clark's  Med.  Men  of  N.  J.,  pp.  10-12. 

36 


562  THE    HISTORY    OF 

of  whom,  having  graduated  at  Princeton,  became  known 
and  considerably  noted  in  the  liberal  professions,  especially, 
divinity. 

The  more  to  foster  this  spirit,  a  Library  Association  was 
formed  early  in  1792,  for  the  circulation  of  useful  books,  and 
the  elevation  of  the  tastes  of  the  people.  A  similar  Associa- 
tion, on  a  limited  scale,  had  existed  for  some  time  previously 
but  had  not  been  successful.  The  Constitution  of  the  new 
Company,  now  extant,  is  subscribed  by  John  De  Ilart, 
Samuel  Spraggs,  David  Austin,  James  Ricketts,  Matthias 
Williamson,  Jr.,  George  Ross,  Shepherd  Kollock,  William 
Shuto,  Job  Haines,  Elias  B.  Dayton,  Jonathan  H.  Lawrence, 
Samuel  Smith,  Caleb  Halsted,  Jr.,  Aaron  Ogden,  Edward 
Thomas,  Lewis  Woodruif,  Jeremiah  Ballard,  Isaac  Morse, 
William  Steele,  Jonathan  Dayton,  Abraham  Clark,  Jr.,  John 
Clarke,  William  Halsted,  John  Chetwood,  Jonathan  Wade, 
Isaac  II.  Williamson,  Matthias  II.  Williamson,  Horatio  R. 
Dayton,  Joseph  Lyon,  Jr.,  and  Cornelius  Blanchard.  These 
were  original  subscribers.  Other  names  were  added  from 
year  to  year.  George  Ross  was  chosen  Librarian,  Elias  B. 
Dayton,  Treasurer,  and  Messrs,  David  Austin,  J.  Hampton 
Lawrence,  Matthias  Williamson,  Jr.,  Jeremiah  Ballard  and 
Aaron  Ogden,  a  Committee  for  the  choice  and  purchase  of 
books.  In  1791,  Isaac  II.  Williamson,  was  chosen  Librarian, 
and  in  1796,  Dr.  Abraham  Clark. 

The  town,  at  this  period,  as  in  former  days,  contributed 
largely  to  the  influences  which  shaped  the  politics  of  the 
State  and  the  Nation.  It  was  rarely  the  case  that  it  was  not 
represented  in  the  State  Legislature.  To  the  first  Congress, 
it  sent  the  Hon.  Elias  Boudinot ;  and  to  both  the  second  and 
third  Congresses,  the  Hon.  Elias  Boudinot,  Abraham  Clark, 
and  Jonathan  Dayton,  (all  of  them  active  and  influential 
members), — one  twenty-fourth  of  the  whole  number  of  Rep- 
resentatives ;  M-hile,  irom  Feb.  20,  ISOl  to  Mar.  3,  1S03, 
both  the  Senators  from  this  State,  Aaron  Ogden  and  Jonathan 
Dayton  were  citizens  of  this  town;— an  undue  proportion 
certainly,  not  equaled  b}''  any  other  town  in  the  country  of 
the  same  size.     To  the  fourth  and  fifth  Congresses,  it  gave  a 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  563 

Speaker  in  the  person  of  the  lion.  Jonathan  Dayton,  after- 
wards Senator  for  six  years. 

The  first  Mayor  under  the  new  Charter,  the  venerable 
John  De  Hart,  continued  in  office  until  his  death,  June  1st, 
1T95,  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age.  His  remains  were  deposit- 
ed in  the  burial  ground  of  St.  John's  Church,  and  the  follow- 
ing inscription  was  placed  on  the  stone  that  marks  the  spot : 

In  memory  of  |  John  De  Hart  Esquire,  |  Counsellor  at  law  and  Mayor 
of  I  this  Borough,  |  Who  departed  this  life  June  1st,  1795  |  Aged  LXVI 
years.  His  worth  in  private  life  was  |  truly  great ;  |  Nor  will  his  publick 
virtues  |  be  forgotten :  his  name  being  recorded  on  the  list  of  |  chosen 
Patriots  [  who  composed  the  memorable  |  Congress  of  1775. 

During  his  Mayoralty,  Isaac  Woodruff  was  Deputy  Mayor, 
and,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned  on  a  previous  page, 
Edward  Thomas,  John  Tucker,  Anthony  Morse,  Benjamin 
Corey  and  Aaron  Lane  were  appointed  Aldermen. 


564  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

A.  D.   1725-1795. 

Subdivisions  of  the  Township  —  Springfield  set  off,  and  Turkey  annexed  to  it  — 
New  Trovidence  set  off  from  Springfield  —  Settlement  of  Springfield  —  Rev. 
Timothy  Symmes  —  Rev.  Nathan  Kcr  —  Rev.  J.  Van  Artsdalen  —  Settlement 
of  New  Providknce  —  Rev.  John  Cleverly  —  Rev.  A.  Horton  —  Rev.  Jos. 
Lamb — Rev.  Timothy  Allen  —  Rev.  Jonathan  Elmer  —  Westfield  set  off  — 
Its  Settlement  —  Rev.  N.  Hubbell  —  Rev.  John  Grant  —  Rev.  Ben.  "Woodruff 
—  Scotch  Plains  —  Rev.  Ben.  Miller  —  Rev.  Wm.  Van  Horn  —  Death  of 
Hon.  Abraham  Clark — Removal  of  Hon.  Ellas  Boudinot,  I-L.  D. 

One  hundred  and  twenty  eight  years  had  passed  since  the 
town  was  planted,  and  one  hundred  years,  lacking  five 
months,  since  the  bounds  of  the  original  township  were  de- 
fined by  the  Provincial  Legislature.  These  bounds,  with  the 
exception  of  that  rather  indefinite  portion  of  the  town  that 
extended  beyond  the  Passaic  river  had  continued  unaltered 
daring  this  whole  period.  They  had  been  retained,  in  the 
amended  Charter  of  1789.  The  town  laws  and  regulations, 
and  the  authority  of  its  magistracy,  extended  over  the  whole 
area. 

At  an  early  date,  however,  various  hamlets,  and  clusters 
of  farm-houses,  gradually  sprung  up  in  difi'erent  localities. 
The  facilities  of  navigation,  and  the  attraction  of  water  privi- 
leges, drew  quite  a  number  of  the  early  settlers  to  the  banks 
of  the  Paliway  river.  Another  group  of  planters,  mostly  of 
one  family,  gave  name  to  the  neighborhood,  called — "  Lyon's 
Farms."  Still  another,  locating  a  few  miles  to  the  west, 
gave  name  to  "  "Wade's  Farms,"  better  known  as  "  Connecticut 
Farms,"  Soon  after,  a  little  to  the  north  of  west,  just  under 
the  mountain,  a  few  neighbors  called  their  settlement  by  the 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  565 

name  of  "  Springfield."  Seven  miles  to  the  west  of  tlie  town 
proper,  "  AVestfield,"  began  to  attract  settlers  quite  earlv  in 
tlie  eighteenth  century.  Two  or  three  miles  still  west  of  this 
settlement  were  the  "  Scotch  Plains,"  where  a  large  part  of 
the  Scotch  immigration  of  168-i:-6,  found  a  pleasant  home, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  Green-Brook  ;  while,  at  a  later  period, 
on  the  same  side  of  the  Brook,  two  or  three  miles  lower 
down,  a  few  scattered  habitations  served  as  the  nucleus  of 
"Plainfield,"  IG  miles  from  the  town  proper,  and  yet  within 
the  township.  Four  or  fi.ve  miles  over  the  mountains  to  the 
northwest  of  "Westfield,  and  nearly  as  far  to  the  west  of 
Springfield,  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  upper  Passaic  very 
early  drew  from  the  older  parts  of  the  town  a  considerable 
number  of  hardy  pioneers,  to  whose  settlement  was  originally 
given  the  name  of  "Turkey,"  by  which  it  continued  to  be 
known  until  quite  recently ;  though,  not  long  after  their  being 
gathered  together,  they  chose  to  be  called,  the  peojjle  of 
"  ISTew  Providence." 

In  the  administration  of  the  township  laws,  the  several 
parts,  or  neighborhoods,  were  denominated  "  Wards ;  "  as 
the  Rahway  Ward ;  the  Westfield,  the  Springfield,  and  the 
Farms'  Wards ;  the  latter  referring  to  Connecticut  Farms. 
In  the  selection  of  civil  oflicers  for  the  town, — aldermen, 
councilmen,  town  committee,  constables,  overseers  of  the 
poor,  surveyors  and  overseers  of  the  highways,  assessors,  col- 
lectors, pound  keepers,  as  well  as  sheriflF,  coroner,  marshal, 
and  mayor  of  the  borough,  due  regard  was  had  to  the  claims 
of  these  several  wards. 

As  the  population  increased,  and  churches  and  school- 
houses  were  built,  these  respective  settlements  began  to 
complain  of,  what  they  had  long  felt,  the  inconvenience 
of  living  so  far  away  from  the  central  authority — the  seat 
of  government  in  the  town  proper,  and  of  being  compelled 
to  travel  so  far  to  town  meetings.  One  after  another, 
therefore,  they  began  to  agitate  the  question  of  subdivision 
of  the  township,  so  as  to  give  to  each  of  these  localities  a 
township  of  its  own.  The  first  to  eifect  their  object  in  this 
respect  was 


566  THE    HISTORY    OF 


SPRINGFIELD. 

Application  was  made  to  the  Legislature  in  1793,  and  an 
Act  passed,  May  27tli,  providing. 

That  all  that  part  of  the  township  of  Elizabeth,  and  the  township  of 
Newark,  lying  within  the  following  line ;  beginning  on  the  bank  of  the 
Rahway  river,  in  the  line  which  divides  the  wards  of  Springfield  and 
Westfield ;  thence  running  in  the  said  lino  to  the  top  of  the  monntain, 
and  from  thence  to  New  Providence  meeting-honse,  and  thence  to  Pas- 
saic river  ;  thence  down  the  said  river  to  the  bridge  commonly  known  by 
the  name  of  Cook's  bridge ;  thence  down  the  old  road  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain  ;  thence  on  a  direct  line  to  Kean's  Mills  ;  thence  on  a  direct  line 
to  a  bridge,  which  crosses  the  east  branch  of  Rahway  river,  commonly 
known  by  the  name  of  Pierson's  bridge,  by  his  mill-dam,  and  from  thence 
down  the  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  shall  be,  and  is  hereby  set 
off  from  the  townships  of  Elizabeth  and  Newark,  and  made  a  separate 
township  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  "  The  Township  of  Springfield.*  " 

The  people  of  New  Providence,  believing  that  they  would 
be  better  accommodated  by  annexation  to  this  new  township, 
as  it  was  on  the  line  of  their  roads,  which,  by  necessity, 
(owiug  to  the  trend  of  the  mountains  back  of  tliem  towards 
the  south-east),  ran  in  the  direction  of  north-east  and  south- 
west, made  application,  the  following  winter,  and  an  Act  Avas 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  Feb.  Mh,  providing, — 

That  all  that  part  of  the  township  of  Elizabeth,  lying  within  the  limits 
or  boundaries  herein  described,  that  is  to  say,  beginning  where  the  line 
of  the  township  of  Springfield  intersects  the  Passaic  river  ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  the  lino  that  divides  the  counties  of  Essex  and  Somerset ;  from 
thence  on  the  line  that  runs  between  the  two  aforesaid  counties ;  until  it 
comes  to  the  head  of  the  west  branch  of  Green  Brook  ;  thence  down  said 
brook  on  said  line  until  it  comes  where  the  east  and  west  branches  of 
Green  Brook  form  a  junction ;  thence  up  the  east  branch  of  said  brook 
until  it  intersects  the  line  of  the  township  of  Springfield,  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  township  of  Westfield  ;  thence  on  the  line  of  the  town- 
ship of  Springfield  to  the  place  of  beginning  ;  shall  be  and  hereby  is  an- 
nexed to  the  township  of  Springfield.t 

This  Act  remained  in  force  until  Nov.  8,  1809,  when  an- 
other Act  was  passed,  at  tlie  request  of  the  people  of  New 
Providence,  and  they  were  erected  into  a  township  with  the 

•  Pfttereon's  Lawa  of  N.  Jersey,  p.  122.  f  IbiJ.,  p  123. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  567 

same  bounds  as  above,  except  on  the  Springfield  line,  which 
is  thus  described : — 

Beginning  in  the  line  that  divides  the  townsliips  of  "Westfield  and 
Springfield  at  the  head  of  Green  Brook,  thence  north  twelve  degrees  and 
twenty  minutes  east  to  the  south  side  of  the  road  running  from  New 
Providence  to  Springfield  and  a  little  east  of  the  dwelling-house  of  Amos 
Potter,  esquire,  thence  north  forty  one  degrees  and  fifty  five  minutes  west 
to  the  race  of  the  saw-mill  of  Benjamin  Bounel  deceased,  thence  into  the 
bed  of  the  river  Passaic  in  the  Morris  county  line,  thence  up  the  bed  of 
said  river,  «fec.* 

The  settlement  of  Springfield  dates  back  to  the  year  1717, 
when  the  Briant  family  made  it  their  home,  coming  liither 
from  Hackensack.  The  Stites,t  Denman,  Whitehead,  and 
Van  Winckle  families  followed.  Others  moved  np  from  "  the 
Farms  "  and  from  the  town,  and  occupied  the  desirable  lands 
below  the  mountain.  The  greater  part  of  the  original  set- 
tlers were  from  Elizabeth  Town  and  Newark,  as  appears  from 
tlie  obvious  identity  of  the  names  most  prevalent. 

In  the  infancy  of  the  settlement,  the  people  were  under 
the  necessity  of  going  to  Elizabeth-Town  to  worship  on  the 
Sabbath,  many  of  them  performing  the  whole  distance  on 
foot.  This  continued,  however,  but  for  a  few  years,  as  a 
church  was  organized,  and  a  pastor  settled,  at  Connecticut 
Farms,  as  early  as  1734,  when,  of  course,  they  found  it  more 
convenient  to  attach  themselves  to  the  new  organization. 
Some  of  them,  however,  in  admiration  of  Mr.  Dickinson,  may 
have  continued  their  Sabbath-day's  journeyings  to  Elizabeth 
Town,  until  his  decease  in  1747. 

For  the  convenience  of  the  dwellers  under  the  mountain,  a 
rude  house  of  worship  was  erected,  about  the  year  1745,  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Millburn,  about  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  place  where  Aaron  Dean  resided,  one  hundred  years 
later.  A  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  Iiere,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  in  1745.  The  Pastor  of  "the 
Farms' "  church   having  removed  to  Newtown,  L.  I.,  the 

♦  Bloomflcld's  Laws  of  N.  Jersey,  p.  218. 

t  A  genealogical  account  of  the  family  of  William  Stltes  is  found  in  Littell's  Tassaic  Val- 
ley, pp.  40r-10. 


568  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Spring-field  church  united  with  the  church  of  New  Providence, 
in  calling  the 

liEV.  TIMOTHY  SYMMES. 

He  was  a  great-grandson  of  Rev.  Zechariah  Sjmmes,  of 
Cambridge  University,  Eng.,  1620-1,  who  came  to  Charles- 
town,  Mass.,  in  IGM,  and  died  in  1672.  His  eldest  son,  "Wil- 
liam, was  born  in  1627,  and  died  in  1691.  William,  the 
eldest  son  of  William,  was  born  in  1679,  married  Ruth  Con- 
vers  of  Woburn,  and  died  in  1761.  Their  fourth  son,  Timo- 
thy, was  born  at  Scituate,  Mass.,  in  1715.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard,  in  1733.  He  was  ordained,  Dec.  2,  1736,  the  first 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Millington,  in  East 
Haddam,  Ct.  He  took  an  active  part  in  promotmg  "  the 
Great  Revival,"  then,  or  soon  after,  in  progress  among  the 
churches  of  New  England,  and  was  led,  in  common  with 
Croswell,  Allen,  and  Davenport,  into  some  excesses  and 
errors,  })j  which  reproach  was  brought  upon  the  work  of 
grace.  When  Jonathan  Dickinson  published,  in  1742,  his 
"  Display  of  God's  Sj^ecial  Grace,"  Mr.  Symmes  joined  with 
Mr.  Allen  and  several  other  N.  England  ministers,  in  an  en- 
dorsement of  Croswell's  virulent  reply,  and  in  testifying 
against  Mr.  "  Dickinson's  inexcusable  error."  It  was  his  con- 
nection with  this  party  that  led  to  his  dismission  in  1713  ; 
after  which,  introduced,  probably,  by  his  friend,  Davenport, 
he  supplied  the  church  of  Upper  Acquebogue,  Riverhead, 
L.  I.,  for  a  short  period.  Subsequently  he  filled  vacancies  in 
West  Jersey.  One  of  his  college  classmates  was  Joseph 
Cleverly,  a  son,  it  is  thought,  of  the  Rev.  John  Cleverly,  the 
first  minister  of  Nqw  Providence.  It  was  through  him,  most 
likely,  that  he  was  introduced  to  this  region.  He  was  in- 
stalled, at  the  latter  place,  Oct.  16,  1716.  The  record  of  the 
church  of  New  Providence  says,  ho 

Preaclied  alternately  Avitli  us  and  SpringfielJ,  and  was  dismissed  from 
us  the  2Gtli  of  December  in  tlie  year  1750,  for  his  ill  conduct. 

What  this  "  ill  conduct"  was  does  not  appear  ;  it,  proba- 
bly, did  not  compromise  his  moral  character,  as  the  Synod 
recommended  the  Presbytery,  in  May,  1750,  to  send  him 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  569 

South  to  supply  Yacancies,  and  as,  too,  lie  remained  in  con- 
nection with  the  Presbytery,  about  a  year  after  he  was  dis- 
missed from  his  church.  He  had  married  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  John  Cleaves  of  Ii^swich,  Mass.,  whither  he  returned, 
and  where  he  settled.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he 
married  Eunice,  daughter  of  Francis  Cogswell.  He  died  at 
Ipswich,  April  6,  1756,  aged  forty  one  years.  Judge  Jolni 
Cleve  Symmes  was  his  son.* 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Symmes,  the  church  remained 
vacant  about  thirteen  years  ;  supplied,  probably,  occasionally 
or  statedly,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Davenport,  Tiiane,  and 
Derby,  of  Connecticut  Farms,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Allen 
and  Elmer  of  New  Providence.     The  next  pastor  was  the 

REV.  NATHAN^  KER. 

He  was  the  great  grandson  of  "Walter  Kcr,  who  was  ban- 
ished from  Scotland,  Sept.  3,  1685,  and  came  to  America, 
settling  at  Freehold,  'N".  J.,  where  he  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  principal  founders  of  the  town,  and  the  church.  His  son, 
Samuel,  had  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Joseph.  The  grandson, 
Samuel,  also,  had  two  sons,  Jacob,  and  J^athan.  The  latter 
was  born,  in  1735,  at  Baskingridge,  N".  J.  His  brother, 
Jacob  Ker,  graduated  at  the  College  of  'New  Jersey,  in  1758^ 
was  a  Tutor  of  the  College  from  1760  to  1762,  and  afterwards 
a  highly  respectable  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Delaware.  I^athan  frraduated  at  the  same  Collcsie  in  1761, 
and,  with  his  brother,  Jacob,  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  JSTew  Brunswick,  July  17, 1763.  Shortly  after  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Presbytery  of  IST.  York,  and  took  charge  of  the 
church  of  Springfield.  He  continued  here  but  two  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Long  Island,  and  in  1766,  to  Goshen, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  continued  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
ministry  until  his  decease,  Dec.  14,  1801.+ 

Another  vacancy  of  several  years'  continuance  ensued, 
during  which    the   people   were   dependent   on    neighbor- 

*  Savage,  IV.  242-4.  Webster's  Presb.  Chli.,  pp.  5S4-5,  54S-9.  Barber's  N.  Jersey,  pp.  191, 
2.    Eccords  of  New  Providence  Chh.,  p.  2.    Kecords  of  Presb.  Chh.,  p.  240. 

t  Records  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  "Whitehead's  P.  Araboy,  p.  40.  LlttcU's  Pas- 
saic Valley,  p.  475. 


570  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ing  ministers  for  occasional  supply.     Their  next  pastor  was 

the 

REV.  JACOB  VAN  ARTSDALEN. 

He  was,  as  his  name  indicates,  of  Dutch  extraction.  Sy- 
mon  Jansen  Van  Arsdalen  emigrated  from  Holland  to  New 
Amsterdam,  in  1653,  locating  at  Flatlands,  L.  I.,  where  he 
was  classed  among  the  first  citizens.  lie  died  about  1710, 
and  left  two  sons,  Cornelius  and  John,  the  prolific  source  of 
all  the  Van  Arsdale  family  in  America.  Cornelius  had  six 
sons,  Derick,  John,  Simon,  Philip,  Abraham,  and  Jacobus, 
who  settled  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  as  early  as  1726.  lie 
had,  also,  three  daughters  :  Alletta,  Petronella,  and  Mary. 
John  was  the  great-grandfather  of  the  late  Cornelius  C.  Van 
Arsdale,  D.D.,  of  New  York.  Philip,  born,  Feb.  12,  1701, 
at  Flatlands,  L.  L,  married,  Ap.  30,  1726,  Jane  Van  Dyck 
of  Red  Mills,  L.  I.  (born,  Feb.  23,  1703),  and  had  eight  chil- 
dren :  Cornelius,  Hendrick,  Marj^,  Isaac,  Philip,  John,  Ja- 
cob, and  Abraham.  He  died,  in  his  97th  year,  June  17, 1797, 
at  Somerset,  N.  J, 

Jacob,  the  6th  son,  was  born,  Feb.  8,  1715,  at  Somerset, 
N.  J.,  and  was  educated  at  Princeton,  where  he  graduated 
in  1765,  a  classmate  of  Judges  Bacon  and  Rush,  of  Drs. 
Halstead  and  Rumsay,  of  Robert  and  Jonathan  Ogden,  of 
this  town,  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  Rev.  Drs.  Joel 
Benedict  and  Jonathan  Edwards,  College  Presidents,  and 
other  worthies.  He  was  ordained,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  June  19th,  1771,  in  whose  connection  he  contin- 
ued until  the  latter  part  of  1774,  when  he  was  received  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  put  in  charge  of  tlie 
church  of  Springfield.  He  continued  in  the  orderly  and 
faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  ofiice,  as  far  as  his 
health  permitted,  more  than  a  fourth  of  a  century.  In  the 
spring  of  1797,  and  again  three  years  later,  he  was,  by  rea- 
son of  long-continued  illness,  disqualified  for  preaching,  and, 
at  his  request,  supplies  for  his  pulpit  were  provided  by  the 
Presbytery.  He  M'as  compelled  to  relinquish  the  pastoral 
ofiice  at  length,  and  was  dismissed  from  his  charge,  May  6, 
1801.     He  died  at  Springfield,  Oct.  24,  1803.     He  married 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  571 

Mary  Satplien,  of  Moninoutli  Co.,  who  survived  him,  and 
died,  at  Somerset.  They  had  four  children  :  Mary  [the  wife 
of  Grover  Coe],  Jane  [the  wife  of  Mr.  Stewart],  Elizabeth 
Ryerson  [the  wife  of  Isaac  Yan  Arsdale,  of  Somerset],  and 
Elias  Yan  Arsdale,  LL.  D.,  of  Newark,  N.  J.* 

NEW-PROYIDENCE. 

Though  not  organized  as  a  distinct  township  until  the  year 
1809,  JSTew  Providence,  from  the  time  of  its  annexation  to 
the  township  of  Springfield,  February  4,  1794,  ceased  to 
have  any  connection  with  the  old  town  of  Elizabeth.  The 
settlement  of  this  attractive  portion  of  the  town  dates  back, 
as  previously  stated,  mainly  to  the  period  of  the  second  gen- 
eral allotment  of  lands  to  the  original  Associates,  or  their 
legal  representatives,  173G-8.  Some  few  farms  had  been 
located  there  previously,  but,  at  and  after  this  period,  fam- 
ilies from  below  the  mountains  began  to  move  up  and  locate 
themselves  on  their  several  allotments. 

The  earliest  settlers  were, — Jonathan  and  Joseph  Allen, 
John  and  James  Badgley,  Thomas  Baker,  Jr.,  John  Bedell, 
iN'athaniel  Bonnell,  William  Broadwell,  John  Camp,  Jona- 
than and  Jacob  Carll,  James  Cauldwell,  Elias  Clark,  Henry 
Connet,  Daniel  Day,  Joseph  Doty,  Joseph  Frazee,  Jeremiah 
Hart,  Uriah  Hedges,  Samuel,  Andrew,  and  Anthony  Littell, 
Jeremiah  Ludlow,  Jonathan  Mulford,  John  Osborn,  William 
Peirsons  [Parsons],  Benjamin  Pettit,  John  Pierson,  Daniel 
Potter,  Samuel  Ross,  Peter  Rutan,  Isaac  and  Ephraim 
Sayre,  Richard  Scudder,  John  Simpson,  Aaron  Thompson, 
Richard  Yalentine,  and  Peter  Willcox. 

These  were  followed  soon  after  by  Abuer  Bailey,  Andrew 
Blanchard,  Jacob  Brittin,  James  Corey,  Joseph  and  Isaac 
Crane,  William  Crawford,  Timothy  Day,  Philemon  Dickin- 
son, Benjamin  Force,  Melancthon  Freeman,  Abraham  lien 
dricks,  Micah  Howell,  Uzal  Johnson,  David  Lacy,  Peter 
Lyon,  Daniel  Marsh,  William  Maxfield,  Moses  Miller, 
"Deacon  Morehouse,"  "  Lawyer  Ogden,"  William  Parrott, 
Andrew  Prior,  AYilliam  Robertson,  John  Roll,  Kathaniel 

•  Records  of  the  Presb.  of  N.  Y.    Eikcr'a  Newtown,  p.  807. 


572  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Smith,   John   Totten,  Kennedy  Vance,   and  Daniel  "Wood. 
;,  All  these  came  within  the  first  forty  years.     Many  more 
came  np  during  the  Revolutionary  War  for  a  short  season. 

The  first  settlers  were  of  the  Puritan  faith — religiously 
educated  and  inclined.  They  could  not  content  themselves 
without  a  church  in  which  to  worship  on  the  Sabbath.  As 
early,  therefore,  as  the  year  1737,  they  put  up  a  rude  structure 
of  logs,  and  presented  a  request  to  the  Presbytery  of  East 
Jersey  for  a  minister,  who  sent  them  Mr.  Joun  Cleveely,  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1715 — a  son,  probably,  of 
Lieut.  John  Cleverly  of  Braintree,  Mass.,  (1609),  and  of 
Boston,  1671.  After  his  graduation,  being  then  20  years 
old,  it  is  quite  likely  that  he  gave  himself  to  teaching.  How 
he*  was  induced  to  visit  the  Jerseys  does  not  aj^pear.  He  is 
found  at  West  Hanover  [Morristown],  as  early  as  1735.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  Sept.  24,  1735, 

The  "West  part  of  Hanover  having  applied  to  tlie  Synod  for  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Cleverly,  the  Synod  do  order  it  to  be  left  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia. 

About  this  time,  Mr.  Cleverly  began  to  preach  at  Turkey, 
it  being  quite  accessible  from  the  place  of  his  residence  at 
West  Hanover.  It  is  j^robable  that  for  the  next  two  years 
he  supplied  both  congregations.  At  the  close  of  these  two 
years,  he  withdrew  from  Turkey,  and  preached  awhile  at 
Railway  ;  but,  his  ministrations  not  being  acceptable,  he 
retired  to  West  Hanover,  or  Morristown,  where  he  continued 
to  reside,  unmarried,  and  in  straitened  circumstances,  until 
his  decease,  Dec.  31,  1776,  aged  81  years.  His  brother 
Thomas,  fifteen  years  younger,  appears  to  have  lived  with 
him,  but  died  before  him,  June  11, 1775.  It  does  not  appear 
that  Mr.  Cleverly  was  ever  ordained  to  the  ministry.* 

In  the  autumn  of  173D,  the  log  meeting-house  gave  place  to 
a  new  frame-building,  more  commodious  and  better  adapted 
to  the  Avants  of  the  increasing  congregation.  Application 
was  made,  Jan.  30, 1739-1:0,  to  the  Presbytery  for  a  minister. 

*  Records  of  New  Providence  Cbh.,  p.  1.  Kocords  of  Presb.  Chli.,  pp.  119,  148.  Morris- 
Town  Bill  of  Mortality,  pp.  20,  23.    Webster's  Presb.  CLb.,  pp.  415,  4S2. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  573 

The  Presbytery  of  Long  Island  had,  the  year  before,  1738, 
been  annexed  to  the  Presbytery  of  East  Jersey,  which  was 
then  called  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  The  Eev.  Simon 
Horton,  a  native  of  Southold,  L.  I.,  had  been  settled  at  Con- 
necticut Parms,  in  1734.  His  brotlier,  Azariaii  Horton, 
graduated,  the  next  year,  at  Yale  College,  in  the  same  class 
with  the  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Bellamy. 
He  had,  j^robably,  been  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  !N"ew 
York,  a  short  time  before  the  application  of  the  church  at 
New  Providence,  and  was  directed  to  this  new  field.  He 
remained  here  less  than  two  years,  the  American  Correspond- 
ents of  the  Edinburgh  Society  for  Propagating  Christian 
Knowledge  having  prevailed  upon  him,  to  become  their 
Missionary  to  the  Indians  on  Long  Island.  For  this  purpose, 
he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Y^ork,  in  1741, 
and  labored  faithfully  in  the  work  until  1752,  when  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  church  of  South  Hanover,  N.  J.,  [Bottle- 
Hill,  now  Madison],  where  he  died,  March  27, 1777,  aged  G2 
years.* 

The  church  of  New  Providence  [then  Turkey],  was 
organized  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Ilorton's  leaving,  the  first 
session  consisting  of  Messrs.  Joseph  Allen,  John  Pierson  and 
Daniel  Day.  To  these  were  subsequently  added,  previous 
to  1768,  Jacob  and  John  Bedell,  Samuel  Rolfe,  Samuel  Ross, 
Benjamin  Bonnel,  AVilliam  Johnston,  AVilliam  Jones,  "William 
Caldwell,  John  Clark,  Alexander  Simpson,  Thomas  Osborn 
and  "William  Connet. 

Another  application  to  the  Presbytery,  May  19,  1742, 
resulted  in  their  obtaining  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Lamb,  of  whose  early  history  not  much  is  known.  He  may 
have  been  the  son  of  John  or  Samuel  Lamb,  noticed  on  p. 
263.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1717,  in  the  class 
with  Moses  Dickinson,  the  brother  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Dick- 
inson. He  was  almost  immediately  invited  to  Mattituck, 
L.  L,  where  he  was  ordained,  Dec.  4,  1717,  by  the  Presbyt- 
ery of  Long  Island,  and  wlicrc  he  continued  nearly  25  3'ears. 

♦  Records  of  New  Providence  Chh.,  p.  1.  Records  of  Presb.  Cbli.,  pp.  134, 160.  Webster's 
Preeb.  Cbh.,  pp.  433,  405.    Prime's  L.  Island,  pp.  104-110. 


574  THE    HISTORY    OF 

His  wife  died  tlicre  in  1729.  He  continued,  at  "  Turkey," 
"about  two  years,"  but  "  difficulties  arising  he  was  never 
installed."  May  24, 1744,  lie  was  received  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  having  accepted  a  call  to  Baskingridge, 
where  he  died  in  1749.* 

August  tlie  Gth  1746  wo  gave  Mr.  Timothy  Symuies  a  call  aud  lie  was 
Enstal'd  witli  us  tlie  IC""  of  Oct'  following,  and  preached  alternately  with 
us  and  Springfield  and  was  dismissed  from  us  the  26"^  December  in  the 
year  1750,  for  his  ill  conduct. 

A  sketch  of  Mr.  Sj'mnies  has  already  been  given  in  the 
history  of  the  Springfield  church  on  a  previous  page.  It  was 
during  his  ministry  that  the  grant  of  a  Lottery  was  obtained, 
1748,  (as  stated  in  a  former  part  of  this  history),  to  raise 
£152.  5.  0.  to  build  a  parsonage-house  "  in  Turkey,  in  Eliza- 
beth Town." 

Jan.  15"'  1752  A  Vote  past  that  we  should  join  with  the  New  House 
at  South  Hanover  [Madison]  but  they  refused.  April  29'''  1752  A  Vote 
was  past  to  purchase  a  personage  of  Samuel  Johnson. 

1752  Petitioned  the  Presb^  for  a  liberty  to  give  any  Minister  a  call  that 
we  should  hear  of  liberty  was  granted  hearing  Mr.  Timothy  Allen 
was  at  Liberty  we  gave  him  a  call  ho  came  in  August. 
'  March  the  26"'  1753  Mr  Allen  was  Install'd  with  us  our  agreement  with 
M'  Allen  was  as  foUoweth  viz :  the  s**  M'  Allen  was  to  receive  seventy 
pounds  p :  Year  for  his  labours  in  the  work  of  his  Ministree  among  us 
which  Year  commenced  the  first  Day  of  Nov  :  last,  and  also  fifty  pounds 
bounty,  to  pay  ten  pounds  p  :  Year  till  the  Avhole  is  paid.t 

It  thus  appears  that  the  lirst  pastor,  whom  they  were  able 
to  employ,  the  whole  of  his  time,  was  the 

REV.  TIMOTHY  ALLEN. 

lie  was  born  in  171G,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
173G,  the  year  after  Azariah  Horton,  and  the  year  before 
Timothy  Johnes,  afterwards  of  Morris  Town.  While  in  col- 
lege, he  came  under  the  influence  of  David  Ferris,  a  fellow- 
student,  from  a  Quaker  family  of  New  Milford,  Ct.,  a  wild 
enthusiast,  by  whom,  it  has  been  thought,  James  Davenport, 

•  Records,  N.  P.  Chh.,  p.  2.    Prime's  Long  Island,  pp.  112,  8.    Webster's  P.  Chh.,  p.  304. 
t  Records  of  New  Providence  Chh.,  pp.  2,  8. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  575 

of  Soutliold,  was  led  astray.  A  letter  that  Allen  wrote,  at 
Iscw  Haven,  July  1, 1T34,  to  the  Rev.  Daniel  Bliss  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  indicates  an  ardent  and  pious  disposition,  impa- 
tient to  be  at  work  in  the  ministry,  and  deluded  with  the 
idea  that  so  much  studying  at  College  was  time  lost,  yet  con- 
triving to  be  content  until  God  should  clearh''  call  him  into 
the  field, — seeking  opportunity,  mean^diile,  to  do  good  among 
the  common  people  of  the  town.* 

lie  was  ordained  in  1738,  pastor  of  the  church  of  West 
Haven,  Ct.,  and  proved  to  be  a  zealous  and  faithful  preacher 
of  the  word.  When  the  "  Great  Awakening  "  commenced, 
he  identified  himself  with  the  work,  and  was  classed  among 
the  Kew  Lights,  against  whom  all  sorts  of  evil  things  were 
reported.  Among  the  things  charged  against  Mr.  Allen  was, 
that  he  had  publicly  said  "  that  the  word  of  God,  as  contained 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  is  but  as  an  old  almanac  ; " 
whereas  he  said,  and  very  correctly, — "  The  reading  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  without  the  concurring  influence  and  opera- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  God,  will  no  more  convert  a  sinner  than 
reading  an  old  almanac."  Yet  for  this  and  his  zeal  in  pro- 
moting the  Revival,  he  M'as  disowned  by  the  New  Haven 
East  Association,  and  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge,  in 
1742.t 

He  took  part  in  "  the  Shepherd's  Tent "  movement, — the 
establishing  of  a  new  school  of  the  prophets,  which  was 
opened  at  New  London,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Allen,  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Rliode  Island.  He  joined,  as  has  been 
seen,  with  Timothy  Synimes,  in  protesting  against  some  of  the 
doctrines  in  Mr.  Dickinson's  "  Display  of  Special  Grace." 
As  the  heat  of  the  Revival  controversies  wore  away,  Mr. 
Allen  retraced  his  steps,  and  obtained  the  withdrawal  of  the 
censure  passed  upon  him  by  the  Association,  He  removed 
to  Long  Island,  and  received  the  fellowship  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Suflolk,  June  14, 1748.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  Oct.  12,  1748,  and  was  cm- 
ployed   as   the   supply  of  tlie   churches  of  Hopewell   and 

*  Chiuincey's  Soasonablo  Thought B,  pp.  213-5.  t  Tr.icy"s  Great  Awakening,  p.  814 


576  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Maidcnlicad  until  1752,  when  he  removed  to  New  Provi- 
dence.^'^' 

1756.  Mr.  Allen  and  tlie  Congregation  agreed  to  Petiton  to  the  Presb^ 
for  his  dismission  Josiah  Broadwell  Esq.  and  Benj.  Bonnel  chosen  to 
represent  the  People  and  we  told  the  Presb^  that  with  reluctance  we  did 
petition  with  him  for  his  Dismission  ho  being  under  difficult  Circumstan- 
ces we  thouglit  it  prudent  to  have  him  dismiss'd  and  accordingly  he  was 
dismiss'd. 

Leaving  New  Jersey,  Mr.  Allen  returned  to  New  England, 
and  was  installed  at  Ashford,  Ct.,  Oct.  12,  1757.  At  the 
age  of  70,  he  took  charge  of  the  church  of  Chesterfield, 
Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  and  preached  June  15,  17S5,  at  his 
own  installation.  He  retired  from  the  pastoral  work.  May 
1,  179-1,  and  died,  full  of  Christian  comfort,  at  Chesterfield, 
Jan.  12,  180G,  aged  ninety-one. 

Several  of  his  occasional  sermons  were  published.  "  He 
was  a  man  of  genius  and  talents,  an  able  and  zealous  defend- 
er of  the  doctrines  of  grace  from  the  pulpit  and  the  press,  of 
strict  morals,  and  a  powerful  and  fervent  preacher."  f 

May  1757  the  Congregation  chose  Josiah  Broadwell  Esq'  and  David 
Lacy  to  go  to  the  Presb^  to  petition  for  a  ilinister  accordingly  the  presb>' 
recommended  the  Rev''  Jonathan  Elmer  and  accordingly  we  gave  M'  El- 
more a  Call  and  ho  came. 

REV.  JONATHAN  ELIMER 

Was  born  at  Norwalk,  Ct.,  June  4,  1727,  and  was,  doubt- 
less, a  great-grandson  of  Edward  Elmer,  who  came  to  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  in  1672,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Hartford,  Ct.,  afterwards  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  and  Wind- 
sor, Ct.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1747,  having  been 
associated  in  study  with  such  men  as  William  Smith,  the 
historian,  the  Rev.  Dr.  T.  B.  Chandler,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jere- 
miah Leaming,  President  Ezra  Stiles,  John  Morin  Scott, 
Gov.  Oliver  Wolcott,  President  Naphtnli  Daggett,  and 
Bishop  Samuel  Seabury.     He  was  licensed  by  the  Fairfield 

♦  "Webster's  Presb.  Chb.,  pp.  CS3-5.  TrumbuU's  Connecticut,  II.,  195,6.  Tracy's  Great 
AwakeniDg,  p.  363. 

t  Kecordsof  N.  Prov.  Chh.,  p.  3.    Webster's  Prcsb.  Chb.,  p.  DS5. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  577 

East  Association,  May  4,  lY-iS.  lie  settled  in  the  ministry, 
at  Florida,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where,  in  1749,  he  married 
Amy  Gale,  and  where  four  children  were  born  to  him.  He 
was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  ISTew  York,  in  October, 
1750.  lie  removed,  and  began  to  preach  at  J^ew  Provi- 
dence, Oct.  1st,  1757.  The  terms,  on  which  he  was  settled, 
are  curious  :  They 

Agreed  to  give  Mr.  Elmer  Seventy  pounds  money  at  Eight  shillings  p. 
oz. .  for  three  Years  from  the  first  Day  of  October  in  the  Year  1757  and 
after  the  first  three  Year  then  to  rise  five  pounds  p.  Year  Until  it  rises  to 
Eighty  pounds  and  their  to  stand  and  Likewise  M""  Elmer  is  to  have 
the  use  of  the  pasnage  and  his  firewood  got  for  him.  To  which  M'' 
Elmer  agreed — The  Congregation  to  purchase  M"'  Henrys  Annetasions  on 
the  Holy  Bible  for  M"'  Elmer  and  M""  Elmer  shall  have  the  use  of  s''  Books 
so  long  as  he  remains  our  Minister  but  if  M"  Elmer  shall  remove  from  us 
then  is  to  return  s'^  Books  or  the  prime  Cost  But  if  M''  Elmer  shall  live 
and  Die  our  Minister  then  the  Books  to  be  the  proper  Estate  of  his  law- 
ful Ileii's.* 

The  books  cost  £17.  1.  4,  the  receipt  of  which  for  the  pur- 
chase of  ]\Ir.  Henry,  is  duly  acknowledged  by  Mr.  Elmer. 
In  1761,  the  salary  was  raised  to  £90.  Eight  years  he  served 
as  a  stated  supply'-,  and  then  consented  to  "  take  the  pas- 
tural  care  and  Charge  of  the  Congregation  so  far  as  to  come 
under  an  Instalment."  The  Presbytery,  viz.,  Kev.  Messrs. 
Green,  Jones,  Ilorton,  Peppard,  Brush,  Roe,  Macwhorter, 
Ilait,  Woodruff'  and  Chapman,  met  at  !N^ew  Providence, 
Kov.  13,  1765,  and  installed  him,  Mr.  "Woodrutf  preaching 
the  sermon  from  Malachi  ii.  7,  and  Mr.  Horton  presiding. 
In  the  year  1764,  the  congregation  were  favored,  in  common 
with  neighboring  churches,  with  a  special  visitation  of  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  in  1769 — at  a  publick  Lecture  it  was  voted  that 
the  sects  on  the  Mens  side  of  Galleries  should  be  rebuilt  and  that  pews 
over  each  stare  way  should  be  Built.     (Cost,  £30.  4.  10.) 

In  1772,  the  salary  of  Mr.  Elmer  was  increased  to  £100. 
In  May,  1773,  it  was  agreed,  to  enlarge  the  meeting-house, 
by  an  addition  of  16  feet  on  the  north  side  ;    also,  that  it 

*  Litteirs  Passriic  Valley,  pp.  14S,  9.    Kecords  of  N.  P.  Chh.,  pp.  .1, 5. 

37 


578  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"  should  bo  sealed  with  Boards  over  head  and  the  sides  and 
ends."  Resort  was  again  had  to  a  Lottery,  in  order  to  raise 
the  needful  money.     May  31,  1781,  it  was  agreed 

That  tlie  meeting-houso  be  plastered  both  the  Sides  Ends  and 
overhead  .  .  .  that  Benj"  Bonnel  Esq""  have  leave  to  build  a  Pew  for  the 
Use  of  his  family  near  the  Window  by  the  Pulpit :  .  .  .  that  Mr.  Caldwell 
and  Lawyer  Ogden  be  allowed  to  build  a  Pew :  ...  that  a  Xew  Door  be 
made  in  the  East  side  of  the  Meeting  house  and  a  "Window  in  the  "West 
side. 

Liberty  was  given,  Oct.  12th,  to  several  persons,  to  build 
eight  more  pews  for  the  use  of  their  respective  families,  at 
their  private  expense,  the  congregation  agreeing  to  build  a 
pew  near  the  East  side  of  the  pulpit,  for  Mr.  Elmer's  family.* 

As  Mr.  Elmer  advanced  in  years  he  became  somewhat 
corpulent,  and  subject  to  fullness  of  blood,  resulting  at  times 
in  vertigo,  and  occasioning  a  suspicion  of  his  being  addicted 
to  a  free  use  of  intoxicating  drinks.  Complaint  was  made  to 
the  Presbytery  in  June  1791,  and  request  made  mutually  for 
a  thorough  investigation.  A  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was 
held  at  New  Providence,  in  August  1791,  when  it  was  found 
that  but  a  single  instance  of  apparent  intoxication  was 
adduced,  in  respect  to  which  Mr.  Elmer  made  a  full  and 
frank  written  statement,  and  several  witnesses  were  examined ; 
when  he  was  unanimously  acquitted,  and  the  congregation 
were  exhorted  to  be  at  peace  among  themselves  and  united 
in  their  pastor. 

The  difficulties  continuing,  a  Committee  of  the  Presbytery 
was  appointed  to  meet  the  congregation  in  Kovember  fol- 
lowing, when  an  adjustment  was  made  of  the  pecuniary 
claims  of  Mr.  Elmer  ;  but  harmony  was  not  brought  about 
in  other  respects.  One  of  the  grounds  of  complaint  against 
him  was,  that  he  was  accustomed  somewhat  frequently  to 
absent  himself  on  the  Sabbath,  without  the  knowledge  or 
consent  of  his  people,  thus  leaving  them  without  a  preacher. 
The  congregation  greatly  declined,  so  "  that  frequently  on  a 
Lord's  Day,  scarcely  twenty  persons  would  be  assembled  for 
worship,  in  a  house  in  which  more  than  a  hundred  families 

•  Kccords  of  N.  T.  Chh.,  pp.  7-19. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  579 

had  been  accustomed  to  meet."     The  Session  were  divided, 


and  arbitrary  measures  taken  by  Mr.  Ehner,  to  deprive  a 
portion  of  the  elders  of  their  right  to  vote,  wliich  measures, 
on  complaint,  were  condemned  by  the  Presbytery,  in  June 
1792.  The  congregation  were  divided  in  respect  to  Mr. 
Elmer's  continuance,  one-third  urging  his  dismission  and 
two-thirds  opposing  it. 

March  20,  1793,  the  Society  was  incorporated.  Trustees 
were  chosen,  and  the  parish  voted  to  petition  the  Presbytery 
for  Mr.  Elmer's  dismission.  At  length,  the  Presbytery  find- 
ing no  prospect  of  his  continuing  in  peace  and  comfort,  dis- 
solved the  pastoral  relation,  July  3,  1793.  Mr.  Elmer  ap- 
pealed to  the  Synod,  who,  at  their  next  meeting,  Oct.  14th, 
sustained  the  action  of  the  Presbytery.  After  his  dismission, 
he  continued  to  reside  in  the  parish,  and  for  several  years 
before  his  death  was  nnable  to  preach.  lie  died,  June  5, 
1807,  tJie  day  after  the  completion  of  his  fourscore  years. 
His  wife  survived  until  July  24,  1812,  dying  at  the  age 
of  94.  They  had  six  children  :  Jonathan,  D^  Philemon, 
John,  D^  Moses  Gale,  Sarah  [wife  of  Abm.  Morrill],  and 
Nathan.* 

With  the  close  of  Mr.  Elmer's  ministry,  terminated  the 
connection  of  New  Protidence  with  Elizabeth-ToM-n. 

The  example  set  by  Springfield  was  speedily  followed  by 

the  people  of 

WESTFIELD. 

Application  was  made  to  the  Legislature,  and  an  Act 
passed,  Jan.  27,  1794,  to  the  effect — 

That  all  that  part  of  tlie  township  of  Elizabeth  lying  within  the  fol- 
lowing lines,  beginning  at  tlio  lino  of  the  county  of  Middlesex,  where  the 
north  and  west  branches  of  Eahway  river  meet  or  form  a  junction  ;  from 
thence  running  up  the  said  nortli  branch  of  Rahway  river  to  the  mouth  of 
Normahiggiu  branch,  it  being  the  south-east  corner  of  tlie  township  of 
Springfield ;  from  thence  running  with  the  line  of  Springfield  aforesaid, 
in  a  course  of  north  forty  nine  degrees  west,  to  tho  top  of  the  mountain ; 
from  thence  on  tlie  same  course  to  the  east  branch  of  Green  Brook; 
thence  down  said  branch  and  Green  Brook  to  tho  line  that  divides  the 

*  Kecords  of  N.  P.  Chh.,  pp.  22,  8,  53-5.  Kccorcb  of  the  Presb.  of  X.  Y.  Webster's  Presb 
Chh.,  p.  COS.    LitteH'a  Passaic  Valley,  pp.  148-150. 


580  THE    HISTORY    OF 

counties  of  Essex  and  Middlesex;  thence  along  the  line  of  Middlesex  to 
the  place  of  heginning,  (be)  set  off  from  the  township  of  Elizabeth,  and 
made  a  separate  township,  to  be  called  by  the  name  of  "  the  Township 
of  Westfield."  * 

It  lias  already  been  stated,  that  the  settlement  of  the 
neighborhood,  to  -svliich  was  early  given  the  name  of  West- 
field,  dates  back  to  the  last  year  (1699-1700)  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  It  was  the  result  of  what  was  called  "  The 
Clinker-Lot  Division."  Almost  immediately  after  that  divi- 
sion, emigration  from  the  older  parts  of  the  town  began  to 
set  towards  the  interior,  especially  to  the  territory  lying  be- 
tween the  Railway  river  on  the  East,  and  the  Mountain  on 
the  "West.  It  was  not,  however,  until  about  1720,  that  the 
settlers  became  numerous  enough  to  constitute  a  distinct 
community ;  and  not  until  about  1726  or  7,  that  a  religious 
society  was  organized,  independent  of  the  parent  stock.  The 
founders  of  the  Westfield  families  were  Joseph  Acken,  James 
Badgley,  Nathaniel  and  Henry  Baker,  John  Bryant,  William 
and  Henry  Clark,  Gardner  Connet,  James  Craig,  John  and 
Jonathan  Crane,  John  Davis,  John  Denman,  Isaac  and  Moses 
Frazee,  Abner  Frost,  Matthias  Hatfield,  Isaac  Hendricks, 
John  High,  Samuel  Hinds  [Haines],  Zebulon  Jennings,  John 
Lamb,  John  Lambert,  Moses  and  John  Littell,  Cornelius 
Ludlum  [Ludlow],  Jonathan  and  Ephraira  Marsh,  John  Max- 
well, John  Meeker,  William  and  John  Miller,  Joseph  Mills, 
William,  Daniel,  and  David  Pierson,  John  Robinson,  John 
and  Daniel  Ross,  Ephraim  and  John  Scudder,  John  Spin- 
nage  [Spinning],  Benjamin  Squier,  Elijah  Stites,  Thomas 
Terry,  Warren  Tucker,  Richard  Walker,  John  William?, 
Peter  Willcox,  John,  Jonathan  and  Samncl  Woodruff,  and 
Samuel  Yeomans.  f 

Long  after  the  neighborhood  was  occupied,  the  people 
were  accustomed,  some  of  them,  to  come  to  town  on  the  Sab- 
bath to  hear  Mr.  Dickinson,  and  worship  with  their  old  neigh- 
bors. A  log  house  was  erected  at  an  early  day,  where  the 
people  assembled  at  beat  of  drum,  on  the  Sabbath.  This  was 
soon  supplanted  by  a  more  suitable  structure,  which  was 

*  Patcr:on'a  Laws  of  N.  J.,  p.  li'i.  t  UuntUng'a  Ilist.  Discourse,  pp.  7-9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  581 

erected  near  the  site  of  the  present  church.     A  steeple  was 
attached,  in  1758,  and  a  bell  provided. 

A  Presbyterian  church  was  constituted  as  early  as  1727. 
Their  first  pastor  was  the 

REV.  NATHANAEL  HUBBELL. 

Tradition  has  it,  that  he  was  of  English  birth,  and  "  of 
qualities  that  greatly  disappointed  the  simple-hearted,  unsus- 
pecting Puritans  who  settled  him."  More  probably  he  was 
of  the  family  of  Richard  Ilubbell,  who  was  at  New  Haven, 
in  1647,  whence  he  removed  to  Fairfield,  Ct.,  was  living  in 
1G90,  and  had  at  least  three  sons,  Richard,  Jr.,  Samuel  and 
Ebenezer,  the  last  of  whom  removed  to  Kew  London,  about 
1690.  iS'athaniel  was  born  about  1700,  graduated  at  Yale 
College,  in  1723,  and  was  ordained,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  as  eai'ly  as  1727.  His  name  appears  on  the 
roll  of  the  Synod  for  that  year,  and  was  attached,  with  the 
names  of  three  others,  to  a  protest,  in  which  he  declined  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Synod.  His  field  of  labor  included  the 
scattered  settlements,  lying  back  of  this  town  and  of  ISTewark 
Mountains, — Westfield  and  Hanover;  the  latter  including 
the  greater  part  of  what  was  afterwards  Morris  County.  In 
1730,  he  relinquished  the  charge  of  Hanover,  retaining  "West- 
field  until  about  1745.  His  dismission  was  brought  about 
by  reason  of  his  prosecuting  a  claim  for  one  hundred  acres 
of  the  parsonage  land,  given  him  as  "  a  settlement,"  or,  as 
others  say,  to  liquidate  what  was  due  him  from  the  parish. 

They  gave  him,  (says  one  of  his  successors),  a  liberal  settlement,  as  it 
was  called,  as  tlicy  supposed  he  would  live,  labor  and  die  among  them  as 
a  peaceable  soul-loving  Pastor.  But  they  soon  found  him  seeking  theirs 
so  earnestly  as  to  put  an  end  to  all  anticipated  comfort  in  him,  and  use- 
fulness from  him  ;  and  his  removal  was  the  result.  He  afterwards  lived 
(and  died,  I  tliink)  in  a  village  called  "Spanktown"  [Leesvillc],  beyond 
Kahway. 

He  resided  in  the  bounds  of  Railway,  several  years,  but 
removed,  at  length,  to  Lebanon,  in  Hunterdon  co.,  where  he 
died  in  1760.  His  Will  is  dated  there,  July  11,  1760.  It 
was  proved,  May  28,  1761.     He  speaks  in  it  of  his  "  disobe- 


582 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


dient  and  absconded  wife, 


Elizabeth  ;  "  of  his  sons, 


Ahi- 


jah,  Ilczckiah,  Nathaniel,  and  Asa ;  and  of  his  daughters, 
Lois,  Esther,  Mary  and  Susanna.* 
Their  second  pastor  was  the 

REV.  JOHN  GRANT. 

He  was  born  in  the  year  1716,  and  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1711,  in  the  same  class  with  Gov.  Livingston,  and  the 
Rev.  Drs.  Hopkins,  Buel,  Sproat  and  "Welles.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  in  1716,  having  been,  in 
Sept.,  1716,  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  ot  New  York.  He 
had  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  church  at  Rahway,  for  a  brief 
period.  His  ministry  at  Westfield  was  highly  acceptable, 
and  he  was  much  beloved  by  his  people.  "  He  died,  much 
lamented,  September  16, 1753,  aged  37  years."  f 

The  pulpit  remained  vacant  several  years.  Their  next 
pastor  was  the 

REV.  BENJAMIN  WOODRUFF. 

He  was  a  son  of  Alderman  Samuel  VToodruiF,  who  vras  one 
of  the  ten  sons  of  Joseph  Woodruff  Jr.  5  The  latter  was  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  the  grandson  of  John  Woodruff,  one  of 
the  original  planters  of  this  town.  He  was  born  in  1733. 
His  father,  Samuel,  was  extensively  engaged  in  merchandise 
(trading  to  the  West  Indies  and  elsewhere  abroad),  and  one 
of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  the  town.  He  was  named 
in  the  first  Charter  of  the  Borough,  one  of  the  Common 
Council,  was  afterwards  an  Alderman,  and  then  Mayor  of 
the  Borough.  He  was,  also,  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  and  an  Elder  of  the  Presb.  church.  His  house  was 
the  minister's  home,  as  George  Whitefield  and  the  two 
Brainerds  had  found  it.  For  nine  years,  almost  from  the  be- 
ginning, he  was  a  Trustee  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and 
there  his  two  sons,  Benjamin  and  Joseph,  were  educated, 
graduating  together  in  the  class  of  1753.  Joseph  took  part 
in  his  father's  business,  but  Benjamin,  having  pursued  a 

♦  nuntting'8  His.  Discourse,  pp.  18, 14;  and  Ms.  Letter.  Edgar's  Hist.  Dis.,  p.  14.  Web- 
ster, pp.  3S6-7.    N.  Jersey  Wills,  Trcuton,  II. 

t  lluntting,  p.  14.    Webster,  p.  5TC.    Edg.ir,  p.  14. 


ELIZABETH,    XEW    JERSEY.  583 

course  of  theological  study,  probably  with  his  pastor,  Elilm 
Spencer,  was  in  due  time  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 
Having  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  Westfield  church  awhile, 
ho  was  oj'dained  their  pastor,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  Mar.  14, 1759.  He  proved  a  most  acceptable  and  ex- 
cellent pastor.  During  the  forty  four  years  of  his  ministry  at 
"Westfield,  he  greatly  endeared  himself  to  his  people,  by  his 
preaching  and  pastoral  intercourse. 

In  Feb.  1761,  the  session  consisted  of  Mr.  "Woodruff,  and 
the  Elders,  John  Woodruff,  John  Corey,  Samuel  Hinds,  Zeb- 
ulon  Ginnings  [Jennings],  John  Crane,  and  Samuel  Yeo- 
mans.  July  3,  1766,  John  Meeker  and  Andrew  Hatfield 
were  ordained  to  the  Eldership  ;  April  7,  1769,  "William 
Pierson,  Matthias  Hatfield,  Joseph  Acan  [Acken],  and  John 
Miller,  also  ;  Andrew  Hatfield  v/as,  at  the  same  time,  or- 
dained a  Deacon  ;  and,  Nov.  30, 1792,  Caleb  Maxfield,  Jacob 
Davis  and  Ezekiel  Ross  were  added  to  the  Eldership. 

The  most  fruitful  period  of  Mr.  "Woodruff's  ministry  was 
during  the  years  1785  and  1786.  In  the  former  year  he 
received  eighty  two  persons,  and,  in  the  latter,  thirty  four, 
to  full  communion.  More  than  usual  religious  interest  was 
manifested  in  spiritual  matters,  during  the  years  1764,  1765, 
and  1774. 

The  society  was  incorporated,  Jan.  16,  1788,  with  the  fol- 
lowing Trustees:  Thomas  "Woodruff,  Esq.,  John  Scudder, 
Ephraim  Marsh,  Jesse  Clark,  Andrew  Hatfield,  Ephraini 
Scudder  and  John  Crane. 

Yery  soon  after  his  settlement,  Mr.  "Woodruff  was  deprived, 
of  Mary,  the  wife  of  his  youth.  She  died,  March  6th,  1762, 
aged  27  years.  They  were  married  in  1758,  and  their 
daughter,  Mary,  died,  Sept.  14,  1782,  aged  23  years.  In  the 
spring  of  the  following  year,  he  married  Elizabeth,  the 
daughter  of  Capt.  "William  Bryant,  and  sister  of  Mrs.  "William 
Peartree  Smitli,  who  resided  nearly  opposite  his  father's 
house.  The  children  of  the  second  marriage  were  five  ; 
AVilliam  Bryant  (bap.,  March  21,  1764);  Elizabeth  (bap., 
July  12,  1766) ;  Bryant  (bap.,  Nov.  4,  1767) ;  Charlotte  Bry- 
ant (bap.,  Sep.  3,  1769) ;  and  "William  (bap.,  Sep.  15,  1771). 


5S4r  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Mrs.  Woodruff  survived  her  husband,  and  died,  March  17, 
1805,  at  New  York. 

Mr.  "Woodruff  is  described  as  "  small  in  person,  dignified 
and  precise  in  his  manners,  social  in  his  habits,  scrupulously 
exact  and  fastidious  in  his  dress,  .  .  .  ■with  small-clothes,  silk 
hose,  buckles,  cock-hat,  and  ruffles,  every  where  the  same, 
and  always  commanding  profound  respect." 

His  deatli  was  entirely  nnexpected.  lie  preached  on 
the  Sabbath,  with  his  usual  freedom  and  force,  and,  on 
the  morning  of  the  following  Sabbath,  he  had  ended  his 
course.  On  the  occasion  of  his  funeral,  April  4th,  1803, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter  of  Newark,  preached,  to  a  deeply 
afflicted  people,  from  1  Cor.  xv  :  56,  after  which  the  body 
was  buried  under  the  aisle  of  the  church  in  front  of  the 
pulpit,  and  over  it  was  placed  a  marble  slab,  witli  the 
following  inscription : 

SACKED  TO  THE  MEMORY  |  OF  THE  REV.  BENJAMIN  WOOD- 
RUFF, A.  M.,  I  WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE  |  APRIL  3, 1803,  AGED 
70  YEARS. 

The  dust  lies  heke  |  OF  A  VENERABLE  MAN ;— formed  from  early 
j-outli  I  in  learning  human  and  divine :  |  passed  his  collegiate  studies  with 
reputation,  |  soon  entered  the  holt  ministri — "WAS  SETTLED  NEAR 
FORTY  Y'EARS  |  Pastor  of  this  Church. 

AN  EXCELLENT  PREACHER,  |  zealous,  pathetic,  prudent  and  suc- 
cessful; I  in  controversy,  moderate  and  calm;  ]  among  ministers,  hus- 
bands, fathers,  brothers,  friends,  |  FEW  HIS  EQUALS.  |  Piety,  hospital- 
ity, friendship,   I  HUMILITY,  BENEVOLENCE  AND  MODESTY,   |  FORMED  HIS 

CHARACTER. 

His  voice  it  cries,  My  people  quickly  come 
To  Jesus,  your  eternal  rest  and  home.* 

In  the  extreme  west  of  tlie  township  of  Westfield,  as  now 
bounded,  a  considerable  number  of  Scotch  immigrants  found 
a  pleasant  home  on  the  eastern  border  of  Green  Brook,  as 
early  as  1684-5,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  oi  ^^  Scotch 
Plains.''''  Owing  to  their  remoteness  from  the  village  on  the 
Ci-eek,  and  their  location  on  the  waters  of  the  Raritan,  they 
had  more  to  do  with  Piscataway  than  with  the  town  in  which 
they  were  included.     They  resorted  thither  for  the  public 

•  Hunttlng's  Hist.  Diecourse,  pp.  14-15.    Edgar,  pp.  14-18. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  585 

worsliip  of  God  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and,  as  a  Baptist  clinrch 
had  been  organized  there  as  early  as  1689,  they  in  time 
mostly  became  attached  to  that  denomination.  A  Baptist 
church  was  organized  at  the  Plains  in  17-17,  of  which  the 
first  pastor  was  the 

REV.  BENJAMIN  MILLER. 

lie  was  a  native  of  Scotch  Plains,  where  he  was  born  in 
1717,  and  in  his  youth  was  much  addicted  to  revelry.  He 
was  converted  from  the  error  of  his  ways,  in  connection  with 
a  sermon  preached  by  the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  by  whom 
he  was  encouraged  to  enter  the  ministry.  He  was  ordained 
in  1748,  and  continued  the  faithful  and  honored  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church,  until  his  decease,  on  Wednesday  Nov.  11:, 
1781,  in  his  65th  year.  At  his  funeral,  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Gano,  of  N.  Y.,  who  said, 
"  Never  did  I  esteem  a  ministering  brother  so  much  as  I  did 
Mr.  Miller,  nor  feel  so  sensibly  a  like  bereavement."  In  the 
early  part  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Miller  used  to  preach  fre- 
quently in  New  York,  and  from  1753  to  1762,  regularly  ad- 
ministered the  Lord's  Supper  to  those  of  his  flock  who  lived 
in  the  city.  The  first  Baptist  church  of  New  York  was  an 
offshoot  from  the  church  of  Scotch  Plains,  and  was  organized 
by  Mr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Gano,  June  19,  1762.  His  Avidow, 
Joanna,  died  in  Sept.  1796,  let.  96.  She  was  nearly  17  years 
older  than  her  husband. 

Their  second  pastor  was  the 

KEY.  WILLIAM  VAN  HORN. 

lie  was  the  son  of  Peter  Van  Horn,  was  born  in  1716,  edu- 
cated at  Dr.  Jones'  Academy,  Pennepek,  and  was  ordained 
at  Southampton,  Pa.,  where  he  continued  thirteen  years, 
serving  as  chaplain  in  the  army  during  the  War.  In  1785, 
he  became  the  pastor  of  the  church  of  Scotch  Plains,  remain- 
ing in  this  relation  until  1807,  when  he  resigned,  and  re- 
moved with  his  wife  and  seven  children  to  the  West,  design- 
ing to  settle  near  Lebanon,  Ohio.  He  died  of  dropsy,  on  the 
way,  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Oct.  31,  1807.* 

*  Bpraguo'3  Annals,  VI.  6J,  470.    Benedict's  Uist.  of  Baiitists,  pp.  5T5,  5S5-6. 


586  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The  loss  of  territory  "«'as  followed,  in  the  fall  of  1794-,  by 
the  loss  of  one  of  the  most  valued  citizens  of  the  town,  the 

HON.  ABRAHAM  CLARK. 

His  grandfather,  Thomas,  was  the  son  of  Richard  Clark 
(who  emigrated  to  this  town  as  early  as  1678),  and  resided 
on  the  npper  or  western  road,  about  mid-way  between  Eliza- 
beth Town  village  and  Rahway,  about  half  a  mile  north,  by 
west,  of  the  Wheatsheaf  tavern.  He  had  at  least  three  sons 
and  one  danghter  :  Thomas,  born,  1701 ;  Abraham,  born, 
1703  ;  James,  of  Connecticut  Farms ;  and  Mrs.  Day.  Capt. 
Abraham  Clark,  commander  of  the  troop,  resided  directly 
west  of  his  eldest  brother,  Thomas,  and  outlived  him  but  15 
days.  The  youngest  brother,  and  the  sister  lived  to  a  great 
age.  Thomas,  the  eldest,  was  named,  in  the  first  Charter  of 
the  borough,  one  of  the  Aldermen.  His  grandson.  Dr. 
Abraham  Clark,  says  he  was, 

JuJge,  and,  I  believe,  keeper  of  the  King's  arms,  as  many  muskets,  and 
cartouclie  boxes  with  the  letters,  "  G.  R.,"  on  their  covers,  remained  in 
the  house  until  used  by  our  patriots. 

He  died,  as  noticed  on  a  previous  page,  Sept.  11,  1765, 
and  was  buried  without  pomp  or  profuseness  of  expense,  as 
had,  until  then,  been  so  common. 

Abraham  was  his  only  son,  and  was  born,  at  the  home- 
stead, February  15,  1726.  His  nearest  neighbors  were,  his 
uncle  Abraham  on  the  west;  Lewis  Mulford,  a  strict  Puritan, 
on  the  north ;  Capt.  Jonathan  "  Hampton,  an  Episcopalian, 
a  member  of  the  Colonial  Assembly,  who  lived  in  the  hand- 
some style  of  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,"  on  the  east ; 
and  "a  noble  farmer — Ephraim  Terrill,  another  Captain  of 
troopers,  an  Episcopalian,  a  man  of  strong  mind  and  social 
qualities,"  on  the  south. 

Having  received  a  good  education  for  the  times,  Mr.  Clark 
entered  into  business  as  a  surveyor  and  conveyancer.  He 
made  himself  familiar  with  the  common  points  of  law,  and 
was  eyer  ready  to  aid  his  neighbors  with  legal  advice 
gratuitously  ;  and  so  obtained  the  name  of  "The  Poor  Man's 
Counsellor."     He  held  the  otHcc  of  High  Sheriff  of  Essex 


■c- 
ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  587 

Co.,  in  1767,  and  of  Clerk  to  tlie  Colonial  Assembly  ;  lie  was 
a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  in  Dec.  1774,  and  sub- 
sequently their  secretary ;  he  was  chosen  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  in  September,  1775,  and  was  elected  by  them,  June 
22,  1776,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  New  Jersey  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  in  which  capacity  he  had  the  honor  ot 
affixin'g  his  name' to  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

He  was  rechosen  to  Congress,  in  1776,  and  in  1777,  serving 
until  April  3,  1778  :  again  in  1780,  1781, 1782, 1786, 1787  & 
1788.  He  was  appointed  to  the  first  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion at  Annapolis,  in  1786 ;  and  again,  in  1787,  but  did  not 
attend  the  latter,  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  was  chosen, 
by  the  people,  under  the  new  Constitution,  to  the  second  and 
third  Congresses,  and  died  before  the  completion  of  his  last 
term.  During  his  long  public  career,  he  proved  himself  the 
incorruptible  patriot,  an  active  and  judicious  legislator,  a 
prudent  counselor,  and  a  true  friend  of  the  people. 

His  death  was  occasioned  by  a  coup  de  soleil,  a  stroke  ot 
the  sun,  which  he  survived  but  two  hours.  Great  respect 
was  shown  for  his  memory  on  the  occasion  of  his  funeral. 
His  remains  were  deposited  in  the  burying-gronnd  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Rahway.  A  stone,  with  the  follow- 
ing inscription,  marked  the  spot : 

In  memory  of  Abraham  Clark,  Esq.,  who  died  Sept.  15tli,  1794,  in 
the  69th  year  of  his  age.  |  Firm  and  decided  as  a  patriot,  (  Zealous  and 
faithful  as  a  friend  to  the  puhlic,  |  He  loved  his  country,  |  And  adiicrod 
to  her  cause,  |  In  the  darkest  liours  of  her  struggles  |  .Against  oppression. 

The  N.  J.  Journal,  of  the  following  week,  says,  "  he  was 
uniform  and  consistent,  adorning  that  religion  that  he  had 
early  made  a  profession  of,  by  acts  of  charity  and  benevo- 
lence."   • 

It  was  also  said  of  him,  that  "  in  private  life  he  was  re- 
served and  contemplative.  Limited  in  his  circumstances, 
moderate  in  his  desires,  and  unambitious  of  wealth,  he  was 
far  from  being  parsimonious  in  his  private  concerns,  although 
a  rigid  economist  in  public  affairs." 

He  had  long  been  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  this  town,  and  M-as  one  of  its  Trustees  from  1786 


«■ 
588  THE    HISTORY    OF 

to  1790.  "  His  person  was  of  the  common  height,  liis  form 
slender,  his  eye-bro\rs  heavy."  lie  is  also  characterized,  as 
having  been  "  very  temperate." 

ITo  married,  about  the  year  IT-iO,  Sarah,  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Hatfield,  sister  of  Elder  Isaac  Hatfield,  and  the 
first  cousin  of  Mrs.  Robert  Ogden,  the  mother  of  Gen.  Mat- 
thias and  Gov,  Aaron,  Ogden.  She  was  born  in  1728,  sur- 
vived her  husband  nearly  ten  years,  and  died  June  2,  ISO-i. 
They  had  ten  children. 

Another  serious  loss  was  sustained  by  tlie  town,  in  the  fall 
of  the  following  year,  1795,  by  the  removal  to  Philadelphia 
of  the 

HON.  ELIAS  BOUDINOT,  LL.D. 

His  father,  grandfather,  and  great-grandfather  all  bore  the 
name  of  Elias.  The  latter  was  an  emigrant  from  France, 
and  came  to  America  in  1686,  shortly  after  the  Eevocation 
of  the  Edict  of  Kantz.  He  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  Ap. 
21  (O.  S.)  1740,  Having  studied  law  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Richard  Stockton,  Esq.,  at  Princeton,  he  was  licensed, 
November,  1760,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  this 
town.  He  married,  Ap,  21,  1762,  Hannah,  a  sister  of  Rich- 
ard Stockton.  He  resided,  first  in  a  smaller  and  then  in  a 
larger  liouse  on  Jersey  st.,  both  of  which  he  bought  of  Al- 
derman Samuel  Woodrufi"  or  his  heirs, — in  the  latter  of 
which  Mr,  W.  lived  until  his  decease.  He  attached  himself 
to  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  chosen,  at  the  age  of 
25,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  with  Great  Britain,  he 
devoted  himself  heartily  to  the  cause  of  his  country.  After 
serving  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Livingston,  he  was  appointed, 
June  6,  1777,  by  Congress,  Commissary  General  of  prisoners, 
in  which  capacity  lie  served  until  the  summer  of  1778,  when, 
having  been  appointed  to  represent  his  State  in  Congress,  he 
took  liis  seat,  July  7th,  retiring  at  the  expiration  of  tlie  3'ear. 
He  was  reappointed,  Nov.  2,  1781,  and  again,  Oct,  30,  1782. 
He  was  cliosen  President  of  Congress,  Nov.  4,  1782,  and, 
when  tlie  Treatv  of  Peace  witli  Great  Britain  was  ratified. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  589 

April  15,  1783,  he  had  the  honor  of  affixing  to  it  his  signa- 
ture. 

lie  was  again  called  to  serve  his  conntry,  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  under  the  Constitution,  having  been 
elected  to  the  first,  second,  and  third  Congresses.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  third  term  of  service,  he  was  appointed, 
Nov.  1,  1795,  to  succeed  Henry  "Wm.  De  Saussure,  as  Suj)er- 
intendent  of  the  U.  S.  Mint  at  Philadelphia,  to  which  place 
he  then  removed.  As  a  testimony  of  his  kind  feelings 
towards  his  former  townsmen,  he  forwarded,  as  a  gift,  to 
the  Trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  a  pair  of  cut- 
glass  chandeliers,  and,  in  tlie  accompanying  letter,  said,  of 
the  church  : — 

The  many  happy  hours  I  have  spent  there,  make  the  remembrance  of 
having  been  one  of  their  Society,  among  the  substantial  pleasures  of  my 
life. 

From  the  Trustees  of  Yale  College  he  received,  in  1790, 
the  well-deserved  compliment  of  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws.  In  1805,  he  retired  from'  public  life,  and 
located  himself  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  where,  on  the  28th  of 
October,  1808,  Mrs.  Boudinot  was  seized  with  apoplexy,  and 
departed  this  life  in  the  73d  year  of  her  age.  His  eldest 
daughter,  Susan  Vergereau,  (born,  Dec.  21,  1764),  had  been 
married,  in  1784,  to  William  Bradford,  Esq.,  Attorney- 
General  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  subsequently,  of  the  United 
States.  She  was  left  a  widow,  Aug.  23,  1795,  and  became, 
after  her  mother's  decease,  her  father's  housekeeper,  till  his 
death,  Oct.  24,  1821,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age.  She  sur- 
vived her  father,  and  died,  l^ov.  30,  1854.  His  only  other 
child,  Anna  Maria,  was  born,  April  11,  1772,  and  died, 
Sept.  3,  1774. 

Mr.  Boudinot,  after  his  retirement,  devoted  himself  to  a 
life  of  Christian  beneficence.  In  1772,  he  was  chosen  a 
Trustee  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  which  office  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  founding  in  1805,  at  an  expense  of 
S3000,  the  Cabinet  of  Natural  History.  In  1812,  he  became 
a  Corporate  Member  of  the  American  Board  of  Commission- 
ers for  Foreign  Missions  ;  and,  in  ISIO,  the  first  President  of 


590  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  American  Bible  Society,  contributing  to  its  funds  $10,000, 
and  aiding,  also,  in  the  erection  of  the  lirst  Bible  House.  In 
his  will,  having  made  ample  provision  for  his  daughter  dur- 
ing her  life-time,  he  bestowed  his  large  estate  on  various  In- 
stitutions connected  with  the  Church,  and  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation. 

He  wrote  and  published,  1790,  "The  Age  of  Eevelation, 
or  the  Age  of  Reason  shown  to  be  an  Age  of  Infidelity ; " 
1793,  a  4th  of  July  Oration,  delivered  at  Elizabeth  Town, 
before  the  K  J.  Society  of  the  Cincinnati ;  1806,  "  The  Life 
of  the  Eev.  William  Tennent ; "  1811,  an  Address  delivered 
before  the  New  Jersey  Bible  Society;  1815,  "Second  x\d- 
vent  of  the  Messiah  ;  "  1816,  "  A  Star  in  the  West,  or  an 
humble  attempt  to  discern  the  lost  ten  tribes  of  Israel ; '' — 
still  bringing  forth  fruit  in  old  age.  His  monument  at  Bur- 
lington bears  this  inscription  : — 

Here  lies  the  remains  of  the  Honorable  Elias  Boudinot,  LL.  D.  Born 
on  the  2d  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1740.  He  died  on  the  24th  day  of  Oct.,  A.  D. 
1821,  His  life  -vras-an  exhibition  of  fervent  piety,  of  useful  talent,  and  of 
extensive  benevolence.  His  death  was  the  triumph  of  Cliristian  fiiith, 
the  consummation  of  hope,  the  dawn  and  the  pledge  of  endless  felicity. 

To  those  who  knew  him  not,  no  words  can  paint ; 
And  those  who  knew  him,  know  all  words  are  faint. 

!Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man 
is  peace.* 

*  Aldcn's  Epitaphs,  I.  101-5.  Allen's  Biog.  Diet.  Murr.ny's  Notes,  pp.  S5, 110-11.  Trus- 
tees' Book  of  E.  T.  Chb.    N.  J.  Hex.  Correspondence,  pp.  3-lG-T.    Barber's  N.  Jersey,  p.  S9. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  591 


CHAPTEK   XXYII. 

A.  D.  1782-1804. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  J.  F.  Armstrong  —  Rebuilding  of  Presb.  Chh.  —  Revival 

—  Rev.  Wm.  Linn  —  Lottery  for  finishing  the  Chh.  —  Rev.  David  Austin  — 
Birth  —  Education  —  Settlement  —  Chh.  completed  —  Monthly  Magazine  — 
American  Preacher  —  Prophetic  Investigations  —  Sermon  on  the  Downfall  of 
Babylon  —  Great  Excitement  —  Day  set  for  Christ's  Coming  —  Mr.  Austin  dis- 
missed—  Anti  Sabbath-Profanation  Meeting  —  Rev.  John  Giles  —  Mr.  Aus- 
tin returns  —  Rev.  Henry  Kollock  —  Mr.  Austin's  Second  Return  —  Stated 
Supply  —  Separate  Worship  —  Returns  to  Connecticut  —  Subsequent  History 

—  His  Death  and  Character. 

After  the  decease  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Caldwell,  the  Presbyte-' 
rian  church  was  left,  for  many  months,  without  a  pastor,  or 
stated  supply.  Abraham  Clark  wrote  from  Philadelphia, 
Jan.  16,  17S2,  to  Capt.  Benjamin  "Winans,  of  this  town, — 

I  suppose  by  this  time  tliat  the  murderer  of  Mr.  Caldwell  has  been 
tried  and  received  bis  doom :  but  that  will  not  i-estoro  our  loss  which  will 
bo  long  felt  in  Elizabeth-Town.  I  hope  you  will  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  get 
another,  for  few  can  be  found  fit  to  succeed  him  that  is  gone.  I  have  one 
or  two  in  my  mind  that  might  answer,  but  I  think  that  they  could  not 
be  got  till  the  end  of  the  war,  as  they  are  chaplains  of  the  army.''' 

It  is  probable,  that  Mr.  Clark  had  reference,  among  others, 
to  the 

REV.  JAMES  FRANCIS  ARMSTRONG, 

who  took  charge  of  the  congregation,  in  June  1TS2.  lie  was 
the  son  of  Francis  Armstrong,  of  West  Nottingham,  Md., 
where  he  was  born,  April  3d,  1750.  His  father,  being  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  trained  him  in  the  way  of 
godliness.     lie  was  prepared  for  college,  chiefly  under  the 

•  Proceedings  of  N.  J.  Uiat.  Soc,  III.  86. 


592  THE    HISTORY    OF 

instruction  of  the  Rev.  Jolin  Blair,  at  Fagg's  Manor  [New- 
Londonderry],  Pa.,  and  entered  the  junior  class  of  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  in  the  autumn  of  1771.  Two  of  his  class- 
mates, Aaron  Ogden,  and  Belcher  Peartree  Smith,  were  of 
this  town.  He  graduated  in  1773,  and  pursued  a  course  of 
theological  study  with  President  Witherspoon,  with -whom  he 
had  resided  while  in  college.  lie  was  licensed  to  preach,  in 
January,  1777,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle,  by  whom, 
also,  he  was  ordained,  January  14,  177S,  at  Pequea,  having 
received  and  accepted  an  appointment  as  Chaplain  of  the 
Second  Brigade  [Sullivan's]  of  Maryland  forces.  His  com- 
mission was  dated,  July  17,  177S.  He  spent  the  next  three 
years  in  the  service,  mostly  at  the  South. 

Peturning  to  the  North,  he  was  invited  to  supply  the  pul- 
pit of  the  church  here,  the  people  then  worshiping  in  the 
old  red  store  house,  near  Mayor  John  De  Hart's,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Creek.  He  began  his  ministerial  work  here 
in  June,  17S2,  and  was  married,  Aug.  22,  by  Dr.  Wither- 
Bpoon,  to  Miss  Susannah,  daughter  of  Robert  James  Living- 
ston, deceased,  with  whom  he  had  become  acquainted  while 
at  Princeton,  whither  her  widowed  mother  had  resorted  for 
the  education  of  her  sons,  William  Smith,  Peter  P.,  and 
Maturin.  Mrs.  Livingston  was  the  daughter  of  William 
Smith,  the  historian  of  New  York. 

At  the  expiration  of  less  than  a  year,  during  which  he  had 
been  charged  with  the  direction  of  the  grammar  school, 
taught  by  his  classmate,  Lewis  F.  Wilson,  his  services  were 
terminated  by  a  severe  aflection  of  the  measles,  aggravated 
by  his  exposures  in  the  army.  Two  or  three  years  after- 
wards, having  recovered  his  health,  he  became  and  continued, 
until  Jan.  19,  181G,  when  he  died,  the  useful  and.  honored 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Trenton,  N.  J., 
his  wife  surviving  him  until  Feb.  13,  1851.  They  had  six 
children.* 

Mr.  Armstrong's  labors  closed  at  the  end  of  April,  1784, 
after  which,  for  eighteen  months,  the   pulpit  was  supplied 

\  ♦  Life  of  Rev.  Dr.  R.  Finley,  pp.  197-203.  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  191.  Murray's  Notes,  p.  109. 
nolgate'a  Am.  Genealogy.  Sprnguo's  Annals,  III.  GS9-91.  llall's  Tresb.  Chh.  of  Trenton,  pp. 
295-375. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  593 

mostly  by  the  Presbytery  of  ITew  York.  In  the  meantiine, 
measures  were  taken  for  the  rebuilding  of  their  house  of 
worship).  The  first  movement  towards  it,  was  probably  the 
following  : 

July  11,  178-1.  Tlie  Congregation  Voted  that  tlic  Trustees  should 
Mortgage  the  parsonage  Land  Against  Mr  Jelf  s  for  as  Much  Money  as 
they  can  get  upon  it  to  be  laid  out  for  Building  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Eliz"*  Town. 

The  Trustees,  at  this  time,  were  Isaac  Woodruff,  Lewis 
Mulford,  Isaac  Arnett,  Jonathan  Price,  and  David  Ogden. 
The  ,work  was  immediately  undertaken,  and  prosecuted  with 
diligence.  In  May,  17S5,  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  was 
held,  at  which  it  was  agreed,  that  four  pews  just  in  front  of 
the  pulpit,  four  next  the  door,  and  four  pews  in  the  galleries, 
were  to  be  free  for  ever  for  the  congregation ;  one  square 
pew,  at  the  side  of  the  pulpit  to  be  for  the  minister's  family,  and 
the  square  pew  on  the  other  side  for  strangers,  and  three  side 
pews  near  the  door  for  ISTegroes. 

The  building  was  so  far  finished  in  the  autumn  of  1785,  as 
to  allow  of  occasional  occupation  by  the  congregation,  as 
appears  from  the  following  record  in  the  Journal  of  Bishop 
Asbury  : — 

"Wednesday,  [Sept.]  G,  [178.^.]  After  preaching,  this  morning,  I  left 
the  city,  overstaying  the  hour,  the  stage  left  us,  and  we  found  ourselves 
nnder  the  necessity  of  walliing  six  miles ;  I  dined  with  M'.  Ogden,  and 
preached  in  Elizabethtown,  in  the  unfinished  churcla  belonging  to  the 
Presbyterians. 

He  repeated  the  visit  a  year  later,  Tuesday,  Sept.  20, 17SG, 
and  "  at  seven  o'clock  preached  and  had  much  liberty."  - 

The  church  was  dedicated,  though  in  an  unfinished  state, 
about  the  1st  of  January  178G,  the  sermon  having  been 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  McWhortcr,  of  Newark.  During 
the  whole  period,  from  the  time  of  commencing  the  work  of 
erecting  the  church,  the  congregation  were  visited  with  a 
special  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  It  prevailed  mostly 
in  1785,  and  extended  into  the  remote  parts  of  the  town,  the 
parish  of  "Westfield,  as  already  seen,  being  wonderfully  fav- 

*  Asbury's  Journals,  I.,  3SS.    II.  3. 

38 


594:  THE    HISTORY    OF 

ored  during  that  and  the  following  year.  It  was  promoted 
considerably  by  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Uzal  Og- 
den,  every  other  Sabbath,  in  St.  John's  church. 

It  is  quite  probable,  that  the  revival  in  this  town  resulted 
from  a  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the 
people  of  JSTewark,  in  1784,  by  which  a  hundred  souls  were 
added  to  the  church.  By  whatever  agencies  the  work  was 
commenced  in  this  town,  it  proved  a  rich  blessing.  Says 
Dr.  McDowell,— 

This  revival  contiaued  about  two  years ;  and  time  Las  abundantly 
proved,  that  it  was  a  genuine  and  glorious  work  of  God.  ^  A  number  of 
the  subjects  are  still  [1832]  living,  and  are  truly  fathers  and  mothers  in 
Israel.  Nearly  all  the  session,  and  almost  half  the  members  of  the 
church,  when  the  writer  settled  here,  were  the  fruits  of  this  revival ;  and 
he  has  had  an  opportunity  of  knowing  them  by  their  fruits ;  he  has  been 
with  many  of  them  when  about  to  pass  over  Jordan,  and  from  their 
triumphant  death  as  well  as  exemplary  life,  he  can  testify  to  the  genuine- 
ness of  the  work.* 

Early  in  the  year  1T8G,  an  invitation  was  given  to  the 
REV.  WILLIAM  ADOLPIIUS  LINN, 

to  supply  the  pulpit,  and  the  invitation  was  accepted.  lie 
was  the  grandson  of  William  Linn,  an  emigrant  from  Ireland, 
Imd  was  born  in  Adams  County,  not  far  from  Shippensburgh, 
Pa.,  in  the  year  1752,  of  Presbyterian  parents.  He  graduated 
at  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1772,  being  a  classmate  of 
Aaron  Burr.  He  was  licensed,  in  1775,  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Donncgal,  and  ordained  in  1776  by  the  First  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia,  to  serve  as  a  chaplain  in  the  army.  He 
married,  as  early  as  1770,  Rebecca,  the  daughter  of  tlie  Rev. 
John  Blair,  of  Fogg's  Manor,  for  wliom  his  eldest  son  was 
named  John  Blair  Linn.  During  tlie  war,  while  serving  as 
a  chaplain  in  the  army,  lie  became  quite  distinguished  for 
his  eloquence.  After  the  war  he  took  charge  of  an  Academy 
in  Somerset  Co.,  ]\W.,  Avithin  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Lewes,  of  which  he  became  a  member. 

"The  terms,  on  which  he  was  invited"  to  become  the 

•  Stearns'  Newark,  pp,  241-3.    Spraguo'a  Lect.  on  Kcvlrals,  pp.  2S4,  874. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  595 

pastor  of  the  cllurck  in  tliis  town,  were, — "  Three  hundred 
Pounds  New  York  Currency  p"^  Annum,  a  dwelling  House 
[to  be  rented  by  the  Trustees]  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage 
[land]." 

He  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
May  2,  1Y86,  being  "  received  with  pleasure."  He  was  in- 
stalled on  Wednesday,  June  14 ;  the  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter,  of  Newark,  from  Acts  xx :  24 ; 
the  Pev.  Dr.  Johnes,  of  Morris-Town,  presided,  and  the  Pcv. 
Dr.  Podgers,  of  N.  York,  gave  the  charge. 

Mr.  Linn's  ministry  gave  promise  of  great  usefulness,  and. 
was  highly  valued  by  his  people.  But  his  reputation  as  an 
excellent  preacher  soon  spread,  and  drew  to  him  the  regards 
of  the  Collegiate  P.  D.  Church  of  New  York,  who  w'ere 
desirous  to  obtain  a  colleaii^ue  for  the  Pev.  Dr.  Livinsrston. 
They  extended  him  a  call  within  four  months  of  his  settle- 
ment here,  and,  without  much  hesitation  or  delay,  it  was 
accepted,  greatly  to  the  grief,  and  not  a  little  to  the  indigna- 
tion, of  both  the  people  and  the  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Linn  having  been  dismissed,  supplies  for  the  next  six 
months  were  appointed  for  the  E.  Town  Church.  Honored 
the  following  year,  by  the  College  of  New  York,  M'ith  the 
honorary  degree  of  D.  D.,  Dr.  Linn  commanded  in  an 
eminent  manner  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  where  he  continued  to  labor  in  the  ministry, 
until,  compelled  by  declining  health,  he  resigned  his  charge, 
in  January  1S05,  and  removed  to  the  city  of  Albany,  where 
lie  died  in  January,  1808,  aged  55.  His  only  publications 
were  several  occasional  discourses,  and  a  volume  of  sermons.* 

Very  soon  after  Mr.  Linn  began  to  preach  here,  the  grant 
of  a  Lottery  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature  "  towards 
finishing  a  building  erected  by  the  Presbj^terian  congregation 
in  Elizabeth  Town."  The  scheme  was  advertised  at  length, 
in  the  New  York  Gazetteer,  June  16, 1786.  Isaac  Woodrutl", 
Jonathan  Dayton,  and  Aaron  Lane  were  appointed  Managers. 

•  Trustees' Book.  Eecords  of  tho  Presb.  of  N.  T.,  II.  127-130.  Sprng lie's  Annals,  IV.  210. 
Allen's  Am.  Biog.  Diet.  Murray's  Notes,  p.  113.  aiemoir  of  Eev.  Dr.  Livingston,  pp.  293. 
870-3.    Kecords  of  Presb.  Chh.,  pp.  4C2,  472. 


596  THE    HISTORY    OF 

At  the  settlement  of  their  accounts,  in  1789,  each  Manager 
was  allowed  $200  for  his  services,  and  $1,365  were  paid  into 
the  Treasury  of  the  church.* 

Having  failed  in  an  effort  to  secure  the  Rev.  Mr.  Snod- 
grass,  [father  of  Rev.  Dr.  Snodgrass]  in  the  spring  of  1787, 
the  church  applied  to  the  Presbytery  in  October,  and  ob- 
tained supplies  for  their  pulpit  for  the  next  six  months.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  at  Elizabeth  Town,  May  7, 
1788,— 

A  Committee  from  the  congregation  of  Elizabeth  Town  informed  tlie 
Presbytery  that  M'.  David  Austin  a  Candidate  for  the  ministry  belonging 
to  the  association  of  New  Haven  had  been  preaching  among  them  much 
to  their  satisfaction  and  that  they  requested  leave  of  the  presbytery  to 
draw  lip  and  present  a  call  for  him.  The  presbytery  having  taken  their 
request  into  consideration  ;  and  being  fully  satisfied  with  the  certificates 
which  M'.  Austin  pi'oduced  of  his  licensure,  unanimously  agreed  to  grant 
the  request  of  the  committee. 

(The  same  day,)  a  call  was  brought  into  presbytery  from  the  congrega- 
tion of  Elizabeth  Town  for  M''.  David  Austin  in  order  to  be  delivered  to 
him  for  his  acceptance,  which  call  the  presbytery  put  into  the  hands  of 
M'.  Austin  for  his  consideration.t 

REV.  DAYID  AUSTIN. 

He  was  a  native  of  New  Haven,  Ct,  and  a  descendant  of 
John  Austin,  who  married,  Nov.  5,  1667,  Mercy,  daughter 
of  Joshua  Atwater,  and  died  in  1690.  He  was  born,  1760, 
and  was  the  eldest  son  of  David  Austin,  a  merchant,  highly 
respectable,  and  j^rosperous  in  business,  holding,  for  a  time, 
the  position  of  Collector  of  the  Customs.  The  youngest 
daughter,  Mary,  who  resided  with  her  brother  in  this  town, 
and  was  here  converted,  became  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Prof. 
Andrew  Yates,  D.  D.,  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  died  at 
East  Hartford,  Ct.,  Oct.  3J,  1806.:}: 

Born  of  pious  parents,  he  was  trained  in  the  nurture  of  the 
Lord  from  his  childhood.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1779,  having  been  associated  in  study  with  such  men  as  Joel 
P>arlow,  Josiah  Meigs,  Zephaniah  Swift,  Noah  Webster,  Oliver 

*  N.  Y.  Gazetteer,  II.  50.    Trustees'  Book. 

t  Records  of  the  Presb.  of  N.  Y.,  II.  159-160. 

1  Sftvnge's  Biog.  Diet.    Assembly's  Mag.,  III.  198-200. 


''  I  I  III    1 1       \  \i^   y^^  — 


ir 


m\m,'  i.n>^ 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  597 

"Wolcolt,  Elizur  Goodrich  and  Roger  Griswold.  His  theo- 
logical studies  were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  the  Eev. 
Dr.  Joseph  Bellamj",  at  Bcthlem,  Ct.  He  was  licensed  at 
North  Guilford,  in  May,  1780,  by  the  New  Haven  East  As- 
sociation. Young  as  he  was,  he  preached  to  great  accept- 
ance, and  was  earnestly  solicited  to  settle  in  the  ministry. 
But  he  declined  tliese  proposals,  and  went  abroad,  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  Having  spent  some  time  in  foreign  coun- 
tries, he  returned  to  America,  and,  for  a  while,  supplied  the 
pulpit  of  the  Chelsea  [Second]  Congregational  church,  Nor- 
wich, Ct.,  where  he  became  acquainted  witli  the  family  of 
Dr.  Joshua  Lathrop,  whose  daughter,  Lydia,  he  married 
shortly  after. "^ 
The  K  J.  Journal  of  Wednesday,  Sept.  10th,  17SS,  says,— 

Yesterday,  ia  a  crowded  and  solemn  assembly,  the  Eev.  David  Austin 
was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  tliis  town.  The  Eev. 
Mr.  Roe  preached  tlie  sermon  [from  Gal.  I.  10],  Dr.  Eogers,  who  presided, 
gave  the  charge  to  the  minister,  and  Dr.  McWhorter  to  the  people.  The 
exercises  were  conducted  with  much  solemnity  and  decorum.t 

The  house,  in  which  these  services  were  performed,  was  in 
a  very  unfinished  condition — scarcely  more  than  a  mere 
shell.  The  beautiful  spire,  so  conspicuous  a  landmark  for 
more  than  seventy  years,  had  not  yet  been  erected.  At  a 
meeting  of  tlie  Trustees  of  the  Congregation,  Feb.  23,  1789, 
it  was  voted, — 

That  the  Church  should  bo  Plaistered  as  soon  in  tlie  Spring  as  might 
be  convenient,  and  that  Ezekiel  SVoodruff,  Jun"'  do  Immediately  go  about 
procuring  wood  &  shells  for  the  Purpose  of  Burning  Lime  for  the  Use  of 
s'^  Church,  and  be  allowed  a  reasonable  sum  for  his  Service  for  Collecting 
Materials  for  the  Plaistcring  of  s''  Church.  J 

The  work  was  now  prosecuted  to  completion,  Mr.  Austin 
took  hold  of  it  with  great  energy,  secured  the  erection  of  its 
graceful  spire,  and  obtained  subscriptions  for  the  purchase 
of  a  bell.  He  took  a  deep  interest,  also,  in  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, and  in  the  promotion  of  every  tiling  connected  with 

*  Conlrib.  to  tbo  Enc.  His.  of  Ct.,  p.  305.    Miss  Caulkins'  Norwich,  p.  435. 

+  Records  of  Prosb.  of  N.  Y.,  II.  169-170, 172,  174.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  256. 

t  Trustees'  Book. 


598  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  public  •welfare.  One  of  the  first  literary  enterprises  in 
which  he  embarked  was  the  publication,  bi-monthly,  of  a 
magazine,  entitled — 

The  Christian's,  Scholar's,  and  Farmer's  Magazine,  Calculated,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  To  promote  Keligion,  to  disseminate  useful  Knowledge, 
to  afford  literary  Pleasure  and  Amusement,  and  To  advance  the  Interests 
of  Agriculture.     By  a  Number  of  Gentlemen. 

The  first  Ko.  was  for  "  April  and  May,  1789."  It  was 
"  printed  at  E.  Town,  by  Shepard  Kollock,  one  of  the  Pro- 
prietors." It  was  conducted  with  more  than  ordinary  ability. 
Its  articles  were  mostly  brief,  instructive,  entertaining,  in 
good  style  and  taste,  and  well  adapted  to  interest  and  profit 
the  reader.  At  the  close  of  the  first  year,  it  was  spoken  of 
as  a  success,  and  was  continued  through  the  second  year. 

Mr.  Kollock,  about  this  time,  was  induced  to  enter  largely 
into  the  publishing  business,  and  the  character  of  the  works 
issued  from  his  press  would  indicate  that  his  pastor  exerted 
a  powerful  and  healthful  influence  over  him,  at  least  in  the 
matter  of  suggestion.  Among  these  were  "Sermons  to 
children," — "  Edwards'  Narrative  of  the  Surprising  "Work  of 
God,  1735," —  "  Chapman  on  Baptism," —"  Dr.  Watts' 
Psalms," — "Dickinson's  Five  Points," — and  similar  works. 
Mr.  Austin  began,  in  1790,  the  publication,  by  subscription, 
of  "  The  American  Preacher,"  a  serial,  containing  some  of 
the  choicest  discourses  of  living  American  divines,  without 
respect  to  denomination.  The  first  two  volumes  were  issued 
Jan.  1,  1791,  the  3d  volume,  Aug.  1791,  and  the  ith  volume, 
in  1793.  Other  gentlemen  were  associated  with  him  in  tlie 
enterprise,  but  it  was  his  work  almost  wholly — begun  and 
carried  forward  by  him. 

As  early  as  Jan.  1,  1791,  when  the  first  two  volumes  made 
their  appearance,  Mr.  Austin  had  begun  to  take  an  interest 
in  prophetic  studies.  Nor  was  he  singular  in  this  respect. 
Everywhere,  under  tlie  inspiration  of  the  wonderful  move- 
ments of  Divine  Providence,  men  were  studying  the  prophe- 
cies and  applying  them  to  the  remarkable  events  of  the 
period  in  which  they  lived.  The  pulpit  resounded  with 
earnest  utterances,  on  the  downfall   of  Babylon,  and  the 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  599 

speedy  coming  of  the  Millennial  Keign  of  Christ  and  his 
Saints.  The  press  was  continually  sending  forth  treatises, 
small  and  great,  on  the  same  fruitful,  and,  to  many,  fascinat- 
ing theme.  In  pursuing  the  study  of  these  sublime  and 
mysterious  oracles,  Mr.  Austin  was  but  gracefully  yielding 
to  tlie  current  that  was  sweeping  everything  before  it.  With 
his  excitable  temperament,  his  irrepressible  activity,  and  his 
glowing  imagination,  it  would  have  been  strange,  if  he  had 
escaped  the  contagion  of  the  day — if  he  had  not  entered  upon 
the  study  of  the  sacred  prophets  with  his  whole  heart. 

The  rapid  march  of  events  in  the  old  world,  resulting  in 
such  mighty  revolutions,  both  in  Church  and  State,  during 
the  next  two  or  three  years,  was  interpreted  by  Mr.  Austin 
and  others,  both  in  Europe  and  America,  as  indicative  of  the 
near  approach  of  "  the  time  of  the  end."  In  the  spring  of 
1793,  he  preached  a  remarkable  discourse,  first  to  his  own 
church,  and  then,  on  the  evening  of  the  Lord's  Day,  April 
7th,  at  New  York,  that  produced  a  profound  sensation.  This 
discourse,  "  delivered  from  short  notes,"  he  afterwards  wrote 
out,  amplified,  and  illustrated  with  numerous  citations.  It 
was  printed  by  Mr.  Kollock,  and  made  its  appearance,  May 
1,  1791,  with  this  title:— 

The  Downfall  of  Mystical  Babylon ;  or,  A  Key  to  the  Providence  of 
God,  in  the  Political  Operations  of  1793-4. 

In  connection  with  this  sermon,  he  republished  the  Eev. 
Dr.  Bellamy's  Discourse  on  the  Millennium,  and  President 
Edwards'  "  Humble  Attem])t  to  promote  explicit  Agreement 
and  visible  Union  of  God's  People  in  extraordinary  Prayer 
for  the  Eevival  of  Keligion,"  &c.  The  whole  formed  an 
octavo  volume  of  12G  pages,  with  this  title  : — 

The  Millennium :  or,  The  Thousand  Years  of  Prosperity,  promised  to 
the  Church  of  God,  in  the  Old  Testament  and  in  the  New,  shortly  to 
commence,  and  to  be  carried  on  to  Perfection,  under  the  Auspices  of  Him, 
who,  in  the  Vision,  was  presented  to  St,  John. 

Mr.  Austin's  Discourse  was,  at  the  time,  deemed  sound 
and  scriptural.  The  method  of  interpretation  and  the  stvle 
of  argument  difiered  not  at  all  from  what  was  then  almost 


GOO  THE    HISTORY    OF 

universally  accepted.  Adopting  the  fanciful  tlieoiy,  that 
days  of  prophecy  are  years  of  providence,  and  that  the  thou- 
sand years  of  the  20th  chapter  of  the  Apocalypse  are  yet 
entirely  in  the  future,  he  persuaded  himself  and  the  most  of 
his  admiring  hearers,  that  the  latter-day  glory  of  the  church 
had  ah'cady  dawned,  and  that  the  Redeemer  of  mankind 
would  soon  return  to  the  earth  to  take  possession  of  the  king- 
dom, and  reign,  personally  and  visibly,  in  peerless  glory,  over 
all  mankind. 

This  was  becoming,  more  and  more,  from  day  to  day,  the 
absorbing  topic  of  his  thought,  remark  and  effort.  It  is  said, 
that  this  tendency  was  aggravated  by  a  violent  visitation  of 
scarlet  fever,  in  the  year  1795,  seriously  affecting  the  balance 
of  his  mind.  After  his  recovery,  all  his  thoughts,  his  talk, 
and  his  preaching,  seemed  to  run  in  this  channel.  lie  be- 
came perfectly  convinced,  that  he  had  ascertained  the  precise 
day  of  the  advent  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  delivered 
a  sei-les  of  discourses  on  the  sixtieth  chapter  of  Isaiah,  with 
wonderful  animation,  and  in  language  of  surpassing  elo- 
quence. The  congregation  were  deeply  moved — some  not 
knowing  what  to  believe,  a  few  utterly  unbelieving,  but  the 
greater  part  carried  away  with  the  holy  fervor  of  their  be- 
loved pastor.  The  excitement  spread  through  all  the  region 
round  about.  The  church  was  crowded,  Sabbath  after  Sab- 
bath, by  the  eager  multitude. 

At  length  on  the  second  Sabbath  of  May  (8th),  1796,  Mr. 
Austin  announced,  that  the  Lord  would  surely  come  on  the 
ensuing  Lord's  Day,  the  15th.  Of  course,  a  prodigious  excite- 
ment followed  this  announcement.  In  the  midst  of  the  ferment, 
Mr.  Austin  made  all  his  arrangements  to  receive  his  adorable 
Lord  in  a  becoming  manner.  Several  young  females  were 
selected,  for  whom  white  raiment  was  prepared,  that  they 
might  attend  upon  the  Lord  at  his  coming.  Much  of  the 
time  during  the  week  was  occupied  with  religious  exercises. 
On  the  evening  of  Saturday,  the  1-lth,  a  crowded  and  deeply 
agitated  meeting  was  held  in  the  Methodist  church.  Mr. 
Austin  dwelt  particularly  on  the  example  of  the  men  of 
Nineveh,  who  repented   at   the  preaching   of   Jonah,  and 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  GOl 

urged  immediate  repentance  on  all  liis  hearers.     The  eifeet 
was  overwhelming. 

The  long-expected,  dreaded,  wished-for,  day  arrived — a 
bright,  beautiful,  spring-like  day,  of  freshest  verdure,  of 
sweetest  flowers.  The  church  was  throncred — the  easer  mul- 
titude  more  than  filled  it.  The  church-goini]:  bell  tolled  Ions', 
but  tlie  heavens  gave  no  sign.  Mr.  Austin,  after  long  and 
wearjsome  waiting,  took  the  desk,  and  ]H-eached,  taking  for 
his  text, — "  My  lord  dclaycth  his  coming."  It  is  reported, 
that,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  the  clouds  gathered,  and  low 
mutterings  of  thunder  were  heard,  adding  intensity  to  the 
frenzy  that  ruled  the  hour.  A  New  York  evening  paper,  on 
the  Friday  following  (20tli),  thus  noticed  the  occurrence : — 

On  Sunday  before  last,  an  Enthusiastic  Preacher  in  a  neighboring 
town  predicted  the  milleniura  would  come  that  day  week.  Numbers 
of  bis  weaker  i)arishioners  were  frighted  half  to  death,  and  came  out  of 
church  wringing  their  hands  and  wiping  their  eyes,  uttering  tbe  most 
howling  lamentations.  The  news  reached  tbis  city,  that  tbe  world  was 
coming  to  an  end  last  Sunday,  to  the  great  terror  of  old  women.  Tbe 
day  however  came — tbe  sun  rose  as  usual — and  all  went  on  well,  till 
evening  came  to  tbe  unspeakable  joy  of  the  poor  frigbtened  dupes  of  a 
fanatic  Preacher.* 

A  slight  error  in  the  computation  of  dates  had  been  made 
— so  it  was  suggested — and  some  were  satisfied.  But  the 
congregation  was  distracted — the  more  substantial  portion 
were  disaffected  and  deeply  grieved.  Yet  they  bore  with 
him,  and  bore  long,  for  they  greatly  loved  him.  They  re- 
monstrated with  him  in  private.  His  brethren  in  the  min- 
istry, also,  sought  to  turn  his  attention  to  other  themes.  But 
all  in  vain.  The  delusion  had  taken  full  possession  of  his 
noble  soul,  to  the  exclusion  of  almost  every  other  thought. 
He  took  the  vow  of  a  Nazarite,  and  gave  himself  up  to  the 
work  of  announcing  his  Lord's  coming.  His  labors  were 
incessant.  Often  he  preached  thrice  a  day — and  went  every- 
where, through  all  the  neighborhood,  calling  upon  men  to 
repent.  Crowds  resorted  to  hear  him,  and  many  souls  were 
hopefully  converted  to  God.     Such  of  the  church  and  session 

*  The  Minerva  aud  Mercantile  Eve'g  Advertiser,  No.  S87 


602  THE    HISTORY    OF 

as  op]"»oscd  liim  were  charged  with  the  guilt  of  Uzzah.  He 
claimed  to  be  the  forerunner  of  the  new,  as  Jolm  the  Baptist 
was  of  the  old,  dispensation — "  called  of  God  as  was  Aaron." 

At  length,  the  first  week  of  April,  1797,  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation  was  held  in  the  church,  and  a  Committee 
appointed  to  wait  on  Mr.  Austin.  In  his  answer  to  the 
Committee,  April  7th,  he  declared  that  it  was  his  "  fixed 
and  unalterable  determination,  ...  to  institute  a  new  church 
&  to  set  up  a  new  order  of  things  in  Ecclesiastical  con- 
cerns, independent  of  presbyterj,  of  the  Synod,  or  of  the 
General  Assembly."  He  professed  to  have  received  an 
extraordinary  and  direct  Call  from  God  to  engage  in  the 
work. 

The  congregation  met,  April  19th,  and  determined  to 
apply  to  tlie  Presbytery  for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral 
relation,  Messrs.  Jeremiah  Ballard,  Benjamin  Corey  and 
Shepard  Kollock,  being  appointed  to  make  the  application. 
The  Presbytery  met.  May  3d,  at  New  York,  received  the 
application,  and  the  next  day  called  upon  Mr.  Austin  to 
know  if  he  concurred  in  it.  "Whereupon  he  renounced  their 
jurisdiction  and  withdrew  ;  and  the  Presbytery,  after  due 
deliberation,  granted  the  application,  and  put  on  record  their 
sense  of  the  whole  matter.  Supplies  were  appointed,  the 
same  day,  for  the  pulpit  nntil  the  middle  of  October  follow- 
ing, cliiefl}''  of  the  neighborhood,  including  the  city  pastors.''^ 

However  necessary  his  removal  was,  a  large  party  in  the 
church  were  greatly  grieved  by  it,  and  still  adhered  to  their 
pastor.  He  continued,  however,  but  a  short  time — a  few 
weeks  only — in  the  neighborhood,  when  he  removed  to 
Connecticut.  That  the  troublers  still  persisted  in  opposition 
to  the  course  of  the  Presbytery,  appears  from  the  fact,  that, 
as  late  as  Aug.  30,  the  N.  J.  Journal  contained  a  call  for  a 
meeting  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  on  Saturday, 
Sept.  9th,  at  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  "  to  come  to  some  determina- 
tion respecting  their  absent  Pastor,  the  liev.  Mr.  Austin." 
The  next  week,  a  counter  notice  appeared,  declaring  the  call 
un.nutliorized,  and  affirming   that  the  pastor  had  been  re- 

♦  Records  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  603 

moved  by  the  Presbytery  in"  May — leaving  tlio  pulpit 
vacant. 

He  supplied  for  a  while,  in  1797-8,  the  pulpit  of  the 
church  where  President  Dwight  had  preached  with  so  much 
ability  for  the  twelve  years  preceding  1795,  at  GreenlBeld, 
in  the  town  of  Fairfield,  Ct.  ;  after  which  he  removed  to 
East  Haven,  and  found  a  home  at  the  house  of  his  uncle. 
Rev.  Nicholas  Street,  his  wife  having  returned  to  her  father's 
house  in  N^orwich.* 

At  Kew  Haven  he  embarked  in  a  building  enterprise, 
involving  a  large  outlay  of  money,  by  which  he  exhaust- 
ed his  resources,  and  incurred  obligations  that  he  was  un- 
able to  meet.  AVhen  asked  as  to  his  design,  he  was  wont 
to  reply,  seriously,  or  facetiously,  that  he  was  providing 
warehouses  for  the  Jews  on  their  way  to  the  Holy  Land. 
His  erratic  course  continued,  but  assumed  much  more  of 
the  humorous,  one  of  his  most  marked  characteristics 
through  life. 

In  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were  left,  it  was  not 
easy  to  unite  the  congregation  in  the  choice  of  another  pastor. 
A  call  was  given  to  the  Pev.  John  Gemmil,  a  popular 
preacher  connected  with  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and 
leave  was  given  by  the  Presbytery,  Jan.  9,  1798,  to  prose- 
cute it,  but  it  was  declined.f 

Though  destitute  of  a  pastor,  the  church  maintained  their 
vitality,  of  which  a  remarkable  illustration  occurred  in  the 
summer  following.  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  held,  Aug. 
11,  1798,  at  which  Gen.  Elias  Dayton  presided,  action  was 
unanimously  taken,  to  this  effect : 

"When  one  of  tlie  most  powerful  nations  of  the  eartli,  having  no  fear 
of  God,  threatens  the  destruction  of  the  Christian  Religion,  aud  the  abo- 
lition of  its  holy  Sabbath, — when  such  princiijles  of  Infidelity,  aud  their 
baneful  consequences  in  society,  are  already  prevailing  in  our  land — when 
a  pestilence  in  our  cities,  and  approaching  war,  awfully  warn  us  of  the 
displeasure  of  Ileaven;  when  judgments  like  these  are  abroad  in  the 
eartli,  it  is  incumbent  upon  the  inhabitants  thereof  in  an  especial  manner 
to  learn  Righteousness. 

*  Contrib.  to  the  Ecc.  History  of  Ct.,  894. 
t  Bacon's  1st  Chh.  New  Havon,  p.  279.    Allen's  Bioff.  Diet.    Records  of  P.  of  N.  Y. 


604  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"We,  therefore,  the  Members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Eliza- 
beth-Town, do  associate  and  agree, 

1.  That  we  will  aid  the  civil  magistrates,  in  their  endeavors  to  put 
into  execution  the  laws  against  vice  and  immorality,  every  species  of 
which  we  will  check  and  discountenance  by  every  reasonable  means  in 
our  power. 

2.  That,  unless  prevented  by  particular  circumstances,  we  will  regu- 
larly attend  divine  service  on  the  Sabbath,  and  encourage  the  doing  the 
same,  by  our  respective  families.  That  we  will  not  unnecessarily  travel 
abroad  on  that  day ;  and  that  we  will,  by  all  reasonable  means,  endeavor 
to  prevent  every  profanation  thereof. 

3.  That  Ave  will  avoid  every  irregularity  which  may  tend,  in  the  least, 
to  interrupt  and  disturb  the  solemnities  of  the  Lord's  day,  and  the  ser- 
vices thereof* 

The  true  old  Puritan  spirit  animated  these  faithful  soldiers 
of  the  Cross.  The  town  has  ever  been  noted  for  its  reveren- 
tial observance  of  the  Sabbath-Day. 

Mr.  John  Blair  Linn,  a  son  of  their  former  pastor,  had  just 
been  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Classis  of  Albany,  in  the 
twenty  second  year  of  his  age.  lie  at  once  took  high  rank 
as  a  preacher,  and  was  greatly  admired.  The  First  church 
of  this  town,  early  in  the  spring  of  1799,  having  obtained, 
Aj^ril  16,  leave  from  the  Presbytery,  presented  him  a  call, 
and  earnestly  urged  his  acceptance.  But,  as  he  received 
about  the  same  time,  an  invitation  to  be  co-pastor  with  Bev. 
Dr.  Ewing,  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Philadel- 
phia, he  accepted  the  latter,  and  declined  the  former.  The 
brilliant  career  of  this  young  man,  doctorated  when  he  was 
26  years  old,  was  terminated,  by  death,  in  August  1804,  in 
his  28th  year.f 

In  June,  1799,  the  church  gave  a  call  to  the 

REV.  JOHN  GILES, 

who  M'as  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Kew  York,  at  a 
meeting  called  here,  June  20,  1799.  As  he  was  a  foreigner, 
the  action  of  the  Presbyter}'  needed  to  be  confirmed  by  the 
Synod.  In  the  meantime,  he  was  appointed  to  exercise  his 
ministry  here. 

He  was  a  native  of  England,  was  educated  in  the  Dis- 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  774.  f  Sprague's  Annals,  IV.  210-5.    Murray's  Notes,  p.  125.'  ] 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  605 

seiiting  Academy,  at  Ilomerton,  near  London,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  an  Independent  church,  at  Wellington, 
Somersetshire,  Sept.  26,  1786.  He  removed  to  Exeter, 
in  1795,  and  became  the  pastor  of  New  Chapel,  Castle 
street,  where  he  remained  nntil  1798,  when,  with  his  wife 
and  six  children,  he  migrated  to  America,  arriving  in 
September. 

Shortly  after  his  coming  to  this  town,  his  wife  was  remov- 
ed by  death,  and  her  remains  lie  buried  in  the  grave-yard 
with  this  inscription  on  her  head-stone  : 

Here  lie  the  remains  of  Jane,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth 
Peach,  of  "Westbury,  "Wiltshire,  Old  England,  and  "wife  of  the  reverend 
Jonx  Giles,  of  Elizabeth-Town,  New-Jersey,  who  departed  this  life,  on 
the  5  day  of  August,  1799,  aged  36  years.  She  lived  deservedly  beloved, 
and  died  sincerely  lamented. 

The  friends  of  Mr.  Austin  still  cherished  the  hope  that  he 
might  be  restored  to  his  charge  again ;  and,  with  this  encour- 
agement, he  returned  to  this  place  in  November,  1799,  and 
embraced  every  opportimity  of  resuming  his  ministerial 
work.  On  the  26th  of  November,  he  announced,  in  the 
"  Journal,"  tlie  publication  of  "  The  First  Vibration  of  the 
Jubilee  Trump,  in  nine  Numbers,  Is.  or  $1  a  doz."  Evi- 
dently, his  mind  had  not  recovered  its  balance  ;  yet  lie  was 
treated  by  the  people  with  great  consideration.  At  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  death  of  Washington,  the  corporation, 
Dec.  24,  requested  him  to  deliver  a  funeral  oration  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  he  complied  with  the  request  on 
the  following  day,  delivering  "  a  pertinent  discourse  in  the 
presence  of  a  great  concourse  of  a  people," — a  funeral  proces- 
sion having  been  formed  at  Lyon's  tavern,  and  proceeding  to 
the  church.  On  the  following  day,  26th,  he  performed  the 
same  service  at  the  cantonment  on  Greek  Brook,  Scotch 
Plains,  performing  the  service  on  horseback  riding  in  front 
of  the  line.  At  S])ringfield,  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  he 
preached  a  funeral  sermon  for  Washington,  from  2  Kings 
xviii.  7, — "  And  the  Lord  was  with  him ;  and  he  prospered 
whithersoever  he  went  forth  ;  and  he  rebelled  against  the 
king  of  Assyria,  and  served  him  not." 


506  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The  following  advertisement  appeared,  evidently  from  Mr. 
Austin's  pen,  in  the  N.  J.  Journal,  of  Jan.  1-4,  1800  : — 

An  Holy  Convocation  of  the  American  Israel,  under  the  sound  of  the 
Jubilee  Trump,  consisting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  Deacons,  Delegates, 
and  People  from  the  Churclies  of  every  Christian  denomination  through- 
out the  United  State?,  is  proposed  to  be  held  at  Springfield,  New-Jersey, 
Wednesday,  February  5th,  A.  D.  1800,  at  2  o'clock  P.  K,  for  the  purpose 
of  laying  the  foundation  of  the  New  Jerusalem  CiiuRcn,  Ou  this 
ground  brethren  from  every  tribe  will  hold  themselves  ready  to  give 
heart  and  hand  to  brother  of  every  name.  No  corrupt  design  may  pol- 
lute the  offering,  nor  hand  of  TJzzah,  nor  the  invidious  spirit  of  a  Tobias 
or  Sanballat  be  there. 

The  exercises  will  commence  by  a  discourse  from  one  of  the  brethren, 
and  will  be  continued  as  may  seem  most  promotive  of  the  interests  of  the 
Pentecostal  scene. 

The  hymns  and  services  of  the  day  will  be  set  to  the  tunes  of  Christian 
unity  and  Brotherly  love. 

Brethren  of  every  rank  and  of  every  name,  in  the  spirit  described,  are 
invited  to  attend.  If  any  Achan  appear  there,  may  all  Israel  stone  him 
with  stones. 

Elizabeth  Town,  January  13,  1800. 

A  Builder  of  the  Temple  of  the  Lord. 

The  following  week,  Eahway  was  substituted  for  Spring- 
field, as  the  place  of  meeting.  Nothing  further  respecting 
this  meeting  is  known  to  be  on  record. 

He  sought  to  make  converts  to  his  views,  and  to  defend 
himself  against  opposers,  by  a  long  communication,  in  the 
N.  J.  Journal,  of  Jan.  28,  1800,  signed  "  The  Pharez  of 
God."  At  the  celebration  of  Washington's  birthday  in  the 
"  Union  Camp,"  he  delivered  a  yery  remarkable  prayer,  a 
copy  of  which  appears  in  the  Journal  of  the  25th  of  Feb. 
Another  millennarian,  or  "  Jubilee,"  article  appeared  in  the 
Journal  of  the  ith  of  March,  entitled,  "  A  Prophetic  Eebus." 
lie  must  have  left  the  town  shortly  after,  as  nothing  further 
appears  of  or  from  him,  at  this  time.* 

The  reception  of  Mr.  Giles  having  been  sanctioned  by  the 
Synod,  the  Presbytery  installed  him  pastor  of  this  church, 
on  Tuesday,  June  24,  1800  ;  the  Kev.  Samuel  Miller,  of  Xew 
York,  preached,  from  1  Tim.  iii :  1 ;  the  Eev.  Dr.  Eodgers,  of 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No3.  841,  845,  846,  84T,  650,  854,  855. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  607 

New  York,  presided,  and  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor ;  and 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Eoe,  of  "Woodbridge,  gave  the  charge  to  the 
people.  Tlie  connection  was  of  short  continuance,  as,  on 
the  7th  of  October,  the  same  year,  Mr.  Giles  applied  to  the 
Presbytery  to  be  released  from  his  charge,  and  no  objection 
having  been  offered  by  the  congregation,  he  was  released, 
and  dismissed  to  the  Fairfield  East  Association.  No  reasons 
for  this  course  are  recorded.  Six  weeks  after,  his  son,  Alfred, 
died,  at  New  York.  He  retired  to  Connecticut,  with  health 
impaired,  it  is  said.  In  May,  1802,  he  was  settled  at  Trum- 
bull, Ct.,  and  dismissed  in  September.  The  next  year,  July 
20,  1803,  he  settled  at  Newburyport,  Mass.,  where  he  died, 
Sept.  28,  1821.*    . 

Jn  June,  1801,  Mr.  Austin  applied  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly, then  in  session  at  PJiiladelphia,  "  to  be  taken  into  con- 
nexion with  the  Presbyterian  Church  ;  "  but,  it  being  the 
closing  session,  no  decision  of  the  case  was  reached.  The 
next  year.  May  22d,  1802,  he  renewed  his  application,  and 
was  fully  heard  in  support  of  his  petition  ;  but  the  Assembly, 
in  kind  terms,  declined  his  request. 

The  congregation,  a  few  days  after  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Giles,  united  in  extending  a  call  to  the 

REV.  HENRY  KOLLOCK, 

which  was  put  into  his  hands  by  the  Presbytery,  Oct.  22, 
1800,  and  accepted.  He  was  ordained,  on  AVednesday, 
Dec.  loth,  at  10  o'clock  A.  M. ;  the  Rev.  Aaron  Condict,  of 
Hanover,  preached  from  2  Cor.  ii :  16 ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mc- 
Whorter  presided  and  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor ;  and 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Smith,  of  Connecticut  Farms,  gave  the 
charge  to  the  people. 

He  was  born,  Dec.  11,  1778,  in  this  town,  at  that  part  of 
it  which  was  called  New  Providence,  whither  the  family  had 
retired  for  the  greater  security  of  the  region.  An  uncom- 
monly bright  youth,  he  was  early  fitted  for  college,  at  the 
academy  in  his  native  town,  entered  the  junior  class  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1792,  and  graduated  in  Sep- 

•  Eccords  of  Prcsb.  of  N.  T,    Murray's  Notes,  pp.  125,  6.    N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  872,  S92. 


608 


THE    niSTORY    OF 


tember,  170-i,  before  lie  had  completed  the  sixteenth  year  of 
his  age.  Three  years  he  remained  at  home,  assisting  his 
father  in  business,  and  perfecting  himself  in  general  reading. 
Having,  in  the  v»'inter  of  1796-7,  while  Mr.  Austin  was  still 
pastor,  become  a  member  of  the  church,  he  was  taken  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  May  4,  1797,  as  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year, 
he  accepted  an  appointment  as  Tutor  of  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  a  position  that  he  held  for  three  years.  His  associate, 
the  first  year,  was  John  Henry  Hobart,  afterwards  the  Bishop 
of  the  Episcopal  Diocese  of  New  York  ;  and,  the  remaining 
two  years,  he  was  associated  with  Mr.  Frederick  Beasley, 
afterwards  the  rector  of  St.  John's  church  of  this  town. 
Mr.  Hobart  had  spent  a  year  with  him  in  college,  and,  on 
renewing  his  Princeton  life,  became  the  bosom-friend  of  Mr. 
Kollock — an  intimacy  which  was  kept  up  by  correspondence 
and  otherwise  after  he  left  Princeton  the  second  time. 

Mr.  Kollock  received  license  to  preach,  May  7th,  1800, 
and  at  once,  in  his  very  first  pulpit  efforts,  attracted  unusual 
attention.  He  continued  at  Princeton  until  September, 
preaching,  every  Sabbath  afternoon,  greatly  admired  and 
drawing  the  largest  audiences — a  popularity  that  followed 
him  through  life,  and  that  nowhere  was  more  strikingly 
manifested  than  among  his  own  townsmen.  In  the  summer 
of  the  year  following  his  settlement  he  visited  New  England, 
proceeding  as  far  as  Boston,  and  producing,  by  his  pulpit 
efforts,  a  great  sensation  wherever  he  preached, — a  mere  boy 
of  less  than  23  years. 

Having  been  requested  by  the  Standing  Committee  of 
Missions,  then  newly-appointed,  to  preach  a  missionary 
sermon  before  the  General  Assembly,  he  performed  the 
service,  at  Philadelphia,  May  23, 1803,  from  the  text,— John 
iii :  30. — "  He  must  increase."  The  Assembly  presented 
him  their  thanks,  and  published  the  sermon.  His  reputation 
as  a  preacher  was  thereby  spread  through  the  country. 
Calls  were  extended  him  from  several  important  places.  The 
Trustees  of  the  College  of  N.  Jersey  appointed  him,  young 
as  he  was,  Professor  of  Theology,  and  the  Presbyterian 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  609 

clinrcli  of  Princeton  called  liini  to  be  tlieir  pastor,  lie 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  accept  these  positions,  and,  the  con- 
gregation consenting,  he  was  released,  Dec.  21,  1803,  after  a 
ministry  of  three  years. 

In  1806,  he  was  honored  by  Union  and  nnrvard  Colleges, 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  About  the  same 
time,  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Independent  Presbyterian 
church  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  removed  thither  in  the  autumn 
of  1806.  He  continued  in  this  charge  until  his  decease,  by 
paralysis,  December  29,  1819,  aged  forty  one  years. 

He  was  •married,  in  this  town,  June  1,  1804-,  by  his  friend, 
Eev.  J.  II.  Hobart,  to  Mehetabel,  the  widow  of  Alexander 
Campbell,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  daughter  of  William 
Hylton,  of  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  Tlie  Hylton  family  be- 
longed to  St.  John's  parish  in  this  place.  Mrs.  Mehetabel 
Hylton,  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Kollock,  died  here  Oct.  16, 
1810,  aged  92  years.  Dr.  Kollock  had  no  children.  His 
widow  survived  him.- 

Mr.  Austin's  admirers  were  not  slow  to  inform  him  of  Mr. 
Kollock's  removal,  and  to  invite  him  to  return  to  his  old 
home.  Promptly  and  gladly  he  complied  with  the  invitation. 
A  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held,  and  a  vote  obtained 
to  employ  him  as  the  stated  supply  of  the  pulpit  for  three 
months.  The  people,  as  before,  were  divided  in  respect  to 
retaining  him.  At  the  close  of  his  brief  engagement,  the 
question  of  his  continuance  was  taken  in  a  very  fall  meeting 
of  the  people,  and  lost  by  one  vote  only. 

Application  was  then  made  to  the  Presbytery,  in  session 
at  New  York,  April  25,  1804,  praying  them  "  to  receive  the 
Rev.  David  Austin  into  their  body  and  appoint  him  to  sup- 
ply the  congregation  of  Elizabeth  Town  for  three  months. 
The  following  day  the  Presbytery  took  action  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That,  whereas  none  of  the  petitioners  are  present  and  have 
not  been  seen  in  Presbytery  since  shortly  after  the  petition  was  presented ; 
and  Mr.  Austin  has  not  appeared  to  make  any  application  to  Presbytery; 
and  there  is  no  application  to  Presbytery  from  the  Session,  or  Board  of 

*  Spragne's  Annals,  IV.  2C3-74.  McVickar's  Hobart,  pp.  4,  9.  Life  of  Dr.  Alexander,  pp. 
218,  236,  243-9,  252.  Murray's  Notes,  pp.  126-7.  Memoir,  prefixed  to  Kollock's  Sermons,  I. 
Eecords  of  Pretb.  of  N.  York. 

39 


610  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Trustees,  or  any  regular  body  of  tho  congregation  of  Elizabeth  Town  ; 
and  Mr,  Austin  is  by  no  means  acknowledged  by  Presbytery  as  in  good 
standing,  or  in  any  wise  connected  with  this  body  : 

They  cannot  comply  with  either  of  the  requests  ;  but,  on  the  contrary 
.find  themselves  in  duty  bound  to  declare,  agreeably  to  their  declaration 
on  a  former  occasion,  that  they  cannot  recommend  Mr.  Austin  as  one  who 
ought  to  be  employed  by  any  of  our  Congregations  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ. 

Disappointed  with  the  result,  his  friends  withdrew  from 
the  congregation,  and  obtained  the  use  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  for  the  Sabbath  afternoons  and  evenings..  Subscrip- 
tion papers,  bearing  date,  "May  7th  1804,"  wej'e  circulated 
to  raise  £50,  to  finish  the  gallery  of  the  Methodist  church, 
"  for  the  accommodation  of  the  people  disposed  to  attend  the 
Labors  of  the  .Rev^  David  Austin  for  the  year  ensuing." 
The  amount  was  secured,  mainly  through  the  agency  of  Mr. 
Edward  Price.  Among  the  subscribers  were  Alderman 
Caleb  Ilalsted,  Jr.,  (for  a  long  period  Mayor  of  the  Borough), 
Aaron  Winans,  Elihu  Brittin,  Stephen  Burrows,  Lewis 
Woodruff,  "Wm.  Halsted,  Thomas  Price,  Jr.,  David  and 
Tenrub  Price,  Lewis  Tucker,  Nehemiah  Tunis,  Isaac  "Wood- 
ruff, Richardson  Gray,  Morris  Hatfield,  "Wm.  and  Daniel 
Willis,  Henry  Freeman,  James  Bonnell,  David  S.  Canfield, 
Moses  Ogden,  John  Hendricks,  Wm.  W.  Smith,  and  Thos. 
Eaton.  None  of  them  were  office-bearers  of  the  Church. 
One  subscription  only  was  for  five  dollars  ;  none  of  the  others 
exceeded  three  and  a  half  dollars.  Yery  few  men  of  sub- 
stance adhered  to  him. 

Kot  content  with  the  opportunities  of  the  pulpit,  frequent 
communications  appeared,  from  May  to  November,  1804,  in 
the  columns  of  the  N.  Jersey  Journal,  on  "  the  Millennial 
Empire,"  of  which  the  following  is  a  specimen  : — 

The  Millennial  Empire :  or  the  Republican  Cloud  presenting  the  Blaze 
of  iSTational  Day. 

Brethren  of  Ecclesiastical  Grade, —  .  .  .  "What  were  we  doing  during 
the  eight  years  of  Washington's  day?  .  .  .  "We  advanced  to  a  fellowship 
in  our  spiritual  connections : — The  rallying  point  was  Elizabeth  Town. 
A  wind  dislodged  John  Adams,  and  sent  David  Austin,  a  revolutionary 
name,  into  the  sea.    This  formed  a  compound  fracture  upon  the  political 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  611 

and  spiritual  hopes  of  the  existing  labor.  But,  Sirs,  if  John  Adams  be 
irretrievable  gone,  not  so  with  your  file-leader.  Ho  rises  from  the  sea, 
and  returns  from  his  walk  upon  the  waters,  unfurling  the  banners  anew 
at  Elizabeth  Town.     If  the  republican  winds  now  blow  let  them  blow,  &c. 

David  Austin, 
Chaplain  to  the  Republic,  on  the  old  spiritual  line  at  Elizabeth  Town. 
Eliz.  Town,  May  28,  A.  D.  1804.* 

It  is  strange,  that,  witli  sncli  palpable  evidence  of  his 
mental  derangement,  he  should  have  been  so  long  sustained 
by  even  his  warmest  admirers,  for  a  single  month.  Yet  he 
continued -here.  Encouraged  by  his  friends,  he  addressed  a 
letter  to  the  Presbytery,  dated  at  E.  Town,  Oct.  1,  180-1; 
and,  on  the  3d,  appeared  personally  before  them  at  Morris- 
town,  when  he  was  heard  at  fall  length  in  relation  to  his 
being  restored  to  the  fellowship  of  the  ministry.  Thereupon 
it  was 

Eosolved,  That  the  said  letter  and  the  subsequent  communication  have 
given  the  Presbytery  no  fiirtlier  satisfaction  respecting  the  state  of  Mr. 
Austin's  mind,  and  that  the  said  letter  be  put  upon  the  files  of  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

Mr.  Austin  took  his  leave  of  the  people  that  employed  him, 
in  a  farewell  discourse,  Wednesday  evening,  Dec.  26,  1804, 
and  presently  returned  to  Connecticut.  Finding  the  Con- 
gregational churches  closed  against  him,  and  their  Asso- 
ciations quite  as  reluctant  to  receive  him  into  their  fellow- 
ship as  the  Presbytery  had  been,  and  not  brooking  the  re- 
straint, he  sought  the  fellowship  of  the  Baptists,  and  was  im- 
mersed. But  he  soon  discovered  that  his  new  associations 
were  far  from  being  congenial,  and  he  returned  practically 
to  the  Congregationalists. 

His  father-in-law,  Dr.  Lathrop,  having  died  in  ISOT,  and 
made  ample  provision  for  his  daughter,  Mr.  Austin  thence- 
forward resided  at  Norwich,  where  by  the  tender  and  judi- 
cious treatment  of  his  excellent  wife,  he  graduall}^  recovered 
the  tone  of  his  mind,  and  embraced  every  opportunity  to 
preach  the  gospel.  lie  appeared  in  the  Pi»esbytery  of  New 
York,  Ap.  29,  1808,  with  a  certificate  of  commendation  from 

♦  N.  Jersey  Journal,  Nos.  1074,  9,  SO,  4,  9,  90,  4,  8. 


612  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  New  Haven  East  Association,  and  the  censure  "svas  so 
far  withdrawn  as  to  allow  of  his  being  employed  by  the 
brethren  in  Connecticut. 

It  is  probable,  that,  on  this  occasion,  Mr.  Austin  spent 
several  weeks  among  his  old  parishioners.  It  was  announced, 
in  the  IST.  J.  Journal,  June  28,  1808,  that  the  Eev.  David 
Austin  would  deliver  the  oration  at  Eahway,  on  the  ensuing 
4th  of  July. 

Again,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  April  28, 1809, 
in  this  town, 

The  Rev.  David  Austin  appeared  and  requested  to  be  received  into  his 
former  standing  in  Presbytery,  and  having  solemnly  acknowledged  him- 
self wrong  in  withdrawing  from  this  Presbytery;  and  renounced  all 
claim  to  a  spirit  of  inspiration  or  prophecy ;  and  promised  to  conduct 
himself  in  a  peaceable  and  christian  manner  as  a  minister  of  Christ  and 
a  member  of  this  body ;  the  Presbytery  received  him  again  as  a  member 
of  their  body,  and  Mr.  Austin  took  his  seat. 

lie  was  in  attendance  on  the  Presbytery,  at  Newark,  June 
7,  1809,  and  was  appointed  to  preach  at  Morristown  the  next 
Sabbath.  He  attended,  also,  in  October,  1809.  He  con- 
tinued to  be  reported  as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Jersey,  for  several  years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  an 
Association  in  Connecticut,  having  been  called  to  take  charge 
of  the  Congregational  church  of  Bozrah,  originally  the  fourth 
society  of  Norwich,  Ct.,  of  which  he  was  duly  installed  pastor, 
May  9,  1815.  Continuing  still  to  reside  at  Norwich,  he  re- 
tained the  charge  of  this  humble  country  parish,  greatly 
honored  by  his  people,  until  his  death,  at  Norwich,  Peb.  5, 
1831.  His  faithful  wife  died  some  years  before.  It  has  been 
truly  said, — 

For  elegance  of  manners,  for  brilliancy  of  conversation,  for  fervor  of 
worship,  for  a  large  heart  and  a  liberal  hand,  few  men  could  surpass  Mr. 
Austin.  The  darkness  that  obscured  his  intellect  on  many  points,  and 
which  was  never  wholly  removed,  appeared  not  to  impair  in  the  least 
those  prominent  traits,  that  lay  deep  and  shone  through,  to  illustrate  his 
character,  and  to  win  for  him  the  love  and  admiration  of  all  who  came 
within  his  sphere.* 

♦  Miss  Caulkins'  Norwich,  p.  437. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  613 

Another,  who  knew  liim  intimately,  says, — 

He  closed  life  unusually  well.  Nearly  a  year  before  his  death,  his 
health  began  to  decline.  Hi?  forwardness,  his  eccentricity,  his  extrava- 
gance, his  drollery,  were  all  laid  aside.  An  increasing  simplicity  and 
gentleness,  with  brotherly  love  and  faith,  characterized  him  the  residue 
of  his  days.  In  life,  he  had  commanded  great  attention  ;  in  his  decline 
and  death,  he  awakened  great  interest  in  the  hearts  of  his  Christian 
friends.  * 

Of  all  the  excellent  and  eloquent  men  who  have  graced 
the  pulpits  of  this  town  none  have  excited  deeper  interest 
than  Mr.  Austin. 

Dignified  in  personal  appearance,  polished  in  manners,  eloquent  in  his 
public  performances,  and  prompt  to  meet  every  demand  that  was  made 
upon  his  ample  fortune,  he  exerted  a  commanding  influence  not  only  over 
his  own  congregation,  but  also  over  many  of  the  leading  minds  of  his  day. 
His  memory  was  retentive  and  his  conversational  powers  extraordinary. 
His  devotional  exercises  were  peculiarly  happy  and  impressive  ;  and  all 
who  remember  him  testify  that  few  have  ever  surpassed  him  in  public 
prayer,  t 

*  D'.  McEwen  in  Spragiie's  Annals,  II.  206. 

t  Sprague,  II.  195-206.  Murray's  Notes,  pp.  114-125.  N.  T.  Observer,  Aug.  11,  1844. 
Caulkins'  Norwich,  pp.  435-7.  Sprague's  Lifo  of  McDowell,  pp.  8-12.  Disosway's  Chbs.  of 
N-  Y.  &  its  Vicinity,  pp.  379-Sl.    Ms.  Records  of  Presb.  of  N.  T.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  1287. 


014  THE    HISTORY    OF 


CHAPTER    XXYIII. 

A.  D.  1790-1838. 

Ecclesiastical  —  Rev.  Samuel  Spraggs  —  Rev.  Menzies  Rayner  —  Rev.  Frede- 
rick Beasley,  D.  D.  —  Rev.  Samuel  Lilly  —  Introduction  of  Methodism  — 
Lists  of  Methodist  Ministers  —  Rev.  Thomas  Morrell. 

At  the  time  of  the  decease'  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  Chandler,  in 
June,  1790,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Spraggs  had  been  the  resident 
minister  of  St.  John's  church,  since  April  of  the  previous 
year.  Mr.  Spraggs  had  given  such  general  satisfaction  in 
his  work  as  an  assistant,  that  on  the  1st  of  January  following 
he  was  appointed  by  the  "Wardens  and  Vestrymen  to  fill  the 
vacant  rectorship,  with  good  promise  of  usefulness  in  his 
vocation. 

REV.  SAMUEL  SPRAGGS, 

th.e  newly-appointed  rector,  was  in  the  forty-fourth  year  of 
his  age,  and  had,  for  a  considerable  period,  been  an  accepta- 
ble preacher  in  connection  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  having  been  admitted  on  trial,  at  the  second  Con- 
ference, held  at  Philadelphia,  May  25,  1774.  Of  his  paren- 
tage and  the  place  of  his  nativity,  no  record  remains.  It  is 
said  that  he  came  from  England.  Like  all  the  Methodist 
preachers  of  that  day,  he  had  probably  enjoyed  but  few  ad- 
vantages of  education,  in  which  respect  the  contrast  between 
him  and  Dr.  Chandler  was  very  noticeable. 

Mr,  Spraggs'  first  ajipoiutment,  after  being  "  admitted  on 
trial,"  was  to  Brunswick  Circuit  in  S.  E.  Virginia,  May  25, 
1774.  In  May,  1775,  having  been  admitted  to  full  connec- 
tion, he  was  appointed  to  Pliiladelphia,  and  re-appointed  in 
May,  1776.  The  following  record,  made  at  Philadelphia,  in 
Mr.  Asbury's  Journal,  refers  to  Mr.  Spraggs  : — 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  615 

Lord's  Day,  June  2.  Went  to  the  chapel,  and  preached  after  brothei  S.  S. 
and  the  people  appeared  to  be  deeply  affected.  But  brother  S.  does  not 
seem  to  enter  into  the  Methodist  plan  of  preaching.  IIo  uses  a  few  pomp- 
ous, swelling  words,  which  pass  for  something  great  with  short-sighted 
people ;  but  are  not  calculated  to  do  them  much  spiritual  good.* 

In  May,  1777,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Frederick  Circuit 
in  Maryland.  After  the  capture  of  Philadelphia  by  the 
British  array,  Sept.  2G,  1777,  he  found  his  way  again  to 
Philadelphia,  and  in  the  course  of  the  following  winter  or 
spring  to  New  York.  As  the  only  travelling  preacher  there 
in  the  connection,  he  took  charge  of  the  old  John  st.  Chapel 
from  that  time  to  the  close  of  the  war  in  17S3.  In  common 
with  his  fellow-itinerants,  he  was  regarded  by  the  British 
authorities  as  a  loyalist,  and  so  neither  he  nor  the  chapel 
was  disturbed,  during  the  war.  His  ministry  there  termi- 
nated in  July,  1783,  from  which  time  his  name  disappears 
from  the  connection.  It  is  probable,  that,  about  this  time, 
he  married  and  located  at  Mount  Holly,  N.  J.  His  wife's 
name  was  Mary.     She  was  twelve  years  his  senior. 

It  is  not  known  how  he  was  occupied  during  the  next  few 
years.  He  had,  in  all  probability,  become  connected  with 
the  Episcopalians,  and  had  been  ordained  a  deacon.  His 
salary  at  the  first  was  £120.  It  was  increased,  Ap.  1,  1793, 
to  £150.  His  ministry  was  cut  short  by  his  unexpected  de- 
cease, Sep.  7,  1794. 

Mr.  Spraggs  was  an  affectionate  and  useful  pastor,  (says  Dr.  Eudd,) 
and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  regard  of  his  flock,  with  whom  he  was  on 
terms  of  affable  and  cordial  intercourse.t 

His  widow  survived  until  June  27,  1821,  dying  at  'New 
York,  in  the  87th  year  of  her  age.  She  left  the  parish  a 
small  legacy.  :j; 

REV.  MENZIES  RAYNER. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestrymen  and  AVardens,  Feb.  10, 
1795,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  write  to  the  Kcv.  Men- 
zies  Rayner,  "  respecting  his  residing  here  as  minister  of  St. 

»  Asbury's  Journal,  I.  139.  t  Dr.  Uudd's  Notices  of  St.  John's,  p.  21. 

t  Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  164-8.  "Wakoley's  Lost  Chapters  of  Am.  Methodism,  pp.  2C2,  S, 
279-83,  2S7,  293.    Records  of  St.  John's  Chh. 


616  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Jolin's  Clinrch."  Mr.  Rayner  had  been  on  the  Methodist 
circuit  that  included  this  town,  and  so  was  well  known  here. 
The  application  was  not  successful.  At  the  Easter  meeting 
of  the  parish,  April  6,  1795,  Rev.  Joseph  Pilmoor  was  ap- 
pointed the  rector,  but  declined,  in  favor  of  Christ  church, 
(Ann  St.)  New  York.* 

The  call  to  Mr.  Rayner  was  shortly  after  renewed  and  ac- 
cepted, lie  began  his  ministry  here  as  early  as  Jan.  1, 
1796.  He  was  a  native  of  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  had  entered  the 
Methodist  ministry  in  1790,  and  had  successively  been  ap- 
pointed to  the  Dutchess,  Hartford,  Lynn,  Elizabeth  Town, 
and  Middletown  (Ct.)  circuits. 

He  "was  a  young  man  of  promise,  (says  Dr.  Stevens,)  and  very  accepta- 
ble among  the  people  as  a  preacher.  Having  engaged  himself  to  marry 
a  young  lady  whose  family  was  imwilling  that  she  should  share  Ms 
privations  as  an  Itinerant,  he  chose  the  alternative  of  resigning  his 
ministerial  post.  It  was  done  with  deliberation,  with  frank  notification 
of  his  purpose  to  his  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  George  Roberts,  and  with 
the  avowal  of  undirainishei  confidence  in  the  doctrines  and  discipline 
of  Methodism. 

He  had  just  left  the  connection,  when  he  was  called  here, 
in  1795.  He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  on  Wednesday, 
Nov.  8,  1797,  by  Rt.  Rev.  Samuel  Provoost,  D.D.,  on  which 
occasion,  the  Rev.  Abraham  Beach,  D.D.,  of  New  York,  read 
the  prayers,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner,  Assistant  Minister 
of  Trinity  church,  Newark,  preached.  His  pastorate  con- 
tinued nearly  six  years.  In  September,  1801,  he  accepted 
an  invitation  to  the  rectorship  of  the  Episcopal  church  of 
Hartford,  Ct.,  which  position  he  held  about  twelve  years. 
Afterwards  he  took  charge  of  a  church  in  Huntington, 
Ct.  In  his  later  years,  he  witlidrew  from  the  Episcopal  min- 
istry, and  became  a  Universalist  preacher.  In  1839,  he  sup- 
plied the  pulpit  of  the  Bleecker  st.  Universalist  church  of 
New  York.f 

At  a  parish  meeting,  Sept.  5,  1801,  as  Mr.  Rayncr  was 

•  Spraguc's  Annals,  V.  266-70.  Berrlan's  Trinity  Cbli.,  pp.  1S3,  4, 191.  Wakeley's  Lost 
Chapters,  pp.  198,  20T-18. 

t  Records  of  St.  Jolin's.  Dr.  Kudd's  Discourse,  pp.  21-2.  Stevens'  Memorial  of  Meth- 
odlsm,  1. 127.    Journals  of  the  Gen.  P.  Ep.  Convention,  1. 209, 2S4, 813.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  735. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  617 

about  to  leave  his  charge,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  wait 
on  the 

KEY.  FREDERICK  BEASLEY, 

who  was  then  in  town,  and  invite  him  to  the  rectorship  of 
St.  John's,  with  a  salary  of  £250.  The  call  was  accepted, 
and  he  was  instituted  in  February,  1802. 

Mr.  Beasley  was  a  native  of  Edenton,  IST.  C,  where  he  was 
born,  in  1777.  He  graduated  in  1797,  at  the  College  of 
New  Jersey.  In  1798,  he  was  associated  with  Henry  Kol- 
lock,  of  this  town,  as  a  Tutor  in  Princeton  College,  and 
served  two  years,  pursuing,  at  the  same  time,  under  the  di- 
rection of  Pres.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  D.D.,  the  study  of 
theolog3^  He  was  employed  as  a  Eeader,  for  several  months 
previous  to  Nov.  1800,  by  Christ  church,  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.  In  the  summer  of  the  following  year,  he  was  ordained 
Deacon  by  Bishop  Moore  of  New  York,  and  soon  after  was 
invited  to  serve  one  of  the  churches  of  New  York  City,  but 
declined  in  favor  of  St.  John's  of  this  town.  In  February 
1802,  arrangements  were  made  for  his  regular  induction  as 
rector ;  and,  not  long  subsequently,  he  was  ordained  Priest, 
also  by  Bishop  Moore.  His  salary  was  £250  a  year.  His 
college  friend,  Henry  Kollock,  had,  scarcely  more  than  a 
year  previous,  become  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  this  town.  Their  intimacy,  thus,  was  very  happily  re- 
newed for  a  season. 

His  ministry  here  was  soon  terminated.  He  resigned  his 
rectorship,  June  5,  1803,  (six  months  before  Mr.  Ivollock's 
removal),  to  accept  a  call  to  St.  Peter's  church,  Albany, 
N.  Y.  In  August  1809,  he  resigned  this  charge,  to  become 
the  Colleague  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  G.  J.  Bend,  D.  D.,  of  St. 
Paul's,  Baltimore,  Md.*  This  position  he  resigned  in  July, 
1813,  to  become  the  Provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, at  Philadelphia.  In  1815,  the  honorary  degree  of 
D.D.,  was  conferred  on  him,  both  by  the  University  over 
which  he  presided,  and  by  Columbia  College.     He  retired 

♦  The  Eev.Dr.  Bond,  in  April,  1790,  had  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Ahnor  Hatfleld,  of 
this  town,  and  niece  of  Elins  Boudinot,  LLD.  lie  died,  at  Baltimore,  Sept.  13, 1812,  In  his 
COth  year.    His  wlfo  died  in  1801,  leaving  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 


618  THE    HISTORY    OF 

from  tlie  University  in  1828,  and,  in  1829,  became  the  rector 
of  St.  Michael's,  Trenton,  N.  J.  He  resigned  this  charge  in 
June,  1836,  and  withdrew  from  public  life. 

"While  rector  of  St.  John's  in  this  town,  he  had  become 
tenderly  attached  to  Susan  "W.,  daughter  of  Gen.  Jonathan 
Dayton,  whom  he  married,  August  22,  1803,  just  as  he  was 
removing  to  Albanj^,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Beasley,  having  given  birth 
to  a  daughter,  died,  Nov.  27,  1804,  in  her  22d  year,  greatly 
lamented.  Mr.  Beasley  subsequently  (June  29,  1807)  mar- 
ried Maria,  daughter  of  Matthias  AYilliamson,  also  of  this 
town.  On  his  retiring  to  private  life,  in  1836,  he  came  hither, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  among  his  relatives  by 
marriage,  in  the  j^rosecution  of  his  studies.  His  publications 
had  been  somewhat  numerous,  of  which  the  most  profound 
were, — "  A  Search  of  Truth  in  the  Science  of  the  Human 
Mind  ;  Part  I.,"  8vo.  1822.  (Part  II.  was  completed,  but  not 
published) : — "  A  Vindication  of  the  Fundamental  Principles 
of  Truth  and  Order  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  from  the  Alle- 
gations of  the  Kev.  William  E.  Channing,  D.D."  1830.  He 
was  a  superior  scholar,  but  excelled  chiefly  in  the  Philosophy 
of  the  Mind,  being  of  the  School  of  Locke.  Though  con- 
scientiously attached. to  the  Episcopal  Church,  he  was  not 
illiberal  towards  other  Churches. 

He  died,  of  dropsy  in  the  chest,  on  Saturday,  Nov.  1, 1845. 
His  wife  survived  until  July  2,  1852.  They  had  nine  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  came  to  mature  years.  One  of  them 
[Frederick  W.],  took  orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
settled  in  Bucks  County,  Pa. ;  another  practised  law  at 
Trenton,  N.  J,,  and  has  attained  great  eminence  at  the  bar 
and  on  the  bench.* 

Mr.  Beasley's  successor  was  the 

REV.  SAMUEL  LILLY. 

He  was  appointed  rector  of  St.  John's,  August  28,  1803. 
He  -WRS  admitted  to  Priest's  Orders,  shortly  after,  and  in- 
ducted April  2,  1804,  on  an  annual  salary  of  five  hundred 
dollars  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage.     He  had  charge,  also, 

♦  Eccorda  of  St.  John's  Cbh.   Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  lCS-70.  Sprague's  Annals,  V.  477-84. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  619 

of  the  academy,  during  the  same  year.  No  record  has  been 
found  of  his  history,  previous  to  his  becoming  the  rector  of 
St.  John's.  Early  in  the  autumn  of  1804,  he  was  informed  of 
the  impossibility  of  raising  the  stipulated  salary.  The  con- 
gregation voted,  Oct.  21,  1804,  to  continue  the  salary  until 
April  1,  1805,  "  if  he  should  so  long  continue  to  perform 
divine  service  in  this  church  and  would  then  resign  the  Rec- 
torship." Mr.  Lilly  declined  to  iiccede  to  the  terms  pro- 
posed, and  negotiations  were  continued  until  April  13,  1805, 
when  he  agreed  to  resign  his  charge  on  the  first  of  May, 
"  being  then  paid  up  all  arrears  of  the  stipend  due  to  that 
time."  The  arrears  were  paid  in  full,  April  30,  and  Mr. 
Lilly,  the  same  day,  formally  relinquished  the  rectorship. 
Some  time  after  he  removed  to  the  South,  where  he  died, 
previous  to  1824.* 

Until  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  two  churches 
only  had  been  organized  within  the  village  of  Elizabeth 
Town ;  The  First  Presbyterian,  and  St.  John's  Episcopal, 
churches.  Soon  after  the  War,  the  town  was  visited  occa- 
sionally by  traveling  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
persuasion.  Bishop  Asbury,  as  previously  noticed,  on  passing 
through  the  town,  preached  by  invitation,  Sept.  6,  1785,  in 
the  unfinished  Presbyterian  church.  Either  then,  or  shortly 
after,  a  society  was  gathered,  and  taken  under  the  care  of 
the  Conference.  Of  this  society,  one  of  the  earliest  and  most 
efficient  members  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Morrell. 
This  worthy  couple  originated  in  ISTewtown,  L.  I.,  but,  at  an 
early  day,  took  up  their  abode  in  the  City  of  New  York, 
where  they  resided  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Mrs. 
Morrell  was  one  of  the  small  company,  who  were  induced  to 
hear  Philip  Embury,  the  carpenter,  preach  in  his  own  house, 
at  New  York,  in  the  year  1766, — the  earliest  American 
Methodist  preacher.  She  was  converted,  and  had  the  honor 
of  being  enrolled  in  the  first  Methodist  Class  in  America. 
In  1772,  Mr.  Morrell  removed  to  this  town,  and,  with  his 
wife,  united  with  the  First  Presbyterian  church  under  the 

♦  Ms.  Records  of  St.  John's  CLh.  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  10S2.  D'.  EudJ's  Hist.  Notices  of 
Bt.  John's  Chh.  p.  22. 


620 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Caldwell.  At  the  organization  of  the 
Methodist  society,  Mrs.  Morrell  returned  to  the  people  of 
her  first  love,  and  became  one  of  the  principal  supports  of 
the  society. 

The  first  who  ministered  to  this  handful  of  people,  (for  such 
they  were  for  many  years),  were  circuit  preachers,  appointed 
by  the  General  Conference,  generally  two  by  two,  in  the 
order  following:  • 

The  appointments  by  the  General  Conference  to  the  E. 
Town  Circuit  were  as  follows : 

James       ToUeson,        Samuel 
Thomas,  Thom.as  Morrell. 

Thomas  Everard,  David  Bar- 
tine. 

Joseph  Totten,  Jesse  Justice. 

Joseph  Totten,  William  Mills. 

Joseph  Totten,  William  Mills. 

Samuel  Thomas,  George  Wool- 
ley,  Joseph  Stevens. 

Thomas   Morrell,   Benjamin 
niff,  Samuel  Budd. 

Peter  Vannest,  David  Bartine. 

WUliam  McLenahan,  David 
Bartine. 

James  Moore,  Jacob  Hevener. 

James  Moore,  Thomas  Strat- 
ton. 

William      Smith,      Thomas 
Stratton,  John  Sharpley. 

William  Mills,  Jacob  Ilevener. 

"With  the  exception  of  the  year,  1821,  M^hen  Joseph  Ly- 
brand  received  the  appointment,  no  preachers  were  assigned 
to  the  E.  Town  circuit  from  1811  to  1822.  Mr.  Morrell, 
during  this  period,  preached  regularly  on  the  Sabbath,  aided 
by  the  preachers  on  the  Essex  circuit.  In  1823,  Samuel  S. 
Kennard,  and,  in  1824,  Robert  Lutton  were  stationed  here. 
From  1825  to  1838,  Thomas  Morrell  was  classed  among  the 
"  supernumerary  preachers,  in  connection  with  "  this  church  ; 
and,  from  1825  to  1853,  the  following  preachers  were  stationed 
here : — 


1787.  Robert  Cloud,  Thomas  Mor- 

1798. 

reU. 

1788.   John    McCluskey,     Simon 

1799. 

Pile. 

1789.  John  Merrick,  John  Cooper. 

1800. 

1790.  Jethro   Johnson,     Gamaliel 

1801. 

Bailey. 

1802. 

1791.  No  record. 

1803. 

1792.  John  Clark,  Joseph  Totten. 

1793.  John  Eagan,  Menzies  Eay- 

1804. 

ner. 

1794.  John    Clark,    Hezekiah    C. 

1805. 

Wooster. 

1806. 

1795.  Shadrach  Bostwick,  Robert 

Hutchinson,         William 

1807. 

Storms. 

1808. 

1796.  John  Fountain,  Albert  Van 

Nostrand. 

1809. 

1797.  John   Clark,  Timothy  Mer- 

ritt,  John  Seward. 

1810. 

ELIZABETH, 

NEW    JERSEY.                        Q 

1825. 

Thomas  B.  Sargent. 

1840. 

Robert  Lutton. 

1826. 

Thomas  B.  Sargent^ 

1841. 

Robert  Lutton. 

1827. 

Joseph  Iloldich. 

1842. 

Alexander  Gilmore. 

1828. 

Joseph  Iloldich. 

1843. 

Joseph  Ashbrook. 

1829. 

Daniel  Parrish. 

1844. 

Joseph  Ashbrook. 

1830. 

Edmund  S.  Janes. 

1845. 

James  0.  Rogers. 

1831. 

Edmund  S.  Janes. 

1846. 

James  0.  Rogers. 

1832. 

"William  A.  Wilmor. 

1847. 

Richard  B.  'Westbrook. 

1833. 

Edwin  L.  Janes. 

1848. 

Richard  B.  Westbrook. 

1834. 

William  H.  Gilder. 

1849. 

Thomas  McOarroU, 

1835. 

James  Buckley. 

1850, 

Thomas  McCarroU. 

1836. 

James  Buckley. 

1851. 

Lewis  R.  Dunn. 

1837. 

George  A.  Rayhold. 

1852. 

Lewis  R.  Dunn. 

1838. 

Isaac  N.  Felch. 

1853. 

Alexander  II.  ]Mead. 

1839. 

Isaac  N.  Felch. 

In  1852,  a  second  Cliiircli  jvas  commenced  at  Elizabeth 
Port,  and  located  on  Fulton  st.  For  the  next  five  years,  the 
appointments  were  as  follows: 


1854.  Alexander  II.  Mead,  E.  Town; 
1853.  James  Ayars,  "      " 

1856.  John  Ogden  Winner,  "       " 

1857.  John  Ogden  Winner,  "      " 

1858.  Richard  Vanhorne,    "      " 


Isaac  Trotter,^ 
Jonathan  B.  Ileward, 
Albert  H.  Brown, 
Horace  S.  Bishop, 
Jeremiah  Cowins. 


E.  Port. 


Li  1859,  a  new  enterprise  was  started  in  Mechanic  street, 
now  known  as  St.  Paul's  Church,  since  which  time  the  ap- 
pointments for  the  three  churches  have  been  as  follows,  in  the 
order  of  time, — Water  st.,  Fulton  st.,  and  St.  Paul's : — 

1859.  Richard  Vanhorne,  George  F.  Dickinson,  John  F.  Dodd. 

1860.  Dallas  D.  Lore,  George  F.  Dickinson,  Edward  W.  Adams. 

1861.  Dallas  D.  Lore,  John  F.  Hurst,  Edward  W.  Adams. 

1862.  George  H.  Whitney,  John  F.  Hurst,  Elbert  Clement. 

1863.  John  F.  Hurst,  Charles  S.  Coit,  James  N.  Fitzgerald. 

1864.  John  F.  Hurst,  Charles  S.  Coit,  Sylvester  N.  Bebout. 

1865.  Richard  B.  Lockwood,  Sylvester  H.  Opdyke,  Alexander  L.  Brice. 

1866.  Richard  B.  Lockwood,  Sylvester  H.  Opdyke,  Alexander  L.  Brice. 

1867.  Benjamin  Kelley,  James  I.  BosweU,  Alexander  L.  Brice. 

1868.  Benjamin  Kelley,  James  J.  Boswell,  Sanford  Van  Benschotten. 

Among  those,  to  whose  labors  the  Society,  in  its  infancy, 
was  under  greatest  obligations,  was  the 


622  THE    HISTORY    OF 

KEV.  THOMAS  MORRELL. 

He  was  the  eldest  child  of  Jonathan  Morrell,  and  was 
born  at  'New  York,  Nov.  22,  1747.  His  fiither  was  a  native 
of  Newtown,  L.  I.,  and  a  grandson  of  Thomas  Morrell,  who 
was  at  Gravesend,  L.  L,  in  1G50,  and  at  Newtown,  as  early  as 
1655,  where  he  died  about  1704,  leaving  four  sons :  Thomas, 
Samuel,  Joseph  and  Jonathan.  One  of  these  four  was  the 
father  of  Jonathan,  and  the  grandfather  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Morrell.  The  father  was  a  merchant,  and  from  the  time  of 
their  coming  to  this  town  in  1772,  the  son  had  a  partnership 
in  the  business.  When  tidings  of  the  battle  of  Lexington 
reached  the  town,  a  company  of  volunteers  was  immediately 
gathered,  of  which  he,  being  among  the  foremost,  was  chosen 
Captain.  He  was  in  command  of  one  of  the  boats  that  cap- 
tured the  Blue  Mountain  Valley,  off  Sandy  Hook,  Jan.  23, 
1776.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  measures  that  were 
adopted  to  protect  the  town  and  neighborhood,  during  the 
following  summer  and  autumn,  against  the  British  and  Hes- 
sians. 

In  June,  1776,  he  received  a  captain's  commission,  with 
orders  to  muster  a  company  of  seventy-eight  men,  and  report 
to  Gen.  Washington,  then  at  New  York.  Two  companies 
of  militia  were  parading  in  front  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Young  Morrell  gave  them  an  earnest  talk,  and  then  called 
for  volunteers.  So  effective  was  his  eloquence,  that  in  five 
minutes  his  quota  was  filled — many  of  them  being  of  the 
most  respectable  families  in  the  town.  They  were  equipped, 
and  ready,  at  New  York,  for  service,  six  days  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  They  were  attached  to  the 
N.  Jersey  Brigade,  under  Gen.  Heard  of  Woodbridge,  and 
in  the  fatal  engagement  at  Flatbush,  Aug.  27,  1776,  were 
nearly  cut  to  pieces.  Capt.  Morrell  fell,  severely  wounded, 
and  barely  escaped  with  life.  He  was  removed  first  to  New 
York,  and  then  to  his  father's  house  in  this  town,  where  he 
remained,  unable  to  report  for  duty,  until  the  advent  of 
Cornwallis  and  his  army  of  invasion,  when  he  found  a  refuge 
at  the  house  of  Ilev.  Jonathan  Elmer  at  New  Providence. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  623 

Soon  after  he  was  appointed  a  Major  in  the  Fourth  Jersey 
regiment,  and  served  through  the  campaign  of  1777,  or  until 
the  attack  on  Germantown,  Pa.,  Oct.  3,  1777  in  which  he 
took  an  active  part.  He  also  distinguislied  himself  in  the 
battle  of  Brandywine,  Sept.  11,  1777.  His  health  had  now 
become  so  much  impaired,  that,  with  the  reluctant  assent  of 
Washington,  who  highly  esteemed  him,  he  withdrew  from 
military  service,  and  resumed  his  mercantile  pursuits,  in 
which  he  continued  thenceforward  nearly  ten  years. 

The  change  which  then  ensued  is  best  told  in  his  own 
words,  as  recorded  in  his  Journal : — 

In  the  month  of  October,  1785,  I  was  awakened  by  the  pfeaching  of 
the  Rev.  John  Ilagerty,*  and  in  March,  1786,  received  the  witness  of 
God's  Spirit  of  my  acceptance.  In  June,  1786,  I  began  to  preach  as  a 
local  preacher  in  Elizabeth-Town,  and  in  several  parts  of  the  circuit.  In 
March,  1787,  I  began  to  ride  as  a  traveling  preacher,  and  rode  on  Eliza- 
beth-town Circuit  [twenty  months]  with  Robert  Cloud.  At  the  Confer- 
ence in  New  York,  in  October,  1788,  I  was  ordained  deacon  [nearly  41 
years  old],  and  appointed  to  the  Trenton  Circuit,  with  John  Merrick  and 
Jethro  Johnson.  At  the  June  Conference  in  N.  York,  1789,  was  ordained 
an  Elder,  and  appointed  for  that  city,  with  Brother  Clou'd,  who  was  with 
me  twelve  months,  and  Brother  Merrick  four  months. 

He  continued  at  ISTew  York,  most  of  the  time,  for  nearly 
five  years,  residing  at  No.  32  John  st.  During  the  first  six 
months,  he  built  the  Forsyth  st.  church,  the  funds  for  which 
he  raised  himself.  The  church  was  dedicated,  Nov.  8, 1789. 
A  great  revival  followed,  resulting  in  400  conversions,  and 
200  accessions  to  the  society,  within  ninp  weeks  from  Jan.  1, 
1790.  At  the  Conference  in  1790,  he  was  appointed  Pre- 
siding Elder  for  the  district,  including  N.  York,  E.  Town, 
L.  Island,  ISTew  Eochelle  and  Newburgh  Circuits. 

In  the  winter  of  1791-2,  he  traveled  with  Bishop  Asbury 
through  the  Soutliern  States.  He  was  stationed  several 
months  at  Charleston,  and  returned  to  'New  York  in  June, 
1792.  In  March,  1794,  he  left  the  city,  and  retired  to 
Ehzabeth  Town  ;  having  found  in  the  society  at  New  York 
in   1789,  about   300  members,  and  left   above   850.      The 

•  Then  stationed  at  New  York  City,  and  the  following  two  years  rresldinc:  Elder  of  tbe 
District. 


Q24o  THE    HISTORY    OF 

following  winter  lie  was  stationed  at  Philadelphia,  but,  in 
consequence  of  a  severe  illness,  was  laid  aside  about  four 
years.  His  excellent  mother  -was  taken  from  hira,  July  30, 
1796,  in  her  68th  year.  In  1799,  he  was  stationed  at  Balti- 
more, Md.,  and  remained  two  years.  In  May,  1801,  though 
appointed  to  New  York,  he  returned  home  and  remained  a 
year.  In  1802,  with  his  newly-married  wife,  he  consented 
to  be  stationed  at  New  York,  but  in  Februarj'-,  1804,  he 
retired  from  the  itinerant  connection,  and  became  a  per- 
manent resident  of  this  town.  His  venerable  father  closed 
a  long  and  useful  life,  Sept.  25,  1805,  in  his  80th  year,  having 
been  a  consistent  member  of  the  church  for  40  years. 

The  "  meeting  house  "  of  the  Methodist  society  had  been 
built,  soon  after  "the  organization  of  the  church,  directly  east 
of  and  almost  adjoining  his  own  house,  on  "Water  st,,  a  short 
distance  below  the  Adelphian  Academy,  that  occupied,  in 
early  days,  the  site  of  the  present  spacious  Market-House. 
It  was  a  small,  unpretending  frame  building,  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  a  feeble  congregation.  In  this  humble  structure, 
Mr.  Morrell  took  delight,  once  at  least  every  Sabbath,  in 
preaching  "  a  free  and  full  salvation  "  to  all  who  came.  At 
the  time  of  his  return  to  the  town,  Mr.  Austin  was  preach- 
ing in  the  Presbyterian  church.  "When  the  congregation 
voted  against  continuing  him  in  their  service,  his  friends 
procured  for  him  the  use,  during  the  afternoon  and  evening 
of  every  Sabbath,  of  the  Methodist  church,  and,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  £50,  obtained  by  subscription,  finished  the  gallery 
of  the  church.  The  division  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
brought  quite  a  number  of  families  to  attach  themselves  to 
the  lively  and  energetic  ministry  of  Mr.  Morrell,  after  Mr. 
Austin's  final  removal  from  the  town. 

During  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  four  years,  from  the 
time  of  his  locating  here,  Mr.  Morrell  continued  in  the  faith- 
ful discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  Christian  minister,  rarely 
failing  to  preach  once  every  Sabbath,  until  his  S7th  year. 
As  "Father  Morrell,"  he  was  known,  revered,  and  greatly 
honored  by  all  classes  of  people  in  the  town,  many  from  the 
other  churches,  the  young  as  well  as  the  old,  resorting  fre- 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  625 

qiiently  to  liear  the  old  soldier  discourse  of  the  great  salva- 
tion. He  took  an  active  part  in  all  measures  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  town,  and  especially  for  the  advancement  of  re- 
ligion. On  all  patriotic  occasions, — Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tions, and  the  like, — he  was  sure  to  be  iDresent,  During  the 
war  of  1812-15,  his  counsels  and  other  services  were  freely 
tendered,  and  wqyq  invaluable.  So  late  as  July  4,  1828,  at 
fourscore  years  of  age,  he  delivered  an  oration  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  full  of  patriotic  fire,  and  worthy  of  the 
occasion. 

After  the  completion  of  his  fourscore  years  and  ten,  he 
wrote,  January  1,  1838,  in  his  admirably  kept  journal,  as 
follows : — 

Through  the  tender  mercy  of  God,  I  have  lived  to  see  the  beginning 
of  another  year,  being  now  ninety  years,  one  month,  and  nine  days  old, — 
a  longer  period  than  any  of  our  family  have  lived.  I  have  many  things 
to  be  thankful  for, — my  life  being  prolonged  to  so  advanced  an  age, 
having  the  faculties  of  my  mind  in  perfect  exercise,  my  health  tolerably 
good,  sleep  sound,  appetite  good,  ray  wife  in  health,  my  children  all 
religious  and  in  health,  my  son  successful  as  a  preacher,  my  soul  devoted 
to  God,  and  every  thing  in  plenty  of  temporal  things.  Would  to  God 
I  was  more  thankful,  more  holy,  more  heavenly-minded.  This  morning 
I  have  devoted  my  soul  and  body  to  God ;  and  though  I  am  unable  to 
preacli  as  formerly,  yet  I  am  endeavouring  by  grace  to  walk  with  God. 
The  church  hero  is  in  a  low  state.  Lord,  revive  thy  work  in  my  soul, 
and  in  our  and  the  other  churches,  for  Christ's  sake.     Amen  and  Amen. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1838,  after  a  severe  illness  of  six 
months'  duration,  he  fell  asleep,  in  perfect  peace,  having 
lived  ninety  years,  eight  months  and  seventeen  days,  and 
having  been  a  ftiithful  and  honored  minister  of  the  gospel 
more  than  fifty-two  years. 

He  was  a  man  of  marked  personal  appearance  : — 

Ho  was  rather  short  in  stature,  but  strongly  built.  His  neck  was 
short,  his  head  not  largo,  his  eye  bright  and  bine,  his  lips  thin,  and  his 
whole  appearance  indicative  of  much  more  than  ordinary  firmness.  Ho 
always  wore  a  covering  on  his  head,  like  a  smoking  cap,  from  beneath 
which  his  hair  fell  gracefully  on  his  neck.  For  his  age,  his  step  was 
quick,  and  his  conversation  vivacious.  He  was  neat  in  person,  and 
always  appeared  as  if  dressed  for  company.  He  wore  a  long  frock-coat, . 
buttoned  to  his  chin,  and,  without  the  least  ostentation,  was  a  man  of. 
40 


626  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  01(1  School.     Ilis  memory  was  retentive  to  the  last,  and  his  senses 
uuinipaired  by  years. 

lie  was  thrice  married.  The  name  of  his  first  wife,  -whom 
he  married  about  Oct.  1,  1769,  has  not  been  j^reserved.  She 
was  the  mother  of  two  children  :  Elizabeth  B.  (born,  July  22, 
1770,  and  died,  Feb.  2,  1799),  and  Catharine  (born,  Feb.  29, 
1772,  married  Benjamin  Wade,  and  died,  Xov.  21,  ISOO, 
"  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  a  blissful  immortality). "  The  date 
of  her  death  has  not  been  ascertained. 

He  married  again  (Bishop  Asbury  officiating),  May  24, 
1802,  Lydia,  a  daughter  of  George  Frazee,  of  "Westfield,  She 
was  born,  March  20,  1774,  and  had  three  children :  Francis 
Asbury  (born,  June  4,  1804,  and  died,  Sep.  11,  1805),  Cath- 
arine (born,  Oct.  31,  1805,  and  married  to  Eev.  Wm.  A. 
Wilmer),  and  Francis  Asbury,  2d  (born,  July  27,  1807,  and 
married  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Griffith).  The  latter 
is  a  worthy  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mrs.  Lydia  Morrell  died,  Oct.  11,  1808. 

The  bereaved  liusband  then  married,  at  Belleville,  N.  J., 
October  4,  1809,  Eunice,  the  widow  of  Theodoras  James 
Hamilton,  a  well-known  merchant  of  this  town.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Uzal  Woodruff  and  Elizth.  the  daughter 
of  Samuel  Ogden  and  Hannah  Hatfield.  Their  only  child, 
Eunice  Theodosia  (born  Dec.  13, 1811),  became,  Ap.  12, 1838, 
the  second  wife  of  the  Hon.  Apollos  Morrell  Elmer,  of  this 
town,  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Elmer.  Mrs.  Morrell  out- 
lived her  husband  about  12  years.* 

*  Sprague's  Annals,  VII.  145-150.  Wakelcy's  Lost  Chapters  of  American  Methodism, 
39T-401,  &.C.  N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  S92,  1U2, 1144,  1354.  N.  J.  Conference  Memori.il,  pp.  9-22. 
Ms.  Letters  of  Rev.  F.  A.  Morrell  and  Mr.  F.  King.    Littell's  P.assaic  Valley,  p.  150. 


ELIZABET.n,    NE\Y    JERSEY.  627 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

A.  D.  1735-1850. 

Ecclesiastical — Township  of  Raiiwat  —  Prcsb.  Chh. — Rev.  Messrs.  Cleverly, 
Grant,  Strong,  and  Watkins  —  First  Pastor  —  Rev.  A.  Richards  —  Rev.  R.  II. 
Chapman,  D.  D.  —  Rev.  B.  Carll  —  Township  of  Union  —  Presb.  Chh.  —  Rev. 
S.  Horton  — Rev.  J.  Davenport  —  Rev.  D.  Thane  —  Rev.  J.  Darby,  M.  D. — 
Rev.  B.  Hait  — Rev.P.  Fish  — Rev.  S.  Smith  — Rev.  S.  0.  Thompson. 

RAHWAY. 

A  FURTHER  reduction  in  the  extent  of  the  territorial  area  of 
the  town  was  made,  by  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  Xew  Jersey, 
February  27,  1804.     It  was  then  enacted. 

That  all  that  part  of  tlie  townsliips  of  Westfield  and  Elizabeth  Town, 
lying  within  the  following  lines,  to  wit :  beginning  at  the  bridge  that 
crosses  Rahway  river,  a  small  distance  below  Elias  "Williams's  saw-mill, 
from  thence  running  south,  thirty-eight  degrees  and  five  minutes  west, 
one  hundred  and  seventy  chains  and  nine  links  to  John  Ross's  mill-pond, 
on  Robertson's  branch  ;  thence  south-westerly  along  up  said  branch  as  it 
runs  until  comes  to  the  county  line  between  Essex  and  Middlesex  ;  thence 
along  the  said  county  line,  as  it  runs,  north  eighty-seven  degrees  east, 
three  hundred  and  fifty-live  chains  and  thirty-three  links  to  Mordeca 
Marsh's  mill-pond  on  Rahway  river;  thence  along  down  the  said  Rahway 
river  to  the  sound ;  thence  up  the  sound  to  the  mouth  of  Thompson's 
creek,  near  Ualstead's  point ;  thence  along  up  said  creek  to  Dr.  Isaac 
Morse's  mills ;  .thence  continuing  along  up  said  creek  to  a  bridge  crossing 
the  same  in  the  lower  road  leading  from  Rahway  to  Elizabeth-Town ; 
thence  along  the  lower  road  as  it  runs,  north  thirty  five  degrees  and 
thirty  minutes  west,  forty  six  chains  and  seventy  links,  to  land  late  of  Ben- 
jamin "Winants  deceased ;  thence  running  north,  fifty  one  degrees  and  forty 
eight  minutes  west,  one  hundred  and  five  chains  and  thirty  one  links  to 
whore  formerly  stood  the  sign  post  to  the  eastward  of  the  wheat  sheaf  tav- 
ern; thence  crossing  the  main  road  to  tlie  road  leading  to  Raritan;  thence 
along  said  road  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Abraham  Clark,  esquire,  deceased, 


628  THE    HISTORY    OF 

and  Robert  Clark,  until  it  comes  to  the  scbool-liouse,  standing  on  tho 
westcrmost  corner  of  the  plantation,  formerly  belonging  to  Samuel  "Wil- 
liams deceased,  by  the  road ;  thence  running  north  seventy  degrees  Tvest, 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  chains  to  Eahway  river,  near  Jeremiah  Garth- 
waite's  dwelling-house ;  thence  running  along  down  Rahway  river  as  it 
runs  to  the  aforesaid  bridge,  the  place  where  it  first  began,  shall  be,  and 
hereby  is  set  oif  from  the  townships  of  Westfield  and  Elizabeth-Tow'n, 
and  made  a  separate  township,  to  bo  called  "  The  township  of  Rahway."  * 

As  already  intimated,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  town  were  attracted  to  the  fertile  valley 
watered  by  the  Rahway  river  to  the  west  and  south  of  the 
town  proper.  Much  of  the  Quaker  population,  that  came  in 
hither  under  the  Proprietary  rule,  found  homes  in  this 
quarter,  and  at  an  early  date  were  organized  into  a  religious 
society.  As  early  as  Oct.  11,  1706,  Mr.  Brooke,  the  Episco- 
pal missionary  at  E,  Town  and  Amboy,  asks  the  Propaga- 
tion Society  "  to  send  a  minister  to  take  the  charge  of  Eliza- 
beth Town  and  Rawway  upon  him."  The  latter  was  one  of 
his  preaching  places.  Mr.  Yaughan,  his  successor,  wrote 
Feb.  28,  ITl-i^,  that  his  "  labours  were  divided  between  Eliza- 
beth Town  and  Ilaway  ; "  and  speaks  of  his  "  monthly  lec- 
ture at  Railway  where  "  he  was  wont  to  "  preach  to  a  small 
congregation  and  catechised  their  children."  It  is  likely, 
that  something  of  the  kind  was  continued  throughout  his  long 
ministry.  Mr.  Chandler,  on  succeeding  him,  wa-ites,  Dec.  20, 
1749,— 

Particularly  that  part  of  the  congregation  which  lives  in  Raway.  ...  I 
have  occasionally  read  divine  service  at  a  Private  House  in  Raway,  and 
have  been  surprised  at  seeing  the  great  concourse  of  People  on  that  occa- 
sion. There  are  several  Families  there  that  make  a  part  of  our  congre- 
gation, one  Family  in  particular  of  good  Repute  has  in  the  summer  past 
deliberately  and  heartily  conformed  to  our  Holy  Church  and  behaves  with 
a  Zeal  very  becoming.  I  find  there  numbers  of  the  Dissenters  well  af- 
fected towards  the  Church  ;  and  I  doubt  not  by  the  Industry  of  a  faithful 
clergyman  in  Elizabeth  Town  a  considerable  part  of  the  Presbyterian  meet- 
ing in  that  place  might  be  gained  over  to  the  Church. t 

"  The  Presbyterian  meeting  in  that  place  "  was  then  in  its 
infancy.     The  most  of  the  people  were  of  that  persuasion. 

*  Clooinficld's  Lnws  of  N.  J.,  112-113.  ♦  Clark's  St  John's,  pp.  22-8,  40,  CS. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  629 

Bat,  for  nearly,  or  quite,  fourscore  years,  they  and  their 
fatliers  had  remained  in  connection  with  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian church  of  E.  Town,  -svhither  they  resorted  regularly  for 
public  worship.  The  pastors  of  thg,t  church  were  wont,  also, 
occasionally  or  statedly  to  perform  divine  service  and  preach 
the  word  here  in  private  houses,  and  sometimes  in  barns  for 
greater  convenience.  This  is  particularly  affirmed  of  Mr. 
Dickinson,  but  was,  doubtless,  true  of  his  predecessors.  As 
earlj',  however,  as  1T39,  the  project  of  building  a  Presbyte- 
rian church  at  Railway  had  been  entertained.  Samuel 
Oliver  (who  had  died,  in  June,  1744)  made  provision,  in  his 
will,  dated  Nov.  1,  1739,  that,  in  case  his  cousin,  Margery 
Oliver,  to  whom  he  bequeathed  one  third  of  his  moveables, 
should  die  under  age  without  Lawful  issue,  her  portion  should 
be  given  "towards  the  building  of  a  presbyterian  Meeting 
House  in  Elisabeth  Towne  Raway,"     Tradition  says,  that 

About  the  time  of  the  memorable  wiater,  known  familiarly  as  the 
"hard  winter,"  A.  D.  1741-1742,  the  people  made  their  first  effort  to- 
wards building  a  church.  It  is  said  that  the  enterprise  was  carried  on 
with  great  unanimity,  both  by  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians,  their  pas- 
tors affording  an  example  of  united  effort.  The  people,  even  in  that  try- 
ing season,  gave  liberally  to  the  house  of  the  Lord.  Each  one,  both  young 
and  old,  seemed  anxious  to  do  to  the  extent  of  their  ability,  what  they  could 
to  the  advancement  of  the  great  work  in  which  the  people  were  engaged. 

Their  first  house  of  worship  was,  doubtless,  erected  in  1742, 
or  3,  and  their  organization  as  a  church  must  have  taken 
place  about  the  same  time.  No  record,  however,  remains  of 
the  fact.  The  first,  who  statedly  supplied  their  pulpit  was 
Mr.  John  Cleverly,  who  had  just  retired  from  the  supply  of 
the  church  at  Turkey  [New  Providence],  of  whom  mention 
is  made  on  a  previous  page.  It  is  probable  that  his  first  en- 
gagement was  not  renewed,  and  he  retired  to  Morristown, 
where  he  became  a  teacher.  Mr.  John  Grant,  a  young  man 
of  much  promise,  succeeded  him,  but  left,  after  a  short  time, 
to  take  charge  of  the  church  of  Westfield.  He  was  succeeded 
by  a  Mr.  Strong  of  New  England, — probabl}'  Rev.  Nathan 
Strong,  of  Woodbury,  Ct.,  who  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1742,  and  settled  at  Coventry,  Ct.,  Oct.  9, 1745.    A  Mr.  Wat- 


(530  THE    HISTORY    OF 

kins,  probably  Rev.  Hezekiah  "Watkixs,  who  graduated  at 
Yale,  in  1737,  Avas  employed  for  a  short  period.*  They  suc- 
ceeded, at  last,  in  obtaining  the  pastoral  services  of  the 

REV.  AARON  RICHARDS. 

His  great-grandfather,  Thomas  Richards,  born,  about  1602, 
in  England,  came  to  America,  and  settled  at  Hartford,  Ct., 
about  1637,  M^here  he  died,  the  following  year.  His  son,  John, 
born  in  1631,  married,  as  early  as  16S6,  Lydia  Stocking,  and 
died,  in  1712,  at  Newark,  N.  J.  One  of  his  sons,  John 
Richards,  was  born,  in  16S7,  and  married,  in  1717,  Jane, 
daughter  of  Deacon  Azariah  Crane,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  and 
died  at  Newark,  Mar.  16,  1748.  Mrs.  Jane  Richards,  his 
wife,  died,  Sept.  12,  1741,  in  her  56th  year.  They  had  three 
sons,  Moses  and  Aaron,  (twins),  born,  1718,  and  David,  born, 
1720. 

Aaron  Richards,  the  son  and  grandson  of  John,  and  the 
great-grandson  of  Thomas,  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in 
1743,  having  associated  tliere  with  such  men  as  William 
Livingston  (Gov.),  Samuel  Hopkins  (D.  D.),  Samuel  Buel 
(D.  D.),  James  Sproat  (D.  D.),  Noah  Welles  (D.  D.),  Wil- 
liam Peartree  Smith,  Eliphalet  Williams  (D.  D.),  Wm.  Samuel 
Johnson  (Pres.  and  LL.  D.),  Wm.  Smith,  and  Thomas  B. 
Chandler  (D.  D.).  Caleb  Smith,  of  Orange,  N.  J.,  Avas  his 
classmate.  He  was  ordained,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  Nov.  15,  1748,  and  installed  the  first  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Rahway,  of  which  church  he  retained 
the  pastoral  charge  more  than  forty-two  years. 

His  usefulness  and  happiness  were  much  impaired  by  a 
morbid  hypochondria,  to  which  he  was  more  or  less  subject 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  ministry.  He  is  spoken  of,  in 
1753,  as  "  a  pious  minister,  under  the  deepest  melancholy 
and  temptation,  harassed  witli  perpetual  suggestions  to  cut 
his  own  throat."  Naturally,  however,  he  was  "gay  and 
lively." 

Having  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country  during  the  war 

♦  Clmrcb  Manual  of  1st  Pros.  Chh.  Euhwiiy,  N.  J.,  pp.  3,  4.  Wills,  Tronton,  Is.  J.,  D. 
Bprague's  Annnls,  II.  84. 


ELIZABETn,    NEW    JERSEY.  631 

of  the  Revolution,  he  was  compelled  to  flee  from  the  British 
invaders  in  17T6,  and  to  reside,  a  few  months,  at  South 
Hanover,  N.  J.,  where  he  ministered  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  until  he  could  return  to  his  home  in  safety.  With  ad- 
vancing 3'ears,  he  became  more  than  ever  a  victim  of  the 
most  distressing  hypochondria,  so  that  at  length,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two,  he  desisted  entirely  from  preaching.  Tlie  pas- 
toral relation  was  dissolved,  ISTov.  2,  1791.*  lie  died.  May 
16,  1793.     The  inscription  on  his  tomb-stone  is  as  follows : 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Aaron  Eichaeds  of  Eaway,  who 
deceased  May  IGth,  1793,  aged  75  years,  and  in  the  45th  year  of  his  min- 
istry. 

All  who  knew  the  man  will  join 
Their  friendly  sighs  and  tears  to  mine  ; 
For  all  who  knew  his  merits  must  confess, 
In  grief  for  him  there  can  he  no  excess. 
His  soul  was  form'd  to  act  each  glorious  part; 
Of  life  unstain'*  with  vanity  or  art. 
No  thought  within  his  generous  mind  had  birth, 
But  what  he  might  have  own'd,  in  heaven  and  earth. 
♦ 
His  wife,  Susannah  Smith,  a  native  of  England,  survived 

him  but  a  few  months.     Her  epitaph  is  remarkable  : 

In  memory  of  Susannah,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Aaron  Richai'ds,  who  died, 
18  February,  1794,  aged  08  years. 

On  God  for  all  events  depend. 
You  cannot  want,  when  God  's  your  friend. 
"Weigh  well  your  part  and  do  your  best, 
Leave  to  omnipotence  the  rest. 
God  is  alike  botli  good  and  wise, 
In  what  ho  grants  and  what  denies. 
Perhaps  what  goodness  gives  to-day, 
To-morrow,  goodness  takes  away. 

They  had  seven  children:  (1.)  Smith.  (2.)  Alexander.    (3.)" 
William.     (4.)  Samuel  Vroom.     (5  )  Susan,  married  to  Peter 
Smith,  of  Flanders,  N.  J.     (6.)   Mary,  married   to   Joseph 
Barnett,  of  Eahway.     (7.)  Betsey,  married  to  James  Brown, 
of  Woodbridge,  N.  J.  f 

♦  Ms.  Records  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  III.  105-6,  109-10. 

t  Alden's  Epitaphs.  Webster's  Presb.  Chh.,  p.  5S2.  Morse's  Genealogy  of  tho  Richards 
Family. 


632  THE    HISTORY    OF 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Tlicliards,  the  pulpit  was  sup- 
1)1  ied  for  a  while  by  "  a  Mr.  Coolej,"  who  had  sought  admis- 
sion to  the  Presbytery,  "  but  not  producing  satisfactory  Tes- 
timonials, could  not  be  admitted."*  He  was  followed  by 
Mr.  Henry  Cook,  a  Licentiate.  Supplies  were  furnished, 
from  time  to  time,  by  the  Presbytery.  The  vacancy  con- 
tinued more  than  five  years.  In  the  autumn  of  1Y96,  they 
gave  a  call  to  the 

REV.  ROBERT   HETT   CHAPMAN. 

lie  was  then  in  his  26tli  year,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Jedidiali 
Chapman,  and  a  descendant,  in  the  seventh  generation,  of 
Robert  Chapman,  who  was  born  at  Hull,  England,  in  1616, 
came  to  Boston,  Aug.  1635,  and  settled  at  Saybrook,  Ct., 
April,  1642.  His  son,  Robert,  had  a  son,  Robert,  who  was 
one  of  tlie  first  settlers  of  East  Iladdam,  Ct.  He  was  the 
father  of  Robert,  the  4:th,  and  the  grandfather  of  Jedidiah, 
of  Orange,  ]^.  J.,  who  was  born  at  East  Haddam,  Ct.,  Sept. 
27,  1741,  and  died  at  Geneva,  K  Y.,  May  22,  1813. 

Robert  Ilett  Chapman  was  the  second  son  of  the  Rev. 
Jedidiah  Chapman  and  Blanche  Smith,  and  was  born  at 
Orange,  N.  J.,  March  2,  [or  5,]  1771.  Both  dates  are  given 
in  "  the  Chapman  Family."  He  graduated  at  the  college  of 
N^ew  Jersey  in  1789,  in  the  same  class  with  David  Hosack, 
Mahlon  Dickerson,  Isaac  Pierson,  and  Silas  "Wood.  After  a 
full  course  of  theological  study,  he  was  licensed  to  preach, 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  Oct.  3, 1793.  In  the  winter 
of  1794-5,  he  visited  the  Southern  States  on  a  missionary 
tour.  On  his  return,  he  supplied,  for  a  while,  the  ncM-ly- 
organized  church  of  Wardsesson  [Bloomfield],  IST.  J. 

Tlie  call  from  Rahway  was  laid  before  the  Presbyterj^, 
Oct.  12,  1796,  and  accepted.  The  ordination  and  installation 
took  place,  Jan,  5,  1797.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  "Woodruff,  Roe, 
Chapman,  Austin,  Fish,  Hillyer,  Condict',  Cook,  Richards, 

♦  This  -nras  the  Thomas  Cooley,  who  sought  admission,  Doc.  20, 1791,  to  the  Prosbyterr  of 
Redstone,  with  credentials  from  the  Presbytery  of  Charleston,  and  testimonials  from  several 
dissenting  ministers  in  England.  IIo  was  taken  on  trial,  as  a  minister  from  foreign  parts, 
and  his  credentials  referred  successively  to  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  and  the  General  Assembly 
of  1793.  The  latter  body  pronounced  his  credentials  a  forgery.  What  became  of  him  is  not 
now  known.    "  Old  Redstone,"  180,  427,  437,  453.    Minutes  of  G.  Assembly,  p.  71. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  633 

Armstrong,  and  Force  were  present,  "  Mr.  Ililljer  preached 
tlie  sermon  from  Luke  ii :  14.  Mr,  Chapman  presided.  Mr. 
Condict  gave  the  exhortation  to  tlie  people."  * 

He  was  married,  a  few  weeks  later,  Feb.  14,  1Y97,  to 
Hannah,  daughter,  and  sixth  child,  of  Isaac  Arnett  and 
Hannah  White.  She  was  the  sister  of  Mrs.  Shepard  Kollock, 
of  this  town,  and  the  grand-daughter  of  James  Arnett,  who 
was  one  of  those  who  were  admitted  Associates  of  the  Town, 
in  1699.  They  had  twelve  children,  four  of  whom  were 
born  at  Rahway,  the  eldest  living  but  a  few  weeks,  and 
dying,  at  Railway,  in  May,  1798. 

His  first  pastorate  was  short ;  Oct.  2,  1799,  he  was  dismiss- 
ed, for  want  of  adequate  support,  the  people  being  unable  to 
fulfill  their  engagements.  He  was  subsequently  the'  honored 
President  of  the  University  of  N.  Carolina,  received  the 
degree  of  D.D,  from  Williams  College,  in  1815,  and  died,  on 
a  journey,  at  Winchester,  Va.,  June  18,  1833, f 

The  church  at  Railway  remained  vacant  until  the  summer 
of  1802,  being  supplied  mostly  by  the  Presbytery.  A  call 
was  then  extended  to  tlie 

EEV.  BUCKLEY  CAKLL, 

of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadeli)hia.  It  was  accepted,  and 
Mr.  Carll  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  Oct. 
6,  1802.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  at  Connecticut 
Farms,  Nov.  16,  1802, 

Mj.  David  Iletfiekl,  a  commissioner  from  the  congregation  of  Rahway, 
appeared  in  Presbytery,  requesting  the  instalment  of  W  Buckley  Carle, 
as  their  Pastor,  as  soon  as  convenient.  Whereupon,  the  Presbytery 
agreed  to  instal  M''  Carle,  Pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Rahway,  on  the 
4th  Tuesday  of  December,  at  11  o  clock  A,  M,  Mr.  Griffin  to  preach  the 
sermon  ;  Doct  Roe  to  preside ;  &  M'  Jlillyer  to  give  an  exhortation  to 
the  people. 

He  was  accordingly  installed,  Dec,  28th,  and  Mr,  Griffin 
preached  from  1  Tim,  iv :  16.  Rev,  Dr.  Roe  and  Messrs, 
Ilillyer,  Woodruff,  Griffin,  Force,  and  Thompson,  Avith  the 

♦  Ms.  Records  of  tho  Presb.  of  N.  Y.,  Vol.  IV.  123-4. 

t  Records  of  Presb.,  IV.  185-6;  237,  242,  3,  810.  Spraguo's  Annals,  IV.  95-9.  Ch.ipman 
Family,  pp.  10?,  9. 


634  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Elders,  David  D.  Crane,  Abiatliar  Dodd,  John  Wood,  Ben- 
jamin Corey  and  Jacob  Davis  were  present.* 

He  was  born  in  1770,  and  in  1799  became  the  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Pittsgrove,  N.  J.  Of  the  place  of 
his  birth  and  education,  no  information  has  been  obtained. 
Soon  after  his  settlement  here  he  was  subjected  to  a  sore 
bereavement.  A  monument  in  the  grave-yard  has  the  fol- 
lowing inscription : 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Naomi  Carl),  wife  of  the  reV^  Buckley 
Carll,  who  deceased  28  August,  1804,  in  the  35  year  of  her  age.  Her 
heaven  born  examples  as  a  loving  wife,  a  faithful  and  endearing  friend, 
and  an  eminent  christian,  all  combined  to  render  her  an  honour  to  her 
sex,  a  blessing  to  her  partner,  and  in  her  death  much  lamented  by  him 
and  the  people  of  his  charge.t 

He  was  dismissed  in  1825,  "  broken  down  by  disease,"  and 
returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  his  former  charge,  where, 
4  miles  from  Deerfield,  N.  J.,  he  purchased  a  farm,  on  which 
he  resided  until  a  short  period  of  his  decease.  He  died  at 
Deerfield,  May  22,  1849,  in  his  80th  year,  and  was  buried  at 
Pittsgrove.  His  second  wife,  Abigail,  survived  him,  and 
now  resides  at  Bridgeton,  !N.  J.:j: 

UNION. 

A  still  further  reduction  of  the  town  area  was  effected,  by 
an  Act  of  the  Legislature,  j^ov.  23,  1808  : 

Whereas  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  borough  of  Elizabeth 
have  by  their  petition  set  forth,  that  tliey  find  themselves  much  injured 
by  being  as  they  are  at  present  a  part  of  the  borough  of  Elizabeth,  and 
as  such  obliged  to  furnish  their  quotas  of  jurymen  four  times  in  a  year  to 
attend  the  mayor's  court,  where  but  little  business  is  done  and  in  which 
they  are  seldom  interested  ;  and  also  being  compelled  from  time  to  time 
by  taxation  to  pay  money  for  the  building  and  repairing  their  court-house, 
without  being  in  tlie  least  exonerated  thereby  from  their  services  or  ex- 
penses as  it  respects  the  county ;  For  remedy  whereof, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  council  and  general  assembly  of  this  state,  and  it 
is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  all  that  part  of  the 
borougli  of  Elizabeth  lying  within  the  fullowing  bounds,  to  wit — Bcgin- 

•  Records  of  Prcsb.,  IV.  296,  80-1,  5.  t  Alden's  Epitaphs. 

t  Ms.  Letters  of  Kt-v.  R.  II.  Davis. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  635 

ning  at  a  fork  in  the  road  leading  from  the  dwelling-house  of  Benjamin 
Mulford  past  the  house  of  Robert  Clark  to  Crane's  Mills,  and  in  the  line 
of  the  township  of  Eahway ;  thence  up  the  road  leading  past  the  said 
Benjamin  Mulford,  and  the  dwelling-house  of  William  Crane,  esquire, 
until  it  strikes  a  road  running  a  northerly  course  from  the  dwelling-house 
of  Oliver  Crane  ;  thence  up  the  said  road  until  it  strikes  the  mouth  of  the 
road  leading  from  James  Crane's  to  Stephen  Crane's  tavern ;  thence  in  a 
direct  line  to  a  bridge  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Trotter's  bridge  ; 
thence  on  a  direct  line  to  the  mouth  of  the  road  leading  from  the  main 
road  which  leads  from  Elizabeth-town  to  Newark,  and  near  the  dwelling- 
house  of  John  Pierson  ;  thence  up  the  said  road  past  the  house  of  Lewis 
Mulford,  to  the  fork  of  the  road  leading  to  Lyons  Farms  meeting  house, 
aud  the  road  leading  to  Newark,  past  the  house  of  Capt.  Obadiah  Meeker ; 
and  from  thence  in  a  direct  course  until  it  strikes  the  lino  which  separates 
the  township  of  Newark  from  the  borough  of  Elizabeth,  near  Dividend 
hill ;  thence  up  the  Newark  line  until  it  strikes  the  line  of  the  township 
of  Orange  ;  thence  along  the  Orange  line  until  it  strikes  the  line  of  the 
township  of  Springfield ;  thence  along  the  line  of  the  township  of  Spring- 
field until  it  strikes  the  township  of  Eahway ;  thence  along  the  line  of 
the  said  township  of  Rahway  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  shall  be  and 
hereby  is  set  off  from  the  borough  of  Elizabeth,  and  erected  into  a  sepa- 
rate township  to  be  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  "  The  township  of 
Union."  * 

At  an  early  period  of  the  settlement  of  the  town,  a  number 
of  families  were  attracted  to  the  neighborhood,  since  known 
as  "  Connecticut  Farms."  They  belonged  mostly  to  the  sec- 
ond or  third  generation  in  descent  from  the  old  planters  ; 
particularly  the  Bonnell,  Meeker,  Crane,  "Wade,  lleadlejand 
Townley  families,  and  the  Potter  family  of  Newark.  By 
whom  the  name  was  given  to  the  locality  cannot  now  be  de- 
termined— possibly  by  the  "Wades,  who  came  directly  from 
Connecticut. 

For  a  long  period,  the  people  of  this  neighborhood  traveled 
their  four  or  five  miles  every  Sabbath-day  and  back  again, 
to  worship  with  their  fathers  in  the  old  church  where  Ilarri- 
man  and  Dickinson  proclaimed  the  doctrines  of  the  cross. 
About  the  3'ear  1730,  ])ossibly  a  few  years  earlier,  they  were 
organized  into  a  separate  religious  society.  No  record  has 
been  preserved  of  the  formation  of  their  church.  Every- 
thing of  a  documentary  character  pertaining  to  the  early  his- 

•  Bloom  Hold's  Laws  of  N.  Jersey,  pp.  199-201. 


G36  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tory  of  the  congrep^ation  must  have  perished  in  the  disastrous 
conflagration  kindled  by  tlie  torch  of  tlie  ruthless  invader, 
June  7,  1780,  in  which  the  church  and  parsonage  were  both 
consumed.     Their  first  pastor  was  the 

REV.  SIMON  IIORTON. 

He  was  born  at  Southold*  (L.  I.),  K  Y.,  March  80, 1711. 
The  Ilortons  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  "  East  End  " 
of  Long  Island.  Barnabas,  Jonathan,  Joshua,  Caleb  and 
Benjamin  Ilorton  were  all  residents  and  landholders  at 
Southold,  in  1675,  and  in  1683;  Jonathan,  at  the  latter  date, 
being  the  richest  man  in  the  town,  and  one  of  its  overseers. 
One  of  them  was  the  father  of  Simon  and  Azariah.  Their 
mother  was  Elizabeth  Grover,  a  daughter  of  Simon  Grover, 
also  a  resident  of  Southold,  for  whom  Simon  was  named. 
The  latter  was  educated  at  Kew  Haven,  where  he  graduated 
in  1731,  a  classmate  of  Peter  Yan  Brugh  Livingston,  the  year 
before  James  Davenport  graduated.  With  whom  he  studied 
ft)r  the  ministry  does  not  appear  ;  probably  with  his  pastor, 
Rev.  Benjamin  Woolsey.  He  was  bred  a  Congregationalist, 
but,  his  steps  having  been  providentially  directed  hither,  he 
was  ordained,  sometime  between  Sept.  1734,  and  Sept.  1735, 
by  the  newly-erected  Presbytery  of  East  Jersey,  and  installed 
the  first  pastor  of  the  newly-organized  Presbyterian  church 
of  Connecticut  Farms.  It  is  said,  that  the  family  had  re- 
moved, in  1727,  to  East  Jersey.  This  statement,  however, 
needs  confirmation. 

The  congregation  to  which  Mr.  Horton  ministered  Avas 
scattered  over  a  considerable  territory.  The  families  that 
settled  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  in  what  has  since  been 
called  Springfield,  found  it  most  convenient  to  attach  them- 
selves to  his  parish.  Possibly  his  ministrations  extended  up 
the  Passaic  Yalley  among  the  "  Turkey  "  people,  nntil,  in 
1737-8,  they  were  organized  into  a  separate  church.  jS'o 
records  remain  of  his  ministry  here.  His  compensation  must 
liave  been  quite  small,  and,  like  most  of  his  brethren,  at  this 

♦  Webftter  Is  certainly  wrong  in  saying  that  he  was  born  "  in  Boston."  It  is  certain,  as 
Hedges  ond  Prime  afflrm,  that  his  brother  Azariah  was  "  a  native  of  Southold." 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  637 

period,  a  part  of  his  time  must  have  been  occupied  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  soiL  His  attendance  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Synod  was  quite  infrequent,  his  name  ordinarily 
appearing  among  the  absentees.  In  1742,  the  church  was 
represented  in  the  Synod  for  the  first  time,  by  the  Elder, 
Timothy  Whitehead,  who  united  with  his  pastor  and  a  few 
others,  in  protesting  against  the  summary  excision  of  certain 
members  of  the  Presbytery  of  Kew  Brunswick  in  1Y41. 

His  ministry  here  terminated  in  174G,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Newtown, 
L.  I.  He  continued  in  the  active  duties  of  his  callino-  until 
1<  72,  when  he  resigned  his  charge  and  remained  in  retire- 
ment until  his  decease,  which  occurred  at  the  residence  of  his 
son-in-law,  Judge  Benjamin  Coe,  in  Kewtown,  May  8,  1786, 
a3t.  75.  "He  was  a  man  of  unquestioned  piety,  and  always 
sustained  a  good  character  and  standing,"  He  "  was  of  a 
middle  size  ;  and  of  a  solemn  deportment."  -' 

The  Farms  church  remained  vacant  for  about  two  years, 
from  1746  to  1748,  during  which  time  the  mother  church  at 
E.  Town  was  deprived  of  their  pastor  by  death,  as  before  re- 
lated. The  Rev.  Timothy  Symmes  became  the  pastor  of  the 
united  churches  of  Springfield  and  ITew-Providence,  about 
the  time  of  Mr.  Ilorton's  removal,  and,  probably,  was  occa- 
sionally employed  at  the  "Farms."     Their  second  pastor  was 

REV.  JAMES  DAVENPORT. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Presbyterial  Kecords  of  this  period, 
it  cannot  now  be  determined  at  what  precise  time,  Mr. 
Davenport  began  to  labor  here  in  the  ministry.  He  was  re- 
ceived as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
Sep.  22,  1746,  and  may  have  been  laboring,  for  some  time 
j)reviously,  within  their  bounds.  He  was  dismissed,  in  1748, 
to  unite  with  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  "  with  a  view  to 
settle  at  Connecticut  Farms,  near  Elizabeth  Town."  Rev. 
Jonathan  Edwards,  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  writes  May  23, 
1749, — "  I  had  a  letter  from  Mr.  Davenport,  (who  is  settled 

•  Prime's  L.  Islfind,  pp.  801-6.  Eikcr's  Newtown,  p.  229.  Webster's  Prcsb.  Cbh.,  p.  433. 
Records  of  P.  Chh.,  p.  161. 


638  THE    HISTORY    OF 

now  as  a  minister  over  a  coni^regation  belonging  to  Elizabeth- 
town,  in  New  Jersey,)  dated  Aj3ril  1, 1749.''  In  Gillies'  Ex- 
hortations, (I.  156),  a  letter  from  Mr.  Davenport  is  published, 
dated,  "Elizabeth  Town  May  1749."  These  are  the  only 
evidences,  now  extant,  of  Mr,  Davenport's  ministry  at  Con- 
necticut Farms,  so  far  as  has  been  discovered.  They  are 
enough  to  settle  the  question,  that  in  the  years  1748,  and 
1749,  he  was  "  settled  "  over  this  church  as  their  minister. 

He  was,  at  the  time,  in  feeble  health,  and  appears  to  have 
removed  in  the  latter  part  of  1749,  or  early  in  1750.  At  the 
Synod,  held  at  Maidenhead,  N.  J.,  May  IS,  1749,  the  record 
was  made,  "  Mr.  Davenport  is  appointed,  if  he  recovers  a 
good  state  of  health,  to  go  and  supply  in  Virginia."  The 
appointment,  not  having  been  fulfilled,  was  renewed  the  fol- 
lowing year,  May  16,  1750.  He  set  out  on  this  mission, 
May  21st,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  four  months,  he  returned, 
and  took  up  his  abode  at  Hopewell,  N.  J.  He  could  not, 
therefore,  have  resided  here  more  than  two  years.  His  stay 
was  shortened,  probably,  by  his  feebleness  of  health. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  give,  in  this  connection,  the  particu- 
lars of  the  life  and  labors  of  this  eccentric  minister,  of  whom 
so  much  has  been  written,  for  and  against.  The  merest  out- 
line must  suffice.  A  great  grandson  of  the  Rev.  John  Daven- 
port, of  New  Haven,  Ct.,  and  a  son  of  the  Rev.  John,  of 
Stamford,  Ct.,  he  was  born  at  Stamford  in  1710,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  1732.  He  was  ordained  pastor  of 
the  church  of  Southold,  L.  L,  Oct.  2G,  1738.  In  1740,  he 
entered  upon  an  itinerant  course,  M'hich,  with  brief  intervals 
of  rest  at  home,  he  continued,  during  the  period  of  tlie  "  Great 
Awakening,"  for  nearly  four  years.  "While  his  preaching 
was  blest  to  the  awakening  and  conversion  of  very  many 
souls,  tilt  irregularities  and  extravagances,  bordering  on 
tanaticism,  in  which  he  indulged,  were  the  occasion  of  great 
disorders,  divisions  and  delusions,  over  which  he  himself, 
when  bronght  to  see  his  error,  in  1744,  wept  bitterl}-  with 
humiliation,  shame  and  grief.  Leaving  Southold,  in  1745, 
he  came  to  New  Jersey.  On  his  return  from  Virginia,  as 
related  above,  he  preached  awhile  to  feeble  congregations, 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  639 

until  he  -was  installed,  Oct.  22,  1754,  pastor  of  the  New  Side 
church  of  Hopewell  and  Maidenhead,  N.  J.  Here  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  Nov.  10,  1757,  set.  47.  Appended  to 
the  notice  of  his  death  on  his  tomb-stone,  are  the  following 
lines  : 

Oh  Davenport,  a  seraph  once  in  claj', 

A  brighter  seraph  now  in  Heavenly  day. 

How  glowed  thy  heart  with  sacred  lovo  and  zeal, 

IIow  like  to  that  thy  kindred  angels  feel. 

Cloth'd  in  humility  thy  virtues  shone, 

In  every  eye  illustrious  but  thine  own. 

IIow  like  thy  Master  on  whose  friendly  breast 

Thou  oft  has  leaned  and  shalt  forever  rest.* 

The  third  pastor  of  the  church  of  Connecticut  Farms  was 
REV.  DANIEL  THANE. 

He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  it  is  said,  and  studied  awhile 
at  Aberdeen.  Emigrating  to  this  country,  he  completed  his 
studies  in  connection  with  the  newly-chartered  college  of 
New  Jersey,  graduating  in  the  first  class  of  alumni,  at  New- 
ark, in  1748.  A  portion  of  the  year  previous  he  must  have 
spent  in  this  town,  under  the  instruction  of  President  Dick- 
inson and  Tutor  Caleb  Smith.  It  is  probable  that  he  studied 
theology  with  Mr.  Burr,  of  Newark,  and  was  taken  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  in  due  time 
licensed  to  preach.  Having  made  trial  of  his  gifts  among 
the  people  of  Conn.  Farms,  and  received  a  call  to  be  their 
pastor,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  York,  August  29,  1750.  The  youthful  and  graceful 
Thomas  Arthur,  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  (who  died  Feb. 
2d,  following,  a3t.  27),  preached  the  sermon,  and  llev.  Caleb 
Smith,  of  Newark  Mountains,  delivered  the  charge.  The 
sermon  and  charge  were  issued  from  the  press. 

No  memorial  of  his  ministry  here  has  been  preserved,  so 
far  as  known.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  on  the  meetings 
of  the  Synod,  by  whom,  in  1754,  he   was  sent  on  a  three 

•  Edwards'  "Works,  I.  278,  9.  Records  of  P.  Chh.,  pp.  235,  240.  Tracy's  Great  Awaken - 
infr,  pp.  23n-25.'5.  Webster's  Presb.  Chh.,  pp.  531-545.  Spraguo's  Annals,  III.  SO-92.  Prime's 
Long  Island,  pp.  146-9. 


640  THE    HISTORY    OF 

months'  tour  to  tlie  destitute  settlements  in  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina.  lie  continued  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Farms' 
church  until  1757.  He  had  been  "  disannexed  from  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York,"  previous  to  May,  1758,  soon  after 
which  date,  he  united  with  the  Presbytery  of  Newcastle, 
and  became  the  pastor  of  the  imited  churches  of  Newcastle 
and  Christina  Bridge,  remaining  in  this  connection  only  until 
1763.  It  is  thought  that  he  died  in  1761.  But  D^  Ilosack 
says,  that  DeWitt  Clinton,  who  was  born  in  1769,  was  under 
the  tuition  of  Mr.  Thane,  he  being,  at  the  time,  the  minister 
of  New  Windsor,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  Clinton  was  born. 
It  is  quite  certain  that  Mr.  Thane's  name  disappears  from  the 
Minutes  of  the  Synod  after  1763.* 

The  fourth  pastor  of  the  Farms'  church  was  the 

REV.  JOHN  DARBY. 

He  was,  probably,  a  son,  or  grandson,  of  William  Darbie, 
of  this  town,  mentioned  on  p.  255 ;  was  born  about  1725 ; 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1748,  was  licensed,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Suffolk,  L.  L,  in  April,  1719,  and  appointed 
to  preach  at  Lower  Aquebogue  and  Mattituck,  remaining  in 
this  service  for  two  years.  For  the  next  six  years  and  more, 
he  supplied  other  congregations  on  the  Island,  when  he  was 
ordained,  by  the  same  Presbytery,  Nov.  10,  1757,  as  an 
evangelist,  at  Oyster-Ponds  [Orient].  His  ministry  at  C. 
Farms  commenced  in  1758,  and  continued  about  two  years. 
In  1772,  he  withdrew  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
and  connected  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  County. 

After  leaving  the  Farms,  he  settled  at  Parsippany,  Morris 
Co.,  where  he  not  only  preached  the  gospel,  but  practised 
medicine,  having  acquired  a  medical  education.  As  such  he 
made  himself  quite  useful  during  the  revolutionary  war.  He 
received  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  from  Dartmouth  College  in 
1782,  and  died,  Dec.  1805,  90  years  old.  He  was  twice 
married.  By  liis  first  wife,  he  had  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
Of  these  two,  the  eldest,  Hester,  married  a  British  officer 
named  Fox.     His  second  wife  was  Hester  White  Huntting, 

•  Webster's  Presb.  Cbh.,  pp.  604,  5S2,  6.    Records  of  Trcsb.  Cbb.,  pp.  260,  289. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  641 

a  widow  of  East  Ilampton,  L.  I.  They  liad  one  son,  Henry 
White  Derby,  M.  D.  (of  Parsippany,  who  died,  Dec.  6, 1806, 
set.  46),  and  two  daugliters,  Helen  (the  wife  of  Gen.  O'Hara), 
and  Lucinda  (the  wife  of  Christian  De  AVint).* 

How  the  pnlpit  was  supplied  the  next  five  or  six  years  not 
even  tradition  informs  us.     In  the  winter  of  1765-6,  the 

REV.  BENJAMIN  HAIT, 

lately  dismissed  from  AmwcU,  N.  J.,  received  and  accepted 
a  call  to  this  churcli.  He  was  a  native  of  Norwalk,  Ct.,  and 
a  descendant  of  Walter  Haite  [Hayte,IIoit,  Hoyt],  the  father 
of  all  the  Haights  and  Iloyts  of  that  vicinity.  His  imme- 
diate parentage  cannot  now  be  given.  His  collegiate  days 
were  passed  at  Newark,  under  the  instruction  of  President 
Biirr,  of  the  College  of  N.  Jersey,  where  he  graduated  in 
1754.  He  was  regarded  by  Davies,  whom  he  accompanied 
to  New  York,  as  "  a  promising  young  man."  He  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  October  25, 
1754,  four  weeks  after  his  graduation.  In  the  Princeton 
Triennial,  he  is  called  "Iloit,"  as  the  name  "  was  uniformly 
pronounced."  He  began  his  ministry  at  the  Forks  of  Dela- 
ware [Easton],  Pa.  In  November,  1755,  he  received  a  call 
from  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Amwell,  Hunterdon  Co., 
N.  J.,  where  he  was  ordained  and.  installed,  by  the  same 
Presbytery,  Dec.  4,  1755.  In  May,  1765,  lie  closed  his 
ministry  at  Amwell,  and,  the  next  winter,  came  to  Connecti- 
cut Farms.  His  ministry  hero,  from  the  beginning,  was  in 
troublous  times,  and  terminated  by  his  death,  June  27, 1779. 
His  widow,  "  A.  Hoit,"  was  living  at  the  Farms,  at  the  time 
of  the  British  invasion,  June  6,  1780,  when  the  church  and 
village  were  burned,  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  was  murdered.  (A 
short  letter,  that  she  wrote  on  the  occasion,  is  preserved  in 
Sedgwick's  Livingston,  p.  353.)  Their  son,  James  Jaunccy 
(born,  1770,  a  merchant  of  Schenectady),  married  Mary,  a 
daughter  of  Eev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  D.  D.,  of  Schenectady, 
and  died,  Sep.  30,  1812,  at  Colebrook,  Ct.,  three  of  his  five 
children  surviving  him. 

♦  Ecc.  of  p.  Chh.,  p.  43T.    Prlmo's  Long  Island,  p.  151.    Clark's  Med.  Men  of  N.  J.,  pp.  7,  S 

41 


642  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Mr.  Ilait  was  the  Moderator,  in  1775,  of  the  Synod  of 
N.  York  and  Pliila.,  and,  as  such,  his  name  was  attached  to 
the  famous  "  Pastoral  Letter  "  on  the  State  of  the  Country, 
copies  of  which  were  circulated  among  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons at  London,  in  Jan.,  1776,* 

The  loss  of  their  house  of  worship,  and  of  many  of  their 
own  houses,  by  the  torch  of  the  ruthless  invader,  left  tlie 
congregation  feeble  and  depressed.  After  the  decease  of 
j\[r.  Hait,  Mr.  Noble  Everett,  a  Licentiate  of  Litchfield 
Association,  was  employed  during  the  latter  half  of  1779, 
and  the  winter  following.  But,  for  the  next  eight  years,  the 
people  were  mainly  dependent  on  the  Presbytery  for  sup- 
plies. At  their  meeting,  in  Morris  Town,  May  7,  1783,  the 
following  record  was  made  : — 

A  Petition  from  the  congregation  of  Connecticut  Farms  for  the  assis- 
tance of  presbytery  iu  building  a  meeting-house,  was  brought  in  &  read. 
The  presbytery  advise  that  congregation  to  send  proper  persons  to  the 
respective  congregations  under  their  care  to  solicit  benefactions  for  the 
above  purpose ;  and  recommend  it  to  the  ministers  &  elders  of  each  of 
those  congregations  to  take  such  methods  as  t^ey  shall  think  most  proper 
to  promote  this  benevolent  design. 

No  other  record  remains  of  the  rebuilding  of  their  church. 
It  was,  probably,  accomplished  in  the  course  of  a  year  or 
two  from  this  date.  At  different  times,  their  pulpit  was 
supplied  for  a  season,  by  Messrs.  Alexander  Miller,  Lemuel 
Fordham,  and  Aaron  Condict.  A  call  was  given,  in  October, 
1788,  to  Mr.  Peter  Fish,  one  of  the  Licentiates  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  York  and  accepted. f 

REV.  PETER  FISH 

was  born,  Nov.  23,  1751,  at  Newtown,  L.  I.  He  was  tlie 
son  of  Nathaniel  Fish  and  Jane  Berrien.  Ilis  father  was  the 
o-reat-grandson  of  Jonathan  Fish,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Newtov.-n.  Peter  '-was  an  Abijah  from  his  youth."  His 
conversion  occurred  in  17G4,  in  connection:  with  the  preach- 
ing of  Mr.  AVhiteficld.  He  studied  for  the  ministry  at 
Princeton,  and  graduated  iu  1774.     His  feebleness  of  health, 

•  Records  of  Tresb.  Chli.,  pp.  402,  466-9.  HaH's  Norwalk,  pp.  17,  19,  23.  Hoyt  Family 
Meeting,  pp.  40,  42.    Webster's  Prcsb.  Chh.,  p.  66T. 

t  Ms.  Uccords  of  the  Prcsb.  of  N.  York,  II.  10,  40-1.    III.  S. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  643 

(continuing  tlirongh  life)  greatly  obstructed  liini  in  his  further 
studies.  He  was  licensed  to  preacL,  in  May,  1779,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York.  He  continued  to  reside  at  New- 
town for  several  years,  supplying  vacancies,  as  occasion 
offered.  In  May,  1781,  he  was  sent  on  a  mission  to  the 
southern  part  of  New  Jersey.  The  following  year,  he  was 
appointed  to  supply  Ilardiston  and  vicinity,  N.  J.,  and,  later 
in  the  year.  New  Hempstead,  L.  I.  He  preached,  after  this 
at  Newtown,  his  native  place,  until  the  autumn  of  1788. 
He  married,  June  30,  1785,  Hannah  (born,  1759),  daughter 
of  Kenneth  Hankinson,  of  Freehold,  N.  J. 

Having  accepted  the  call,  he  removed  to  Connecticut 
Farms,  in  November,  1788.  The  ordination  and  instal- 
lation took  place,  March  25,  1789.  Dr.  Alex.  McWhorter, 
of  Newark,  preached  the  sermon  from  Acts  xx :  28,  first 
clause;  Mr.  Jonathan  Elmer,  of  New  Providence,  presided 
and  gave  the  charge  to  the  minister ;  and  Mr.  Benjamin 
"Woodruff,  of  Westfield,  "  gave  an  exhortation  to  the  people." 
The  other  ministers  present  were.  Dr.  Eodgers,  of  New  York, 
Mr.  Aaron  Richards,  of  Rahway,  Mr.  Azel  Roe,  of  Wood- 
bridge,  and  Mr.  David  Austin  of  Elizabeth  Town. 

No  particulars  of  his  ministry  have  been  preserved,  during 
the  ten  years  that  he  continued  here.  The  records  of  the 
Presbytery  shoM',  that  he  was  punctual  in  his  attendance  on 
its  sessions,  and  read}-  to  bear  his  part  of  its  burdens  of 
service.  He  represented  the  Presbytery  in  the  General 
Assembly  that  met  at  Carlisle,  -Pa.,  in  1792,  and  again,  at 
Philadelphia,  in  1796.  In  May  and  June  1798,  he  visited 
"some  of  the  frontier  settlements  in  the  state  of  New  York," 
whither,  the  following  year,  he  determined  to  remove.  He 
was  dismissed  by  the  Presbytery,  April  17,  1799,  and  soon 
after  located  at  Trenton,  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
visited,  in  August,  1802,  by  the  Rev.  John  Taylor,  then  of 
Deerfield,  Mass.,  who  speaks  of  him,  as 

A  gent,  who  was  once  settled  in  Connecticut  Farms  in  New  Jersey, 
and  is  now  employed  part  of  tlie  time  by  the  people  of  this  town ;  and 
the  remainder  of  tlic  time  rides  as  a  missionary — a  sensible,  judicious  man 
— and  appears  to  bo  doing  great  good — and  has  but  a  poor  reward. 


644  THE    HISTORY    OF 

In  the  spring  of  1807,  owing  to  the  failure  of  liis  health,  he 
returned  to  Kewtown,  L.  I.,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
Nov.  12,  1810,  having  for  a  few  months  previously  supplied 
their  pulpit.  His  wife  died,  June  12,  1824.  Their  children 
were  Thomas  Fletcher,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.  ;  Kenneth  lian- 
kinson ;  Rev.  John  Berrien,  of  Sidney  Plains,  N.  Y. ;  Na- 
thaniel ;  Elizabeth  Ann  ;  Jane  Eleanor  (married  to  Sylvester 
Eoe) ;  and  Susan  Maria  (married  to  John  L.  Van  Doren).- 

Very  shortly  after  the  removal  of  Mr.  Fish,  a  call  was 
given  to  the 

REV.  SAMUEL  SMITH. 

He  was  born  in  1769,  probably  in  New  York.  At  the 
close  of  the  Eevolutionary  War,  he  entered  Columbia  Col- 
lege, and  graduated,  April  11,  1786,  in  the  first  class,  after 
the  reconstruction  of  the  college.  De  Witt  Clinton,  and  two 
of  the  Livingstons  were  his  classmates.  He  studied  Theology 
with  Rev.  John  H.  Livingston,  D.D.,  of  New  York,  and  Rev. 
Eilardus  Westerlo,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  was  licensed,  Oct. 
7,  1789,  to  preach  the  gospel.  A  call  having  been  presented 
to  him  from  the  R.  Dutch  church  of  Saratoga  [Schuylerville], 
his  ordination  took  place  shortly  after.  He  continued  in  this 
connection,  more  than  ten  years. 

He  was  dismissed  June  6,  1800,  admitted  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  York,  Aug.  13, 1800,  and  installed  at  Ct.  Farms, 
on  Tuesday,  Oct.  7th,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  Dr.  McKnight, 
of  New  York,  preached  the  sermon  from  Matt.  5  :  13,  first 
clause  ;  Dr.  Macwhorter,  of  Newark,  presided  and  gave  the 
charge  to  the  minister  ;  and  Mr.  Ilillyer  gave  the  exhortation 
to  the  people. 

At  the  ordination  (two  months  later)  of  Mr.  Kollock,  as 
pastor  of  the  first  church  in  this  town,  Mr.  Smith  gave  the 
exhortation  to  the  people.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
in  AVoodbridge,  Oct.  6,  1801,  they  were  informed  "  that  :Mr. 
Smith,  in  consequence  of  his  extreme  illness,  would  not  be 
able  to  attend  on  the  present  sessions  of  the  Presbytery." 

*  Ms.  Kccord3  of  Prosb.  of  N.  York,  II.  24,  31,  84.  59,  93, 105, 110,  186,  9, 144,  102 ;  III.  11- 
14;  IV.  161, 172-8.  Uocords  of  Presb.  Chb.,  p.  490.  Minutes  of  G.  Assembly,  pp.  211,  231, 
252,  8,  4,  825.    r.iker's  Newtown,  pp.  231-5,  863.    Doc.  Hist,  of  N.  York,  III.  1114,  5. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  645 

On  Saturday  of  the  same  week  (lOtb),  at  six  P.  M.,  he  had 
departed  this  hfe.  He  and  his  wife,  with  some  otliers  of  the 
family,  had  been  ill  for  some  time,  probably  with  bilious 
fever.  He  had  preached,  on  Sunday,  Sep.  28,  in  a  neighbor- 
ing church,  from  "  This  year  thou  shalt  die."  He  was  taken 
ill  tlie  next  day.  On  Friday,  Oct.  9th,  he  was  regarded  as 
convalescent.  Soon  after  he  was  struck  with  death.  He 
gathered  his  family  and  neighbors  about  his  bed,  and  gave 
them  his  dying  counsel.  He  appeared  to  be  filled  with  joy 
and  peace,  bearing  the  most  impressive  testimony,  so  long  as 
his  strength  allowed,  to  the  truth  and  blessedness  of  religion. 
At  his  own  request,  Dr.  Macwhorter  preached,  on  Monday, 
12th,  his  funeral  sermon,  from  Prov.  18  :  10,  Mr.  AVoodruff 
and  Mr.  Hillyer  taking  part  in  the  service.  He  died  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-two,  greatly  Lamented.  "  Perhaps,"  says 
a  correspondent,  "no  man  ever  lived  more  beloved,  or  died 
more  lamented,  by  the  people  of  his  charge,  than  Mr.  Smith." 
He  left  "  a  tender  Avife  and  helpless  family."  ^ 
His  successor  in  the  pastorate  was  the 

EEV.  STEPHEN  OGDEN  THOMPSON. 

He  was  a  native  of  Mendham,  N.  J.,  and  a  descendant  of 
"  Goodman  Thompson,"  one  of  the  founders  of  this  town. 
He  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Thompson  and  Hannah  Beach 
(daughter  of  Elisha).  His  grandfather,  Stephen,  was  19  years 
old,  when  his  father,  Joseph,  migrated  from  the  old  home 
here  to  the  head  spring  of  the  Passaic,  in  what  is  now  known 
as  the  village  of  Mendham.  Joseph,  the  great  grandfather, 
was  the  son  of  Aaron,  and  the  grandson  of  Goodman  Thomas, 
of  whom  mention  is  made  on  page  94.  The  grandfather  of 
Stephen  O.,  having  died,  at  30  years  of  age,  the  widow  mar- 
ried Dr.  Joseph  Ogden,  from  whom  he  derived  his  middle 
name.  He  was  born,  December  17,  17T5,  and  graduated,  in 
1797,  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 

He  was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
York,  Oct.  18,  1798 ;  and  was  licensed  to  preach,  Oct.  9, 

»  R.  D.  Minutes,  pp.  1S8,  197,  200,  290.  Eeconls  of  Presb.  of  N.  Y.,  IV.  193,  122,  3,  260, 
274.    N.  J.  Journal,  Nos.  8S6,  937.    N.  Y.  Miss.  Mag.  II.  471-5 


(546  THE    HISTORY    OF 

1800.  A  call  for  his  services  as  pastor  was  presented  to  the 
Presbytery,  June  15,  1802,  from  the  chnrch  of  Connecticut 
Farms,  and  he  was  ordained  their  pastor,  on  Tuesday,  ISTov. 
16,  1802,  at  11  o'clock  A,  M. ;  the  Eev.  Asa  Hilly er,  of 
Orange,  N.  J.,  presided  ;  the  Kev.  Aaron  Condict,  of  Hano- 
ver, preached  the  sermon,  from  Col.  4  :  17 ;  and  the  Rev. 
James  Eichards,  of  Morristown,  gave  the  exhortation  to  the 
people,  A  few  months  later  (Feb.  24,  1803),  he  married 
Henrietta,  a  daughter  of  Maj.  Nathanacl  Beach,  of  Newark. 
The  ceremony  was  performed  by  Dr.  IMcWhorter,  with 
whom,  probably,  he  had  studied  for  the  ministry.  Thrice 
during  his  ministry,  in  1808,  1813-14,  and  in  1817,  the  con- 
gregation were  favored  with  a  revival  of  religion.  He  was 
dismissed  in  1834,  removed  to  the  N.  E.  part  of  Indiana,  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Joseph  (I^.  S.), 
of  which  he  continued  a  member  until  his  death,  May  31, 
1856,  in  his  81st  year.* 

»  Records  of  Presb.  of  N.  T.,  IV.  170,  232,  293,  304. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  647 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

A.  D.  1801-1844. 

Political  Parties  — Flag  Presentation  —  County  House  Agitation  —  Female  Vo- 
teT3  —  Political  Corruption  —  Trial  of  Cornelius  Hatfield  —  Gen.  Elias  Day- 
ton—  Town  House  burned  and  rebuilt  —  Streets  regulated  —  Anti-Sabbath- 
Profanation  —  Thomas'  Ferry  —  Casualty  —  Steam  Navigation  —  Monopoly  — 
Gov.  Ogden  and  the  Livingstons  —  Thomas  Gibbons  —  Opposition  Line  — 
Lawsuit  —  Decision  of  U.  S.  Supreme  Court  —  Monopoly  brought  to  an  end 
—  Daniel  Dod  —  War  of  1812-15 — Paper  Currency  —  Peace  Celebration  — 
Gen.  Wm.  Crane  —  Lt-Gen.  Winfield  Scott  —  Mayor  Jeremiah  Ballard  — 
Gen.  Jona.  Dayton  —  Gov.  Williamson. 

The  early  years  of  the  present  century,  in  this  town  as 
elsewhere,  throughout  the  land,  were  marked  by  political 
agitations  growing  out  of  the  change,  attempted  and  accom- 
plished, in  the  administration  of  the  federal  government. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  people,  attached  to  the  memories 
and  traditions  of  the  Revolution,  adhered  to  the  Federalists  ; 
while  a  respectable  minority,  of  whom  Abraham  Clark,  the 
Signer,  had  been  a  distinguished  leader,  and  of  which  the 
N.  J.  Journal  was  a  powerful  advocate,  were  known  as  Re- 
publicans, or  Democrats.  The  latter  sympathized  deeply 
with  the  French  Democracy,  and  were  often  spoken  of  as  the 
French  party.  The  accession  of  Mr.  Jefferson  to  the  Presi- 
dential chair,  March  4,  1801,  was  the  occasion  of  great  re- 
joicings in  this  town,  on  the  part  of  his  political  friends. 
Party-spirit  ran  high,  and  bitter  animosities  were  created 
among  neighbors  and  in  the  same  family.* 

Record  is  made  in  the  annals  of  this  town,  of  a  pleasant 
incident  that  occurred  on  the  following  Fourth  of   July, 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  90T. 


g48  THE    HISTORY    OF 

adapted  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  gallantry  and  martial 
glory  :— 

On  Saturday,  Miss  Susan  'Williamson  and  Miss  Abigail  Hatfield  pre- 
sented to  tLe  4th  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Crane  a  superb  standard, 
ornamented  with  a  spread  eagle  on  one  side,  and  the  arms  of  New  Jersey 
on  the  other.  * 

A  few  years  later,  the  town,  in  common  with  the  whole 
county,  was  greatly  excited  on  the  question  of  locating  the 
new  County  Court  House.  The  County  Courts  had,  from 
an  early  period,  been  held  at  Newark.  The  Court  House, 
built  originally  for  the  Presbyterian  church,  1708-13,  had 
long  been  deemed  insecure  and  otherwise  unfit  for  occupa- 
tion. It  had  been  repeatedly  presented  as  a  nuisance,  and 
a  new  buildino:  called  for.  The  Board  of  Freeholders  re- 
fused  both  to  repair  and  rebuild.  Newark  was  regarded  as 
too  far  north  and  east, — a  more  southern  or  western  location 
was  demanded  by  the  lower  towns.  A  law  was  passed  by 
the  Legislature,  November  5,  1806,  by  which  the  question 
of  determining  the  site  of  the  new  Court  House  for  Essex 
Co.  was  to  be  submitted  to  the  Electors  of  the  County,  on 
the  second  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  of  February,  1807,  a 
previous  nomination  of  places  to  be  voted  for  having  been 
made.  Eleven  nominations  were  made.  The  choice,  how- 
ever, by  common  consent,  was  to  be  between  the  old  loca- 
tion at  Newark,  and  Day's  Hill,  near  Camptown,  north  of 
the  turnpike  from  Newark  to  Springfield — the  land  being 
owned  by  Jonathan  Day. 

To  such  an  extent  was  the  rivalry  carried  on  this  occasion, 
that  nothing  was  left  undone  to  secure  a  majority  of  votes. 
The  old  Constitution  provided,  that 

All  inhabitants  of  this  Colony,  of  full  age,,  who  are  worth  fifty  pounds 
proclamation  money,  clear  estate  in  the  same,  and  have  resided  within 
the  county  in  which  tliey  claim  a  vote,  for  12  months  immediately 
preceding  tlie  election,  shall  bo  entitled  (to  vote,)  &c. 

This  was  construed  literally,  as  admitting  all  persons, 
male  and   female,  white  or   colored,  having  otherwise  the 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  025. 
J) 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  649 

proper  qualifications,  to  the  privilege  of  voting.  When,  in 
1797,  John  Condit,  of  Newark,  and  William  Crane,  of 
E.  Town,  were  rival  candidates  for  the  Legislative  Council, 
seventy-five  women  voters  were  polled  in  this  town  for 
Mr.  Crane  ;  but  Mr.  Condit  was  elected.  In  the  Presidential 
canvass  of  1800,  the  partisans  of  John  Adams  and  Thomas 
Jefi'erson  availed  themselves  alike  of  this  provision  ;  and 
females,  especially  where  the  Society  of  Friends  were  in 
strength,  voted  in  considerable  numbers  throughout  the 
State.  The  precedent  was  sustained,  year  by  year.  At 
first  only  single  women  voted ;  afterwards,  married  women, 
also ;  colored,  as  well  as  white.  In  Hunterdon  Co.,  a  citizen 
was  chosen  to  the  Legislature,  by  a  majority  of  two  or  three 
votes,  and  these  were  cast  by  colored  females. 

The  political  agitation  in  the  winter  of  1806-7  affected 
thus  every  class  in  the  community,  and  both  sexes.  The 
two  rival  weeklies  of  this  town  and  Newark  entered  warmly 
into  the  canvass.  A  correspondent  of  the  Newark  Sentinel, 
"  Manlius,"  under  date  of  Jan.  27,  1807,  indulges  in  the  fol- 
lowing strain  of  gossip  : — 

Ifc  lias  been  said  tliat  the  peoplq  of  l^ewark  opposed  the  establishing  a 
ferry  some  years  since,  from  Elizabethtown  Point  to  Bergen  Point ;  and 
since  that,  the  erecting  of  bridges  from  and  to  those  Points.*  ...  So  far 
as  the  opposition  arising  from  Newark,  the  facts  are  the  reverse.  Newark 
bad  their  ferry  established,  and  stages  running  from  Now  York  to  Phila- 
delphia daily  passing  them  ;  the  Elizabethtown  people  started  the  opposi- 
tion, and  persuaded  the  then  proprietor  of  the  lino  stage  to  join  them, 
cross  their  ferry  and  leave  Newark ;  finding  this  to  be  the  case,  the  peo- 
ple of  Newark  for  self-preservation  established  a  new  line  of  Stages,  run 
them  through  Newark,  and  by  that  means  defeated  the  Elizabeth  plan,  to 
the  injury  and  ruin  of  the  first  stage  proprietor,  who  had  been  deluded 
by  them.  So  when  the  people  of  Elizabeth  strove  to  get  a  law  author- 
izing tlie  building  of  a  bridge  across  Newark  Bay,  the  people  erf  Newark, 
with  the  northern  part  of  the  county  opposed  it,  because  it  would  deprive 
Newark  of  the  travelling  between  N.  Y.  and  Phila. ;  and  because  it  would 
obstruct  the  navigation  of  Newark  Bay,  Ilackousack  and  Passaick  rivers, 

*  A  writer  In  the  Sentinel,  in  July,  184S,  malces  tliis  comment  on  the  obovo  project 
"  Elizabethtown  must  have  been  a  placo  of  remarkable  enterprise,  at  that  time,  to  entertain 
the  idea  of  so  stupendous  an  undertaking."    Little  did  ho  dream  that  the  undertaking  would 
ever  be,  as  it  has  been  for  years,  an  accomplished  fact. 


650  THE    HISTORY    OF 

tbe  conrenience  of  which  greatly  interested  Orange,  Caldwell,  Acqnac- 
kanonk,  as  well  as  Newark. 

Elizabethtown  people  were  charged  with  envy  at  the  in- 
creasing prosperity  of  Newark,  and  with  a  design  of  drawing 
away  its  trade  and  travel.  When  the  days  for  deciding  the 
contest  arrived,  Feb.  10,  and  11,  the  excitement  was  intense. 
Everybody  that  could  possibly  claim  to  vote  was  brought  to 
the  polls — not  males  only,  but  females,  also,  both  white  and 
colored.  It  was  charged  that  not  a  few  of  these,  by  change 
of  dress,  voted  more  than  once ;  and  this  whether  worth  £50, 
or  not.  The  population  of  the  county  was  computed  to  be 
2^,139.  Never  before  had  more  than  4,500  votes  been  cast 
in  the  county,  at  any  one  election.  On  this  occasion  the 
votes  polled  were  13,857 — more  than  half  of  the  whole  popu- 
lation. So  glaring  were  the  frauds  practised,  and  so  profli- 
gate the  corruption,  that  the  Election  was  set  aside  by  the 
Legislature,  Nov.  28,  1807,  and  the  law  authorizing  it  annul- 
led. The  qualifications  of  voters,  also,  were  more  strictly  de- 
fined, and  none  but  free  white  male  citizens,  of  21  years, 
worth  £50,  henceforward  allowed  the  elective  franchise. 

The  following  occurrence  belongs,  also,  to  the  year  1807  : — 

Elizabethtoicn,  Octoler  13. — Cornelius  Hatfield,  an  obnoxious  refugee 
character,  who  came  here  a  short  time  since  from  England,  via  Nova 
Scotia,  to  possess  a  valuable  landed  estate  left  him  by  his  father,  was  ap- 
prehended by  the  civil  authority  last  week,  and  conveyed  to  Newark 
gaol,  on  a  charge  of  being  a  principal  in  the  brutal  murder  of  Stephen 
Ball,  a  citizen  of  this  state,  during  our  revolutionary  war,  who  went 
into  the  British  lines  under  assurances  of  protection  ;  and,  on  Thursday 
last  [8th],  was  brought  before  judge  Pennington  on  a  writ  of  habeas  cor- 
pus. Aaron  Ogden,  Isaac  11.  "Williamson,  and  William  Chetwood,  Esqrs., 
appeared  on  the  part  of  the  culprit ;  and  Alexander  C.  McWhorter,  "Wil- 
liam Ilalsey,  and  Elias  Van  Arsdol,  Esqrs.,  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution, 
when,  after  a  patient  hearing  of  the  argument  on  both  sides  until  yester- 
day, the  judge  discharged  Hatfield,  being  of  opinion,  by  the  spirit  of 
the  treaty  of  1783,  he  was  not  now  answerable  for  that  transaction  ;  but 
we  hear  that  the  friends  of  Ball  are  still  determined  to  prosecute  him  be- 
fore another  tribunal. 

In  January,  1789,  his  associate,  John  Smith  Hatfield,  had 
been   arrested  on   the  same  charge,  and    brought  before  a 


elizabe'th,  new  jersey.  651 

magistrate  at  Bergen,  ]N".  J.,  on  a  M-rit  of  habeas  corpus. 
After  the  hearing  of  the  evidence,  the  Judge,  looking  upon 
it  as  a  case  involved  in  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  concluded  to 
refer  it  to  the  judgment  of  the  Court,  and  remanded  the  pri- 
soner to  the  same  Newark  jail,  "  where  he  had  nearly  lost 
his  life  by  his  debaucheries."  At  the  meeting  of  the  Court  in 
August,  the  case  was  adjourned  on  account  of  the  absence 
of  the  witnesses,  and  the  prisoner  admitted  to  bail.  He  fled 
the  country,  and  the  recognizances  were  virtually  discharged. 

Of  these  proceedings,  Mr.  Hammond,  the  British  Minister, 
in  a  letter,  March  5,  1792,  to  Thomas  Jefl'erson,  Seer,  of 
State,  made  complaint,  as  an  infraction  of  the  Treaty  of 
Peace.  Mr.  Jefferson  sought  to  justify  the  procedure,  by 
recapitulating  the  facts,  as  stated  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Boudi- 
not,  April  11, 1792.  The  case  was  never  finally  issued.  Capt. 
Cornelius  returned  to  England,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced 
age — a  loyalist,  of  course,  to  the  end.* 

One  of  the  most  venerated  citizens  of  the  town, 

GEN.  ELIAS  DAYTON, 

was,  October  22,  1807,  called  to  his  rest.  He  was  the  son  of 
Jonathan,  and  born,  in  this  town,  in  1737.  He  entered  the 
Military  service  of  the  Province  as  a  Lieutenant^  March  19, 
1759,  and  was  made  Captain,  March  29,  17C0,  serving  with 
the  British  Troops  in  the  French  War  on  the  frontiers.  In 
1764,  he  conducted  a  successful  expedition  against  the  In- 
dians, near  Detroit,  of  which  he  has  left  a  journal,  commen- 
cing with  April  30,  and  ending  with  Sept.  15, 1764.  He  took 
an  active  and  patriotic  part  in  the  measures  that  led  to  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  As  Colonel  of  militia,  he  had 
command  of  the  E.  T.  Volunteers  who  captured,  Jan.  23, 
1776,  the  Blue  Mountain  Valley.  Feb.  9,  1776,  he  was  com- 
missioned as  Colonel  of  the  Third  N.  J.  Ecgimcnt  of  Begu- 

•  Brown's  Am.  Register,  II.  323-4.  Am.  State  Papers,  I.  For.  Relations,  1  :  232.  "  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Jan.  7.  1769.  Last  evening  was  brought  to  this  town,  under  an  escort  from  New 
York,  where  ho  was  apprehended,  Smith  HetfleUl  and  this  morning  was  sent  off  to  Newark, 
to  bo  entered  on  board  the  standfast,  Capt.  Gifford,  there  to  remain  (In  a  region  as  dreary  as 
the  one  he  came  from,  vii.  Nova  Scotia)  until  ho  takes  bis  trial  for  his  offences  against  the 
pood  people  of  this  state,  which  aro  said  to  be  of  an  enormous  naturo."  N.  J.  Journal , 
No.  273. 


652  "  THE    HISTORY    OF 

lare,  and  took  part  witli  his  regiment  in  the  defense  of 
Ticonderoga.  His  gallant  conduct  through  the  war  has  been 
already  related.  On  the  resignation  of  Gen.  Maxwell,  July 
20,  1780,  ho  was  put  in  command  of  the  N,  J.  Brigade.  He 
took  part  in  the  affairs  of  Brandywine,  Germantown,  Mon- 
mouth, and  Yorktown,  and  accompanied  Gen.  Sullivan,  in 
1779,  on  his  "Western  Expedition.  lie  was  commissioned  as 
a  Brigadier  General,  Jan.  8,  1783  ;  and,  June  5,  1793,  as  a 
Maj.  General  of  the  Second  Division  of  N.  J.  Militia. 

In  1779,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  Congress,  and  de- 
clined, but  was  a  Delegate  in  1787-8.  He  was,  for  several 
years  a  member  of  the  N.  J.  Legislature.  He  would  have 
been  appointed  to  the  U.  S.  Constitutional  Convention  in 
1787,  but  declined  in  favor  of  his  son  Jonathan.  He  was 
frequently  appointed  to  office  in  his  native  town,  as  a  mem- 
ber and  President  of  the  Board  of  Tmstees,  for  many  years, 
of  the  Presb.  chh. ;  as  a  member  of  the  corporation  ;  and, 
from  179G  to  1805,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  year,  as 
Mayor  of  the  Borough.  He  was  the  first  President  of  the 
Cincinnati  of  N.  Jersey.  In  person  and  bearing  he  strongly 
resembled  Gen.  Washington. 

He  died  of  gout  in  the  stomach,  and,  on  Saturday,  24th, 

The  corpse  was  removed  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  where  a  funeral 
sermon  was  preached  by  the  Eev,  John  McDowell,  from  Joshua,  23 :  14 
— "  And  behold  this  day  I  am  going  the  way  of  all  the  earth."  The  assem- 
blage of  citizens  was  more  numerous  than  we  ever  knew  on  the  like  oc- 
casion in  this  town.  Military  honors  were  performed.  The  whole  pro- 
ceedings were  marked  with  uncommon  solemnity,  and  evinced  the 
unfeigned  affliction  felt  by  all  classes  of  citizens.  In  this  solemn  dispen- 
sation of  Providence,  we  behold  the  uncertainty  of  eublunary  things,  a 
fellow- mortal,  in  health  in  the  evening,  and  a  corpse  before  the  next  ris- 
ing sun. 

Both  before  and  after  the  revolutionary  war  he  was  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  part  of  the  time 
alone,  and  afterwards  as  "  Elias  Dayton  &  Son.* 

The  Court  House  of  the  Borough,  which  had  risen  on  the 

*  Borrian's  Memorial  of  A.  O.  Dayton,  Esq.,  pp.  4-6.  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  1252.  Brown's 
Am.  lic(,'lster,  II.  75  b.  Murray's  Notes,  pp.  84-0.  Allen's  Am.  Blog.  Diet.  Applcton's  Am. 
Cyclopffidla. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  653 

ruins  of  that  burned  during  the  revohitionary  war,  and  which 
had  been  occupied  only  about  eleven  years,  was  reduced  to 
ashes,  Ap.  26,  1808,  and  a  poor  lunatic,  Andrew  Ross,  per- 
ished in  the  flames.  Moses  Austin,  Iligh-Constable  of  the 
town,  had  been  the  occupant  and  keeper  of  the  house  for 
several  years.  Measures  were  immediately  taken  by  the 
Corporation  for  its  reconstruction.  Aldermen  Thaddeus 
Mills  and  Richardson  Gray,  with  the  Recorder,  Andrew 
"Wilson,  were  appointed  a  building  committee,  and  means 
taken  to  obtain  the  needed  funds.  A  year  passed  and  the 
work  was  not  done.  Capt.  Wm.  Dayton,  of  the  Council,  was 
substituted  on  the  Committee  for  Mr.  Wilson.  It  was  not 
until  the  winter  of  1810-1-1,  that  the  building  was  in  a  con- 
dition to  be  occupied.  Portions  of  it  were  left  unfinished 
for  years.* 

But  little  attention  had  thus  far  been  given  to  the  condi- 
tion of  the  streets.  Overseers  of  highways  had  been  appoint- 
ed by  the  town  from  a  very  early  day,  roads  had  been  laid 
out,  and  the  road-ways  kept  in  passable  condition.  But  in 
the  town  plot,  no  statute  regulations  had  been  made  for  foot- 
paths, side-walks,  and  similar  conveniences.  A  committee 
was,  at  length,  appointed,  Ap.  24,  1810, 

To  report  an  Ordinance  for  the  appointment  of  a  Street  Commissioner 
&  regulate  the  laying  out,  Paving,  Gravelling  &  keeping  in  repair  the 
side  walks  or  foot-ways  in  the  principal  Streets  of  Elizabeth  Town  and 
to  prevent  obstructions  in  the  same. 

Care  was  taken  by  the  Corporation  for  the  pro]5er  obser- 
vance of  the  Sabbath-Day.  Ap.  24,  1812,  a  Committee  was 
appointed, 

To  examine  the  State  Law  for  the  suppression  of  Vice  and  immorality, 
&  to  report  by  law,  or  otherwise,  to  this  body,  whether  ways  &  means 
cannot  be  devised  to  suppress  the  profanation  of  the  Sabbath  day. 

A  large  and  enthusiastic  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the 
borough  (Aaron  Lane,  Chairman,  and  Isaac  Crane,  Secretary), 
was  held  on  Wednesday,  Dec.  29,  1813,  at  which  a  vigorous 
determination  was  expressed,  in  the  form  of  Resolutions,  to 

•  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  1273.    Corporation  Book. 


G5-i  THE    HISTORY    OF 

suppress  by  all  lawful  means,  the  growing  profanation  of  the 
Lord's  Day.* 

An  eventful  cliano-e  in  the  facilities  for  travelino;  was  now 
inaugurated.  From  the  founding  of  the  town,  intercourse 
by  water  with  the  City  of  New  York  had  been  kept  up,  wdth 
considerable  regularity,  mostly  from  the  Point,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Creek.  Dankers  and  Sluyter,  as  already  related, 
found  there,  in  1679,  a  tavern,  or  ferry-house,  kept  by  a 
French  Papist.  This  must  have  been  one  of  the  men  from 
the  Isle  of  Jersey,  brought  over  by  Gov.  Carteret.  Frequent 
reference  is  made  in  various  documents  to  this  ancient  ferry. 
Several  of  the  planters  and  of  their  descendants  had,  also, 
boats  running  from  various  landings  on  the  Sound  and  the 
Creek,  to  Staten  Island,  and  New  York.  Constant  inter- 
course was  thus  maintained  with  the  great  emporium  of  trade, 
until  and  after  the  revolutionary  war. 

The  boats  employed  in  this  traffic  were  propelled,  as  a 
matter  of  course  by  sails  and  oars.  The  barge,  the  yawl, 
the  scow,  the  skiff,  the  yacht,  the  sloop,  the  schooner,  the 
pettiauger  [pctiagua  ?J,  were  all  employed.  After  the  revo- 
lution, in  1790,  the  ferry  came  into  possession  of  Edward 
Thomas,  and  was  known  by  the  name  of  Thomas's  Ferry. 

Casualties  were  not  of  infrequent  occurrence.  One  of  the 
E.  Town  ferry-boats  upset,  near  Bergen  Point,  on  Saturday, 
Nov.  10,  1798,  and  Benjamin  Bonnel,  James  Carter  and  wife 
of  Chatham  ;  David  P.  Tuttle  of  Morris  Co. ;  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Moore,  of  Railway ;  the  wife  of  Ezekiel  Smith,  of 
Scotch  Plains ;  Mrs.  Abigail  Maxwell  and  child,  of  New 
York  ;  and  Mr.  Hedges,  of  Turkey,  were  drowned.f 

In  August,  1807,  Livingston  and  Fulton  succeeded  in  their 
experiment  of  steam  navigation,  and  the  "  Clermont "  be- 
came a  regular  packet  between  New  York  and  Albany,  her 
name  being  changed,  when  enlarged  the  next  year,  to  the 
"  North  River."  An  exclusive  right  to  navigate  the  waters 
of  New  York  by  steam  had  been  obtained  by  Chancellor 
Livingston  and  Robert  Fulton,  by  Act  of  the  N.  York  Legis- 
lature, Ap.  5,  1803,  and  extended,  Ap.  11,  ISOS.     The  right 

•  Corporation  Book.    N.  J.  Journal,  No.  1004.  t  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  7S7. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  655 

to  ran  a  steam  packet  from  Xew  York  to  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J.,  was,  in  1808,  conveyed  to  John  E.  and  llobert  J.  Liv- 
ingston;  who  thereupon  built  the  steamer  "Raritan,"  130 
by  20  feet,  and  put  her  on  the  route. 

The  ferry  at  the  Old  Point  had,  some  years  before,  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Col.  Aaron  Ogden,  one  of  the  honored  ci- 
vilians of  the  town.  He  was  the  son  of  the  lion.  Eobert 
Ogden,  and  was  born,  Dec.  3,  1756.  He  graduated  at  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  in  1773,  joined  the  Army  in  1777, 
served  with  distinction  during  the  war,  and,  at  its  close,  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law.  In  November,  1796,  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  Presidential  Electors  of  N.  Jersey,  and, 
February  28,  1801,  he  was  appointed  to  the  U.  States  Senate 
to  fill  a  vacancy  of  two  years.  The  owners  of  the  "  Raritan  " 
agreed  with  Col.  Ogden,  for  the  privilege  of  receiving  and 
landing  passengers  at  E.  T.  Point,  to  give  him  for  every  pas- 
senger what  he  would  have  received  as  profit  in  his  own 
boats.  The  "  Earitan  "  thus  became  the  first  boat  that  con- 
nected this  town  with  New  York  by  steam. 

Not  content,  however,  with  this  arrangement.  Col.  Ogden, 
early  in  1811,  contracted  with  Cornelius  Jerolaman,  of  North 
Belleville,  N.  J.,  a  boat-builder,  to  construct  a  vessel  of  lift, 
beam  and  75  ft.  keel,  of  the  form  of  a  pettiaugcr ;  and  with 
Daniel  Dod,  of  Mendham,  N.  J.,  (who,  in  consequence,  re- 
moved at  the  time  to  this  town),  to  furnish  the  boat  with  a 
steam  engine  of  12  horse  power.  In  the  mean  time,  Col. 
Ogden  was  chosen,  by  the  Legislature,  Oct.  29,  1812,  to  suc- 
ceed the  Hon.  Joseph  Bloomfield,  as  Governor  of  the  State 
of  New  Jersey  ;  and,  Feb.  27,  1813,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Madison,  one  of  the  six  Major  Generals,  provided 
for,  Feb.  24,  by  Act  of  Congress. 

Before, however,  Ogden's  boat,  the  "Sea  Horse,"  had  been 
completed,  an  Act  was  passed,  Ap.  9,  1811,  by  the  N.  York 
Legislature,  by  which  it  was  put  in  the  power  of  the  Liv- 
ingstons to  seize  any  steamboat  that  should  be  found  infring- 
ing on  their  monopoly.  An  Act  had,  also,  been  passed,  Jan. 
25,  "1811,  by  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  "  for  the  protec- 
tion of  steamboats  owned  and  navigated  by  citizens  of  this 


656  THE    HISTORY    OF 

State."  For  the  more  effectual  enforcement  of  this  Act,  and 
to  counteract  the  New  York  law  of  1811,  another  Act  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  Feb.  12,  1813. 

Ogden  liad  designed  running  his  boat  to  New  York,  where 
he  had  obtained  the  lease  of  a  wharf  where  his  sailing  boats 
were  moored.  In  order,  however,  to  avoid  the  seizure  of  his 
steamboat,  he  determined  to  run  her  to  Jersey  City.  It  was 
publicly  announced,  May  IS,  1813,  that "  An  elegant  STEAM- 
BOAT has  been  also  provided  to  run  between  Elizabeth 
Town  Point  and  Panlus  Hook.  Fare  4s.  At  9  A.  M.  and  2 
P.  M.  from  tlie  Point,  and  at  11.  30  A.  M.  and  4.  30  P.  M. 
from  Paulus  Hook." 

The  fare  was  reduced,  June  22d,  to  3/6.  The  boat  was 
taken  off,  Nov.  23d,  and  laid  up  for  the  winter.  The  next 
summer  it  was  announced,  June  21,  1814,  that  the  "  Steam- 
boat Sea  Horse  will  run  to  Jersey  City,  and  meet  at  Bed- 
low's  Island  the  Team  boat  Substitution."  In  the  mean  time, 
the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  had  granted,  by  Act  passed, 
Nov.  3,  1813,  "To  Aaron  Ogden  and  Daniel  Dod,  and  the 
survivors  and  their  assigns,  an  exclusive  right  to  navigate 
steamboats  in  the  waters  of  this  State." 

The  Livingstons,  thus  excluded  from  the  waters  of  New 
Jersey,  and  in  danger  of  losing  the  "  Paritan,"  which  had 
cost  them  $26,000,  presented  a  Memorial  and  Petition  to  the 
Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  Oct.  1814,  giving  their  repre- 
sentation of  the  case,  and  asking  to  be  heard  by  counsel. 
Ogden  and  Dod  presented  a  Counter-Memorial,  also  asking 
to  be  heard.  Leave  was  accordingly  granted,  and  the  ex- 
clusive attention  of  the  Legislature  was  given  to  the  case, 
Jan.  24-9, 1815.  Thomas  Addis  Emmet  ai)peared  as  counsel 
for  the  Livingstons  ;  Ogden  appeared. in  his  own  behalf,  as- 
sisted by  Mr.  Ilopkinson  of  Philadelphia,  and  Samuel  L. 
Southard  of  New  Jersey.  In  consefpicnco,  the  Act,  grant- 
ing to  Ogden  and  Dod  a  monopoly  of  steam  navigation  in 
New  Jersey,  was  repealed. 

The  Old  Point  Ferry  property  was  now  owned  conjointly 
by  Ogden  and  Thomas  Gibbons.  The  latter  was  a  wealthy 
planter  of  Savannali,  Geo.,  who  had  a  handsome  country  seat 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  65T 

ill  town,  on  tlie  Pliiladelpliia  turnpike  road.  Here  he  spent 
his  summers  and  autumns.  Ogden  had  leased  of  Gibbons 
his  interest  ia  the  Point  property,  for  a  term  of  years  which 
had  nearly  exjjired.  Gibbons  refused  to  renew  the  lease,  but 
proposed  to  run  the  ferry  in  partnership.  Tliey  differed 
about  the  terms.  Gibbons  determined  to  start  an  opposition 
line.  He  fitted  up  another  landing  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Creek,  procured  the  steamers  "Stowdinger"  and  "Bellona," 
and  established  a  new  ferry.  Of  the  latter  vessel  the  well- 
known  millionaire,  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  was  tlien  Captain. 
Til  is,  it  is  thought,  was  the  beginning  of  his  great  fortune. 

Gov.  Ogden,  thereupon,  purchased.  May  5,  1815,  of  the 
Livingstons,  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  the  exclusive  right  of 
steam  navigation  between  the  Point  and  Xew  York,  and  so 
became  himself  a  monopolist.  The  "Sea  Horse"  was  an- 
nounced, April  3, 1815,  to  run  directly  to  ISTew  York. 

Gibbons,  taking  advantage  of  a  licensed  ferry  from  the 
Quarantine  station  on  Staten  Island  to  'New  York,  ran 
in  connection  with  tliat  ferry,  exchanging  passengers  in 
the  bay,  at  the  mouth  of  "the  Kills."  Subsequently  he 
purchased  -of  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  and  JSToali  Brown  certain 
rights,  which  emboldened  him  to  run  his  boats  directly  to 
i^ew  York. 

Gov.  Ogden,  wlio,  in  March  1817,  had  put  the  new  steamer 
"  Atahanta"  on  the  route,  obtained,  from  the  Chancellor  of 
New  York,  an  injunction  against  Gibbons.  A  motion  to  dis- 
solve the  injunction  was  denied.  An  appeal  was  taken  to 
the  Court  of  Errors,  but  was  not  sustained.  Gibbons  then 
carried  the  case  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
when,  at  the  February  term  in  1824,  the  Acts  of  the  N.  Y. 
Legislature,  granting  a  monopoly  of  the  right  of  steam  navi- 
gation, in  the  waters  of  said  State,  were  declared  to  be  re- 
pugnant to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  there- 
fore null  and  void.  The  injunction  was  dissolved,  and  Steam 
Navigation  opened  to  the  competition  of  all  the  world — an 
event  of  untold  and  incalculable  importance  to  the  commerce 
and  prosperity  of  the  United  States.  The  town,  whose  rival 
citizens  were  thus  bringing  to  a  final  issue  a  question  of  such 
42 


g58  THE    HISTORY    OF 

momentous  consef|ucnce,  was  greatly  interested  in  the  con- 
test, siding  witli  the  one  or  the  otlier,  as  interest  or  convic- 
tion determined,  and  thns  forming  themselves  into  opposing 
parties  throughout  the  contest.* 

Daniel  Dod,  the  partner  of  Gov.  Ogdtn,  had  been  bred 
a  clock  and  watchmaker.  He  was  born,  Sept.  8,  1778,  and 
was  a  descendant  of  Daniel  Dod,  of  Braiiford,  Ct.,  whose 
son,  Daniel,  was  one  of  the  early  colonists  of  ISTewark,  N.  J. 
The  name  of  Daniel,  the  son  of  Daniel,  Jr.,  frequently  ap- 
pears attached,  as  surveyor,  to  the  old  records  from  1730  to 
1740.  The  E.  Town  Daniel  was  a  descendant  of  Stephen, 
of  Guilford,  3d  son  of  Daniel,  of  Branford,  His  father  was 
Lebbeus,  brother  of  Kev.  Thaddeus  of  "W.  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Dod,  after  his  removal  to  this  town,  became  celebrated 
for  the  manuAictory  of  machinery,  especially  for  steamers. 
He  furnished  engines  for  boats  at  Kingston,  Can.,  Sackett's 
Harbor,  N.  Y.,  Philadelphia,  Norfolk,  Ya.,  Mobile  and  New 
Orleans ;  also,  for  tlie  "  Savannah,"  the  first  steamer  that 
crossed  the  ocean  to  England.  "  He  was  morover  a  sort  of 
universal  genius, — was  a  profound  and  accurate  theologian, 
wrote  ])oetry,  and  could  scarcely  turn  his  hand  to  anything 
in  which  he  was  not  quickly  at  home." 

Gov.  Ogden  failed,  involving  him  and  others  in  the  finan- 
cial ruin,  and  compelling  Mr.  Dod's  removal  to  N.  Y.,  in 
1820.  He  was  killed  by  the  bursting  of  the  boiler  of  the 
"  Patent,"  on  the  East  Eiver,  K  Y.,  May  0,  1823.  His  son, 
the  Eev.  Albert  Baldwin  Dod,  D.D.,  was  Prof,  of  Mathe- 
matics in  the  College  of  N.  J.  f 

In  common  with  all  other  portions  of  the  land,  this  town 
was  deeply  agitated  by  the  occurrences  and  measures  that 
led  to  the  "War  of  1812.  The  same  political  difierences  of 
opinion  as  to  the  wisdom  and  necessity  of  those  measures 
prevailed  hero  as  elsewhere.  The  N.  J.  Journal,  having 
early  espoused  the  views  and  doctrines  of  the  Eepublican,  or 

*  N.  J.  Journal,  No.  28S8.  Proceedings  of  N.  J.  His.  Soc,  IX.  llS-184.  Gov.  Ogden  died, 
at  Jersey  City,  April  19,  1839,  rct.  88,  and  his  remains  were  buried  here,  with  civic  and  mili- 
tary honors,  on  Monday,  22d.  He  was  honored,  in  ISlC,  by  his  Alma  Mater,  with  the  degree 
of  LL.  D. 

t  N.  J.  Ilisf.  Soc.  rroc,  IX ,  184,  Genealogy  of  the  Dod  Family.  Sprngue's  Annals,  IV.  787. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW   JERSEY  659 

Anti-Federalist,  party,  had  ever  sympathized  with  the  Galli- 
cau,  in  opposition  to  the  Anglican,  tlieories  of  government. 
The  Federalists,  from  having  been  the  great  majority,  had 
become  a  minority  of  the  town,  reckoning,  however,  as  their 
adherents,  the  greater  part  of  the  families  of  consideration. 
These  last  greatly  deprecated  the  war,  as  did,  also,  the  pas- 
tors of  the  two  principal  churches,  Eev.  Messrs.  McDowell 
and  Rudd.  Troops  were  quartered  here  in  barracks,  and 
quite  a  number  of  the  young  men  of  the  town  entered  tho 
army  and  the  navy,  some  of  whom  distinguished  themselves 
in  the  service  of  their  country.  But  the  people  held  them- 
selves, for  the  most  part,  aloof,  prosecuting  their  accustomed 
avocations  as  usual. 

Owing  to  the  suspension  of  specie  payments  consequent 
upon  the  war,  an  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  Corporation, 
Sep.  13,  1814, 

To  raise  the  sum  of  twenty  five  hundred  dollars  in  corporation  tickets 
for  small  change  viz.  any  number  not  exceeding  2000  of  25  cents  each, 
4000  of  12^  cents,  2250  of  9  cents,  8000  of  G  cents,  IGOOO  of  3  cents  and 
16375  of  two  cents  each — under  the  direction,  inspection  and  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Lane,  Mr,  Ballard  and  Doctr.  Morse  a  committee  for  that 
purpose.* 

Thus  the  era  of  "  shinplastcrs  "  was  introduced  by  law,  as 
it  had  been  previously  introduced  by  individuals  on  their 
private  responsibility.     At  a  later  date,  Kov.  26,  1818, — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  redeem  count  &  destroy  the  corporation 
tickets — made  report  That  they  have  attended  to  the  business  and  have 
counted  and  destroyed  to  the  amount  of  two  thousand  two  hundred  & 
sixty  seven  -y\^^  Dollars  for  which  they  have  given  the  chamberlain  re- 
ceipts at  sundry  dates.  + 

Nowhere  was  the  announcement  of  Peace  hailed  with 
more  delight  than  here.  The  people  were  heartily  tired  of 
the  war,  federals  and  democrats  alike.  The  British  sloop-of- 
war.  Favorite,  reached  the  city  of  Xcw  York,  under  a  flag 
of  truce,  Feb.  11,  1815,  with  the  glad  tidings  of  the  conclu- 
sion of  a  Treaty  of  Peace  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain. 

•  Corporation  Book.  +  ILld. 


660  THE    HISTORY    OF 

Tidings  of  tlie  liappy  event  reached  the  to^vn  on  Sunday, 
12th,  just  after  the  morning  service.  In  tlie  P.  11.  it  was 
announced  from  the  pulpits  of  the  churches,  and  thanks- 
givings offered  by  a  grateful  people  to  Almighty  God.  The 
sanctity  of  the  day  forbade  any  noisy  out-door  demonstrations. 
These  were  reserved  for  the  final  ratification  by  Congress. 
Tliis  was  effected  without  delay.  The  treaty  was  received  at 
Washington  on  Tlnirsday,  and  nnaniinously  ratified  on  Friday, 
tlie  ITtk  The  E".  J.  Journal  of  Tuesday,  the  21st,  thus 
speaks : — 

Yesterday,  at  eleven  o'clock  the  Treaty  of  Peace  and  Amity  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  was  received  in  this  town — at  two 
o'clock  the  citizens  assembled  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  united  in 
oflFering  thanks  to  a  kind  Providence  for  this  joyful  event.  A  short  ad- 
dress was  delivered  by  the  Eev.  John  McDowell— at  3  o'clock  a  federal 
salute  of  IS  guns  was  fired — after  which,  the  bells  were  rung  for  an 
hour.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  splendid  illumination.  Several  of  the 
houses  particularly  were  illuminated  Avith  taste,  and  exhibited  transpar- 
encies, emblematical  of  the  joyful  occasion,  which,  considering  the  short 
notice,  d'd  great  credit  to  their  owners. 

Among  those  who  had  ])assed  away  during  the  war  men- 
tion should  be  named  of 

GEN.  WILLIAM  CRANE. 

He  was  the  son  of  the  Hon.  Stephen  Crane,  a  sterling  pa- 
triot of  the  Revolution.  The  father  was  the  son  of  Daniel, 
and  grandson  of  Stephen  Crane,  the  planter,  both  of  this 
town. 

William  was  born  in  ITiS,  and,  being  in  the  full  vigor  of 
his  early  manhood  at  the  beginning  of  the  revolutionary 
war,  at  once  espoused  his  country's  cause,  and,  in  common 
with  several  of  his  townsmen,  attached  himself,  as  Lieuten- 
ant of  an  Artillery  Company,  to  the  Canada  Expedition,  im- 
der  Montgomery.  At  the  time  that  his  commander  fell  be- 
fore Quebec,  Dec.  31,  1775,  Crane  received  a  bomb-shell 
wound  in  one  of  his  ankles,  from  which  he  suffered  nntil  liis 
death,  nearly  40  years  afterwards.  As  Major  of  Militia,  the 
story  of  his  capture.  Mar.  3,  1783,  of  the  armed  ship  Eagle 
and  the  sloop  Katy,  within  pistol-shot  of  the  battery  of  New 


i 


ELIZABETH,    NEW   JERSEY.  661 

York,  has  been  told  on  page  512.  For  tlicse  acts  of  bravery, 
be  was  promoted,  after  the  war,  to  a  brigadier-ship  of  militia. 
He  was  appointed,  in  1807,  Depnty  Mayor  of  the  Borough, 
and  was  a  Trustee  of  tlie  Prcsb.  church  from  1807,  until  his 
death. 

The  K.  J.  Journal,  of  July  12,  1814,  has  this  notice  : — 

Died,  on  Saturday  last  [9th],  Gen.  ■\Villiam  Crane,  in  the  67th  year  of 
his  age.  In  the  year  of  1775,  Gen.  Crane  entered  the  Continental  Ser- 
vice— and  at  the  reduction  of  St.  John's  or  Montreal,  received  a  wound 
in  his  leg,  Avhich  never  was  cured  ;  and  for  some  years  past  he  suffered 
much  from  it.  About  seventeen  months  since,  his  leg  was  amputated 
with  flattering  prospects — but  that  last  resort  had  been  too  long  deferred, 
and  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  incurable  wound.  Gen.  Crane's  character  as 
a  soldier  and  citizen  stood  preeminent — and  ho  lived  beloved,  and  died 
lamented.  His  funeral  was  attended,  on  Sunday,  by  a  vast  concourse  of 
people  from  this  and  the  neighboring  parishes,  who  testified  his  worth  as. 

a  MAN. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  the  distinguished  military  chief- 
tain 

L.-GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT, 

whose  wife,  Maria  Mayo,  was  connected  with  several  of  the 
principal  families  of  this  town,  took  up  his  residence  here,  in 
the  well-known  mansion  that  was  then  known  as  the  Mayo 
place,  but  previously  hud  been  the  residence  of  Dr.  Wm. 
Barnet.  During  a  great  part  of  his  subsequent  life,  when 
not  in  active  service  in  the  field,  he  found  here  a  quiet  and 
pleasant  home,  greatly  honored  of  his  fellow-citizens.  The 
particulars  of  his  eventful  life  have  been  too  minutely  given 
in  current  histories,  and  are  too  widely  known,  to  need  more 
than  this  passing  notice. 

Among  the  most  useful  and  honored  of  the  citizens  of  this 
town,  whose  death  occurred  during  the  period  now  under  re- 
view, was 

JEREMIAH  BALLARD,  ESQ. 

He  was  born  in  1748,  and  became,  at  an  early  period  of 
his  life,  a  resident  of  this  town.  In  the  later  j^ears  of  the 
revolutionary  war,  he  was  a  Captain  in  the  Third  New  Jer- 
sey Bcgimeut.  In  1796,  he  was  chosen  Recorder  of  the- 
Borough,    and,    in    1801,    Deputy    Mayor.      In   1788,    he 


(5(32  THE    HISTORY    OF 

became  a  member  of  tlic  First  Presbyterian  clmrcli,  and, 
iu  1807,  one  of  its  Trustees,  of  -wliom  he  Avas  cliosen 
President  in  1813.  He  was  the  Vice  President  of  the 
Cincinnati  of  Kew  Jersey,  and  a  leading  member  of  various 
other  institutions  in  the  town.  At  the  time  of  his  decease,  he 
was  also  the  Mayor  of  the  Borough.  He  died  on  Wednes 
day,  Sept.  4,  1823,  set.  75.  All  classes  of  the  community 
gathered,  in  large  numbers,  on  the  following  day,  to  attend 
his  funeral,  in  the  Presb.  church,  when  a  sermon  was 
preached  by  his  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  McDowell,  from  Acts  xi. 
24 ;  "  For  he  was  a  good  man."  At  a  meeting  of  the  Corr 
poration,  the  day  after,  the  following  testimonial  to  his  emi- 
nent worth  was  put  on  record : 

"While  the  Members  of  this  Corporation,  in  common  with  their  fellow- 
Citizens  of  this  Borough  deeply  lament  the  death  of  tiieir  late  worthy 
chief  Magistrate,  Jeremiah  Ballard,  Esq',  they  thiok  it  due  to  his  mem- 
ory to  express  their  sentiments  of  his  public  character  &  private  worth. 

To  detail  the  particulars  of  a  long  and  useful  life,  they  do  not  feel 
themselves  called  upon,  but  they  believe  they  give  a  faithful  though  brief 
summary  of  it  when  they  say — 

As  a  Soldier,  he  was  brave,  humane  and  generous ; 

As  a  Magistrate,  he  was  upright,  intelligent  and  faithful ; 

As  a  Citizen,  he  was  public-spirited  and  highly  useful ; 

As  Presiding  officer  of  this  XI!orporation  he  was  courteous  dignified  & 
impartial ; 

As  a  Christian,  he  was  Charitable  &  zealous,  but  unostentatious. 

He  displayed  the  graces  of  the  religion  ho  professed  in  life,  &  he 
felt  its  support  and  consolation  in  death. 

Thus  lived  and  died  the  worthy  Chief  Magistrate  of  our  Borough, 
who  ranked  (if  not  among  the  greatest)  yet  among  the  best  of  men. 

Therefore,  Eesolved,  that  the  members  of  this  corporation  feel  & 
sincereh'  deplore  his  loss,  and  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  his  memory, 
they  will  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days.* 

Among  the  pall-bearers  on  the  occasion  of  Judge  Ballard's 
funeral,  and  one  who,  not  long  after,  followed  him  to  the 
world  of  spirits,  was  the 

HON.  JONATHAN  DAYTON,  LL.D. 

He  was  the  son  of  Gen.  Elias  Dayton,  and  was  born,  in 
this  town,  Oct.  IG,  ITCO.     He  graduated  at  the  College  of 

•  Ms.  Dinry  of  Elder  Isaac  Crane.    Borough  Records. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  663 

New  Jersey  in  177G  ;  entered  the  Army  in  1778,  as  a  Pay- 
master ;  accompanied,  in  1779,  Gen.  Sullivan,  on  bis  "Western 
Expedition ;  and,  in  17S0,  was  a  Captain  in  Iiis  father's 
regiment.  After  the  Peace,  he  was  chosen  to  the  Lcgisla- 
tm-e  of  New  Jersey,  of  which  he  was  Speaker  in  1790.  He 
represented  his  native  State  in  the  Convention  (1787)  for 
the  formation  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and,  in  1791,  was 
elected  to  Congress.  Thrice  he  was  reelected,  serving  four 
terms  in  the  House,  of  which  he  was  Speaker  from  1795  to 
1799.  He  was  chosen  Senator  of  the  United  States  and 
served  from  1799  to  1805.  He  was  appointed,  by  Pres. 
Adams,  a  Brig.-General,  with  the  privilege  of  retaining  his 
seat  in  the  Senate. 

He  became  largely  interested  with  Symmes  and  others  in 
the  purchase  and  settlement  of  western  military  lands,  the 
town  of  Dayton,  in  Ohio,  being  named  in  compliment  to  him. 
His  earl}^  intimacy,  in  boyhood,  with  Aaron  Burr,  and  his 
later  association  with  him  in  the  Senate  of  the  U.  S.,  led  him 
to  look,  with  more  favor  tlian  prudence  would  have  dictated, 
upon  the  schemes  of  that  aspiring  and  crafty  politician  ;  so 
that,  by  advancing  money  to  aid  Burr  in  his  adventures,  he 
became  compromised  with  ban  in  the  charge  of  treason. 
The  indictment,  however,  was  not  tried,  and  Mr.  Dayton's 
bail  was  released.  This  unhappy  affair,  and  the  brqaking  up 
of  the  federal  party,  of  which  he  was  a  leader,  put  an  end  to 
Mr.  Dayton's  political  aspirations.  He  was  subsequently 
elected  repeatedly  to  the  Council  of  the  N.  J.  Legislatnre, 
and  held  several  important  offices  in  his  native  town.  He 
received,  in  17S8,  from  his  Alma  Mater,  the  Honorary  De- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Laws.  His  later  days  were  passed  at  home, 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  comfortable  competence,  respected  and 
venerated  by  his  townsmen,  and  honored  by  all  who  knew 
him.     He  died,  Oct.  9,  1821.* 

To  these  must  be  added  the  name  of  the 

HON.  ISAAC  HALSTED  WILLIAjMSON,  LL.D. 

He  was  the  youngest  son  of  General  Matthias  Willianison 

*  Apploton'3  Am.  Cyoloptedla.    Allen's  Am.  Blog.  Diet. 


004  THE   HISTORY    OF 

and  Snsaniicali  Ilalstcd.  His  grandfather,  "William,  the  first 
of  the  name  in  this  town,  died,  January  10,  173|^ ;  and  his 
TridoTT,  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Matthias  De  Ilart,  M-as 
married  subsequently  to  "VVm.  Chetwood,  Esq. ;  and,  at  his 
death,  to  a  Mr.  Johnston.  Gen.  Matthias  had  five  sons, 
William,  Matthias,  Jacob,  Benjamin,  and  Isaac  II.  The  last 
was  born,  Sept.  27,  1768.  His  childhood  and  youth  were 
passed  amid  the  exciting  scenes  of  the  Eevolution.  He 
studied  law  with  his  elder  brother  Matthias,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  as  an  attorney,  in  1791,  and  as  a  comiselor  in  1796, 
opening  his  office  in  his  native  town,  where  he  continued  his 
residence  until  his  death. 

In  1795,  he  became,  and  for  many  years  continued,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Borough  Corporation.  Gradually  he  rose  to  oc- 
cupy one  of  the  first  places  at  the  bar  of  his  native  State.  In 
1816,  lie  was  chosen  to  the  Assembly,  and,  wliile  serving  in 
that  capacity,  he  was  chosen,  Feb.  1817,  Governor  and  Chan- 
cellor of  the  State,  continuing  to  hold  these  high  offices,  by 
successive  annual  elections,  until  1829,  when  he  returned  to 
the  bar.  In  1831,  and  1832,  he  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Council.  For  four  years,  1830-3,  he  served  as  Mayor  of  the 
Borough,  after  which,  though  solicited  to  accept  again  the 
governorship,  he  declined  all  public  office,  except  in  the  last 
year  of  his  life.  Being  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion, that  met.  May  14,  1844,  at  Trenton,  he  was  unanimously 
chosen  their  presiding 'officer.  After  an  illness  of  eighteen 
months,  borne  with  the  utmost  resignation  and  cheerfulness, 
he  departed  this  life,  on  Wednesday,  July  10,  1 844,  univer- 
sally lamented,  as  he  had  been  universally  lionored  and  be- 
loved. His  remains  were  buried  in  the  ancestral  vault,  with 
distinguished  respect. 

Tlie  N.  Jersey  bar  said  of  him, 

The  State  mourns  his  loss.  In  all  the  relations  of  life,  public  and  pri- 
vate, he  has  bequeathed  to  his  coiintrymeu  an  illustrious  example.  As  a 
friend  he  was  faithful  and  sincere  ;  as  a  statesman,  enlightened  and  patri- 
otic; as  a  judge  profountlly  learueJ,  iucorruptibly  pure,  inflexibly  just. 
The  inimitable  simplicity  of  his  character,  the  artlessness  of  his  life,  the 
wannth  and  purity  of  his  aflfections  endeared  him  to  the  circle  of  his 


ELIZABETH,    NEW   JERSEY.  665 

friends ;  his  Ligli  and  varied  attainments  command  the  respect  of  his  as- 
sociates. His  long  and  eminent  public  services,  his  dignified  and  enlight- 
ened and  impartial  administration  of  justice  demand  the  gratitude  of  his 
fellow-citizens  and  of  posterity. 

Similar  testimonials  were  passed  by  tlic  Wardens  and  Ves- 
try of  St.  John's  Clinrcli,  of  whicli,  from  early  life,  lie  liad 
been  an  exemplary  member,  and  for  many  years  tlie  Senior 
"Warden. 

He  married,  Ang.  6,  1808,  Anne  Crossdale,  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Cavalier  Jonet  (by  his  second  wife,  Mary  Hampton), 
and  had  two  sons, — the  Hon.  Benjamin  (Ex-Chancellor),  and 
Isaac  Halsted,  Esq." 

*  O.  S.  nalsted's  commemorative  Address.  Corporation  Records.  Parish  Kegiator  & 
Eecords  of  St.  John's.    Now  Jerse7  Journal. 


666  THE    HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A.  D.  1804-1868. 

Ecclesiastical  —  First  Presb.  Chh. —  Rev.  John  McDowell,  D.D.  —  Rev.  Mcho- 
las  Murray,  D.D. — Rev.  E.  Kempshall  —  Second  Presb.  Chh. — Rev.  David 
Magie,  D.D.  — Rev.  Wm.  C.  Roberts  —  Third  Presb.  Chh.— Rev.  Robert 
Aikman  —  Fourth  Pros.  Chh.,  Elizabethport  —  Rev.  Abm.  Brown  —  Rev. 
Oliver  S.  St.  John  —  Rev.  Edwin  H.  Reinhart  —  Westminster  Presb.  Chh. — 
Siloam  Presb.  Chh.  — Rev.  John  C,  Rudd,  D.D.  — Rev.  Smith  Pyne  — Rev, 
Birdseye  G,  Noble  —  Rev.  Riehd.  C.Moore  —  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Clark  —  New 
St.  John's  —  Chapel  —  Grace  Chh,  —  Rev.  David  Clarkson  —  Rev,  Clarkson 
Dunn  —  Christ  Chh.  —  Rev.  Eugene  A.  Hoffman,  D.D.  —  Rev.  Stevens  Parker 
—  Trinity  Chh.  — Rev.  Daniel  F.  Warren,  D.D.  — First  Baptist  Chh.  —  Rev. 
George  W.  Clark —  Broad  St.  Baptist  Chh,  — Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  D.D.— 
Congregational  Chh.  —  Rev.  John  M.  Wolcott  —  Rom.  Cath.  Chhs.  —  Mora- 
vian Chh.  — Rev.  Christian  Neu  —  Lutheran  Chh.  — Swedenborgians. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Kollock,  in  December,  1803, 
the  First  Presbyterian  cliurcli  remained  witlioiit  a  pastor  for 
several  months.  The  pulpit  was  supplied,  as  already  related, 
until  April,  by  Mr.  Austin,  and,  afterwards,  until  July,  by 
occasional  supplies.  On  the  29tli  of  July,  1804,  tlie  congre- 
gation voted  a  unanimous  call  to  the 

REV.  JOHN  McDowell, 

a  Licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  The 
call  was  presented,  Aug.  21,  and  he  was  duly  installed, 
Wednesday,  Dec.  26,  1801,  at  11  o'clock  A.  M. ;  on  which 
occasion,  the  Pev.  Dr.  McAVhorter,  of  Newark,  presided, 
offered  the  ordaining  prayer,  and  gave  the  charge  to  the  min- 
ister ;  the  Rev.  Amzi  Armstrong,  of  Mendham,  preached 
from  Titus  i.  5  ;  and  the  Pcv.  Edward  D.  Griffin,  of  iSTewark, 
gave  the  exhortation  to  the  people.* 

•  Records  of  Presb.  of  N.  Y. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW   JERSEY.  667 

He  was  the  son  of  Mattlle^v,  M-liose  father,  Ephraiin  Mc- 
Dowell, migrated  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  about  174:6, 
where  his  ancestors,  fleeing  from  persecution  in  Scotland, 
during  the  previous  century,  had  found  an  asylum.  Ephraim 
purchased  a  tract  of  400  acres  of  wild  land  on  the  western 
borders  of  Somerset  Co.,N.  J.,  in  what  has  since  been  known 
as  the  village  of  Lamington,  about  10  miles  N.  "\V.  of  Som- 
erville.  Here  ]\[atthew  McDowell  was  born,  in  1748,  and 
bred  a  farmer.  He  married  Elizabetli  Anderson,  whose 
parents,  also,  were  from  the  Is^orth  of  Ireland.  Both  were 
exemplary  members  of  tlie  Presbyterian  church  of  Laming- 
ton. Their  son,  John,  was  born,  Sept.  10,  1780,  and  brought 
up  on  the  paternal  farm. 

At  the  age  of  eleven  years,  he  experienced  religion,  and, 
at  fifteen,  he  entered  upon  a  course  of  study  for  the  minis- 
try, under  the  instructions  of  Kev.  William  Boyd,  then 
teaching  in  the  neighborhood.  In  1799,  he  entered  the 
junior  class  of  the  College  of  Kew  Jersey,  at  Princeton, 
graduating,  with  honor,  in  1801,  in  the  same  class  with 
Nicholas  Biddle,  afterwards  the  distinguished  financier.  He 
studied  theology  under  the  direction,  first,  of  the  Pev.  Hol- 
loway  A7.  Hunt,  of  Newton,  N.  J.,  and  then  of  the  Pev. 
John  Woodhull,  D.D.,  of  Freehold,  N.  J.  At  the  latter 
place  he  professed  religion,  in  September,  1802.  He  was 
licensed,  Ap.  25,  1804,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Brunswick,  at 
their  meeting  in  Baskingridge.  He  was  providentially 
directed  to  this  town,  and  preached  his,  first  sermon  here  on 
the  first  Sabbath  of  July.  A  few  weeks  after  his  installation, 
he  married,  Feb.  5,  1805,  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Shepard 
Kollock,  and  sister  of  his  predecessor  in  the  pastoral  office. 

In  the  faithful  and  laborious  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office,  as  pastor  of  the  Fii-st  Presb.  church  of  this  town,  he 
continued,  for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  and  a  half  j'cars, 
greatly  favored  of  God  and  honored  of  man.  Thci  attend- 
ance on  his  ministrations  steadily  increased  until  it  reached 
the  full  capacity  of  the  church  edifice  ;  so  that  in  February, 
1820,  measures  were  adopted  for  the  gathering  of  a  Second 
Presb.  church.     The  number  added   to  his   church,  during 


668  THE   HISTORY    OF 

his  ministiy,  on  profession  of  foith,  -was  921,  and,  on  certifi- 
cate, 223  ;  in  all,  1144.  The  baptisms  numbered  14:98,  of 
whom  282  were  adults.  This  marked  success  in  his  work  was 
brought  about  by  repeated  outpourings  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
upon  the  congregation.  The  most  remarkable  of  these  seasons 
were  the  years  1807-8,  1813,  1817,  and  182G.  In  1808,  the 
additions  to  the  church,  by  profession,  were  111 ;  in  1813, 
the  year  of  hostility,  100  ;  in  1817,  167  ;  and,  in  182C,  138. 
Other  seasons  of  refreshing,  but  not  so  general,  were  enjoyed, 
adding  to  the  church,  on  profession,  in  1820,  59  ;  and,  in 
1831,  44.  The  number  of  communicants,  in  1804,  was  207; 
in  1820,  6G0. 

In  the  year  1818,  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
and  by  Union  College.  lie  was  in  high  repute,  both  as  a 
preacher  and  an  author.  As  a  Trustee  of  the  College  of 
Kew  Jersey,  and  as  a  Director  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton,  he  rendered  the  most  important  services  to  the 
cause  of  Education  and  of  Religion.  Calls  were  extended 
to  him,  at  different  times,  during  his  ministry  in  this  town, 
from  the  Collegiate  R.  D.  church,  and  the  Wall  street  Pres- 
byterian church,  both  of  the  City  of  'New  York,  and  from 
the  Presb.  church  of  Princeton,  N.  J.  Overtures  were  made 
to  him,  also,  from  "other  quarters,  but  were  not  entertained. 
He  was  chosen  a  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Allegheny,  Pa.,  and  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  of 
Virginia.  He  was,  also,  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Missions. 

In  pastoral  labors  he  ranked  among  the  most  useful  minis- 
ters of  the  Church.  Every  portion  of  his  extensive  charge 
was  regularly  visited  at  set  seasons,  every  year ;  Bible-class- 
es, embracing  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  youth  in  his 
congregration,  were  rcgularl}'-  taught.  Sunday  Schools  were 
introduced  in  1814-16,  and  vigorously  conducted ;  while  all 
the  benevolent  operations  of  the  Church  found  in  him  an 
earnest  and  powerful  advocate.  In  consequence  mainly  of  his 
strenuous  opposition,  repeated  attempts  at  Sabbath-profana- 
tion, and  horse-racing  were  effectually  frustrated.     His  in- 


'■i^t^m 


■P  // 


070  THE    HISTORY    OF 

place  and  retuniGd  home,  greatly  to  the  grief  of  his  jnotlier. 
He  determined  to  emigrate  to  America,  leaving  the  inheri- 
tance to  his  brother. 

He  came  to  this  countr}^  in  1818,  arriving  at  New  York 
with  hut  $12  in  his  pocket.  He  obtained  employment  at  the 
printing  establishment  of  the  Messrs.  Harper,  boarded  first 
with  their  mother,  and  after  two  years  with  3Ir.  George 
Kirk  (father  of  Kev.  E.  N.  Kirk,  D.D.),  then  residing  in 
Liberty  st.,  nearly  opposite  the  present  Trinity  place.  He 
was  induced  by  some  of  his  religious  associates  to  hear  the 
Eev.  John  M.  Mason,  _D.D.,  was  cured  of  his  Popery,  be- 
came a  probationer  in  the  Methodist  church,  and  soon  after 
a  member  of  the  Brick  Presbyterian  church  under  the  care 
of  the  Ecv.  Gardiner  Spring,  D.D.  His  developments  of 
mental  and  spiritual  gifts  were  such  as  to  lead  several  of  his 
godly  friends  to  urge  upon  him  a  preparation  for  the  gospel- 
ministry. 

He  began  his  study  of  the  languages  in  the  winter  of 
1821-2,  under  the  instruction  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Steele,  a  fellow- 
lodger  at  Mr.  Kirk's,  and  soon  after  a  minister  of  the  Ee- 
formed  Dutch  Church.  Having  been  adopted  as  a  benefi- 
ciary of  the  Brick  church,  he  relinquished  the  printing  busi- 
ness, in  the  autumn  of  1821,  entered  shortly  after  the  Acad- 
emy, under  the  instruction  of  Gerard  Hallock,  at  Amherst, 
Mass.,  and,  in  the  autumn  of  1822,  the  Freshman  Class  of 
Williams  College,  at  Williamstown,  Mass.,  then  under  the 
Presidency  of  the  illustrious  Kev.  E.  D.  Griffin,  D.D.  He 
graduated  in  1826,  and  after  a  brief  Agency  of  six  and  a  half 
weeks  in  AVashington  County,  N.  Y.,  for  the  American  Tract 
Society,  he  entered,  November  9,  1826,  the  Theological  Se- 
minary at  Princeton,  N.  J.  In  May,  1827,  he  accepted  an 
Ao-ency  for  Pennsylvania,  from  the  Tract  Society,  and  in 
November  following  located  himself  at  Philadelphia,  having 
engaged  with  the  same  Society  as  their  agent  there  for  a 
year.  He  found  time  still  to  prosecute  his  theological  stud- 
ies, and,  at  the  expiration  of  his  engagement,  returned  to 
the  Seminary,  where  he  completed,  May,  7,  1829,  the  cur- 
riculum of  the  Institution. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  671 

He  ]iad  previously  been  received  under  tlie  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  "New  York ;  bnt  having  been  tranferrcd,  he 
was  licensed,  at  Frankfort,  Pa.,  in  April,  1829,  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia.  In  June  following,  he  was  sent  as  a 
missionary,  by  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  to  the  beauti- 
ful Valley  of  Wyoming,  Pa.  lie  received  a  call,  Aug.  12, 
1829,  with  an  offer  of  $600  salary,  from  the  united  churches 
of  "Wilkesbarre  and  Kingston,  Pa.,  M-hich  he  accepted.  He 
was  accordingly',  Kov.  4,  1820,  ordained  and  installed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Susquehanna.  He  married,  Jan.  1830, 
Miss  Eliza  J.  Ehees,  of  Philadelphia,  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Morgan  J.  Illiees,  deceased.  In  JSTovembcr,  1831,  he  was 
tendered  the  General  Agency  of  the  American  Tract  So- 
ciety for  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  but  declined  it.  He 
had  previously  declined  the  Secretaryship  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Education  Society  at  Philadelphia. 

"While  in  attendance  on  the  General  Assembly  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  May,  1833,  he  consented  to  supply,  for  two  Sab- 
baths, the  pulpit  of  tlie  First  Presbyterian  church  of  this 
towi^,  then  just  made  vacant  by  the  removal  of  Dr.  McDowell. 
In  October  of  the  previous  year  he  had  passed  a  Sabbath 
here,  and  made  an  appeal  to  this  congregation  for  aid  in 
building  a  church  at  "Wilkesbarre.  So  greatly  did  lie  please 
the  people,  that,  at  the  expiration  of  the  fortnight,  a  call  was 
unanimously  tendered  him,  June  3d,  with  an  offer  of  $1000 
salary,  which  he  accepted.  He  was  dismissed  from  his  first 
charge,  June  23,  1833,  and  installed  here,  on  Tuesday,  July 
23d,  at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabeth 
Town  ;  when  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 
M.  Ogden,  of  Chatham,  N.  J.,  from  2  Corinthians,  iii. :  15, 16  ; 
the  charge  to  the  pastor  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  McDowell ;  and 
the  charge  to  the  people,  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  O.  Thompson, 
of  Connecticut  Farms. 

His  ministry  in  this  town  was  extended  through  a  period 
of  nearly  28  years — a  few  months  only  less  than  that  of  his 
distinguished  predecessor.  He  entered  fully  into  the  round 
of  pastoral  labor,  to  which  the  people  had  so  long  been  ac- 
customed, and  made  full  proof  of  his  ministry.     He  com- 


672  THE    HISTORY    OF 

mandcd  the  respect  find  reverence  not  onlj'  of  liis  own  peo- 
ple, but  of  the  -whole  town.  In  the  Presbytery  his  influence 
M'as  second  to  none.  His  counsels  were  highly  valued,  also, 
in  the  Synod  and  General  Assembly,  of  the  latter  of  which 
he  was  chosen  Moderator  in  1849.  In  the  conflicts  that  re- 
sulted in  the  division  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  183Y-S, 
he  took  an  active  part,  and  cast  his  lot  with  the  Old  School 
portion,  cariying  his  church  and  Presbytery  with  hira. 
Large  accessions  of  converts,  particularly  in  1834,  1836, 
1842-3,  and  1858,  attested  the  faithfulness  of  his  ministry. 
His  labors  resulted  in  a  steady  growth  of  the  congregation, 
in  numbers  and  eficctivencss,  so  that  at  the  close  of  his  min- 
istry, he  could  say,  Jan.  1,  1861, 

A  glorious  meeting  in  iLe  First  Chiu'cli  to-day.  The  first  time  in  all  its 
history  it  was  declared  out  of  debt,  with  a  balance  in  the  treasury,  -witli 
a  yearly  income  to  meet  all  its  expenditures,  and  about  four  thousand  dol- 
lars in  funds,  for  the  poor,  and  to  keep  the  grave-yard  in  repair. 

Much,  however,  as  he  excelled  in  pastoral. service,  he  ob- 
tained a  vastly  more  extended  fome  as  a  popular  contributor 
to  the  columns  of  the  religious  Press.  A  series  of  articles 
from  his  pen,  on  "  Practical  Methodism,"  six  in  number,  ap- 
peared in  the  "  Christian  Advocate,''  (a  Presbyterian  Monthly 
published  in  Philadelphia),  from  September  1830  to  Ma}' 
1831,  which  excited  no  little  inquiry.  He  became  most 
widely  known,  however,  by  a  scries  of  12  Essays  on  Popery, 
with  the  signature  of  "  Kirwan,"  which  appeared  in  the  col- 
umns of  the  X.  York  Observer,  from  Peb.  6,  to  May  8, 1847. 
They  were  addressed  to  Bishop  Hughes,  and  were  published 
directly  after  in  book  form,  with  an  immense  circulation, 
here  and  beyond  the  Atlantic.  A  second  series  followed, 
commencing  with  Oct.  2,  1847.  A  sermon,  on  the  "  Decline 
of  Popery  and  its  Causes,"  preached,  "  in  reply  to  Bishop 
Hughes,"  Jan  15,  1851,  in  the  Broadway  Tabernacle  of  JSTew 
York,  was  published  widelj^. 

Ilavinor  revisited  his  native  land,  and  extended  liis  travels 
to  Home,  in  1851,  on  his  return,  he  published  a  series  of  let- 
ters, entitled,  "Romanism  at  Home,"  addressed  to  Chief 
Justice  Taney,  which  appeared  in  1852.     His  other  publica- 


ELIZABETH,    NEW   JERSEY.  678 

tions  were  "  Parish  and  other  Pencilings  ;  "  "  The  Happy 
Home ; "  "  Men  and  Things  as  I  saw  them  in  Europe  ; " 
"  Preachers  and  Preaching;  "  and  some  pamphlets.  He  vis- 
ited Europe  again  in  1860. 

His  great  poj^ularitj  subjected  him  to  frequent  solicitations 
to  other  posts  of  influence  and  usefulness.  In  1834,  he  was 
called  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Charleston,  S.  C. ;  in 
1835,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  (for  JN".  York,  Phila,,  Baltimore,  &c.) ;  in  1836,  he 
was  called  to  the  Park  st.  church,  Boston,  thrice  in  suc- 
cession ;  in  1837,  and  again  in  ISIS,  to  the  Presb.  church  of 
Natchez,  Miss. ;  in  1839,  and  again  in  1852,  to  the  First 
(O.  S.)  Presb.  church  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  in  1849,  to  the 
Central  Presb.  church  of  St,  Louis,  Mo. ;  and,  in  1850,  to 
the  Seventh  Presb.  church  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  addition, 
he  was  often  solicited  to  allow  calls  to  be  made  for  him,  but 
uniformly  refused,  preferring  to  live  and  die  among  his  own 
people,  greatly  to  their  satisfaction  and  delight. 

His  decease  was  altogether  unexpected.  In  the  midst  of 
life  and  robust  health,  he  was  seized,  on  Friday,  Feb.  1, 1861, 
with  an  acute  rheumatism  of  the  heart,  which  resulted  in  a 
painful,  but  peaceful  death,  on  Monday,  the  4th,  in  the  eve- 
ning. The  whole  community  were  deeply  affected  by  the 
event.  At  his  funeral,  on  Friday,  the  8th,  all  business  was 
suspended,  and  a  great  multitude,  including  many  clergymen 
from  abroad,  gathered  in  the  First  church,  when  addresses 
were  made  by  Eev.  Drs.  Rodgers  of  Boundbrook,  Ogden,  of 
Chatham,  Hodge,  of  Princeton,  and  Magie,  of  this  town,  and 
by  Messrs.  Rankin  of  Baskingridge,  and  Sheddan  of  Rah- 
way.  An  appropriate  funeral  sermon  was  preached,  on  the 
Sabbath  following,  by  his  greatly-attached  friend,  Rev.  Wm . 
B.  Sprague,  D.  D.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.  The  religious  press, 
everywhere,  throughout  the  land,  and  numerous  public 
bodies  with  which  he  had  been  connected,  gave  affecting  ut- 
terance to  their  deep  sense  of  bereavement. 

The  wife  of  his  youth  survives  him,  and  of  his  ten  children 
four  only  outlived  their  loved  and  honored  father.* 

*  For  further  details  of  the  admirable  life  of  Dr.  Murray,  see  "  Memoirs  of  the  Eev.  Nicn- 

43 


674  THE    HISTORY    OF 

His  successor,  the  present  worthy  pastor,  Kev.  Everakd 
KEMrsHALL,  previously  of  Buffalo  and  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  was 
installed,  Sept.  18,  1861.  During  his  ministry  large  acces- 
sions have  been  made  to  the  membership,  and  the  church  is 
enjoying  a  high  degree  of  prosperity. 

A  Second  Bkesbyteeian  Church  grew  out  of  the  "  Great 
Revival  "  of  1817.  So  numerous  were  the  accessions  to  the 
old  church  as  greatly  to  exceed  the  capacity  of  their  house 
of  worship.  During  the  revival  of  1813,  a  long-felt  neces- 
sity had  been  met,  by  the  erection  of  a  "  Session  House,"  on 
the  rear  of  the  parsonage-lot,  fronting  on  Washington  street. 
The  expense  was  provided  for  by  voluntary  subscriptions, 
and  the  house  was  opened  for  worship,  Sept.  10, 1813.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Trustees  and  Session  of  the  First  church,  on 
Tuesday,  Feb.  29, 1820,  application  having  been  made  to  that 
effect,  arrangements  were  made,  whereby  the  Session  House 
might  be  used  on  the  Sabbath,  free  of  rent,  for  five  years,  by 
such  persons  as  were  desirous  to  form  a  second  church.  The 
house  was  enlarged  in  the  summer  following.  Separate 
Sabbath  services  were  commenced,  March  26,  1820.  A  re- 
ligious society  was  organized,  by  the  election,  Oct.  26,  1820, 
of  Messrs.  David  Meeker,  John  Humes,  James  Crane,  Rich- 
ard Townley,  Elijah  Kellogg,  Wm.  Brown,  and  Elihu  Price, 
as  Trustees.  A  church  of  forty-one  members,  all  but  one 
from  the  First  church,  was  constituted  on  Sunday,  Dec.  3, 
1820,  when  Elihu  Price,  James  Crane,  and  David  Meeker 
were  set  apart  as  Elders.  The  same  month,  they  called,  as 
their  pastor,  the 

REV.  DAVID  MAGIE. 

He  was  a  native  of  this  town,  and  this  was  his  only  home 
through  life.  His  father,  Michael,  was  the  son  of  Joseph, 
and  the  grandson  of  John  Magie,  Sen.,  mentioned,  p.  265. 
His  ancestry  were  noted  for  their  piety  and  Presbytcrianism. 
His  father  married  Mary  Meeker,  and  both  of  them  were 

OLAB  Murray,  D.D.  (Kirwan),by  Samuel  Irenreus  Trimo"  [D.D.];  published  by  Harper  & 
Brothers,  N.  York,  1S68;  also  Dr.  Spragne's  Sermon,  and  Wilson'a  Presb.  Hlstor.  Almanac, 
for  1SC2,  pp.  105-9. 


l^>f:^}^y 


■•*-A'i'/..^.'^->#''f-V'.':' 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  675 

exemplary  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  Da- 
vid was  born,  at  the  rural  homestead,  .west  of  the  town, 
March  13, 1795.  His  fother  died,  Jan.  6, 1810.  In  his  Will, 
dated  Aug.  23,  1806,  mention  is  made  of  ten  children :  four 
daughters — Catharine  Potter,  Jane  Brown,  Phebe  and  Han- 
nah ;  and  six  sons— Benjamin,  John,  David,  Joseph,  Job, 
and  Haines. 

David  was  converted  in  the  revival  of  1813,  and,  in  June 
of  that  year,  was  received  a  member  of  the  First  church. 
He  prepared  for  college  under  the  supervision  of  his  pastor, 
Mr.  McDowell,  and  entered  the  junior  class  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  in  1815.  He  graduated  in  1817,  and  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  At  the  expiration 
of  a  year,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Tutors  of  the  College, 
holding  the  post  for  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1820  he  was 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey,  and  preached  his 
first  sermon,  Ap.  28.  During  the  summer,  having  frequently 
preached  for  the  new  congregation,  he  was  invited  to  supply 
them  for  six  months.  He  began  his  stated  ministrations, 
Oct.  1,  1820,  with  a  sermon  from  Rom.  xv.  30.  He  was  or- 
dained and  installed 'on  Tuesday,  Ap.  24, 1821.  He  married. 
May  7th,  Ann  F.  Wilson,  daughter  of  James  Wilson,  Esq., 
deceased. 

Measures  were  taken,  April  30,  1821,  to  build  a  house  of 
worship.  The  corner-stone  of  the  house  on  Jersey  st.  was 
laid,  June  20,  1821,  and  the  house  dedicated.  May  1,  1822. 
In  this  his  first  and  only  pastoral  charge,  among  his  own 
townsmen,  he  continued  to  labor  as  a  faithful,  godly,  useful 
and  highly  honored  minister  of  the  gospel,  nearly  forty-five 
years,  declining  promptly  several  calls  and  appointments  to 
other  fields  and  spheres  of  labor.  He  received,  in  1812,  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  from  Amherst  College — and  during  the  lat- 
ter period  of  his  life  filled  several  stations  of  honor  and  ser- 
vice in  connection  with  literary  and  benevolent  institutions. 
The  additions  to  the  church,  during  his  ministry,  were  651  on 
profession,  and  596  on  certificate. 

After  a  period  of  great  bodily  suffering,  protracted  tlirough 
fifteen  months,  full  of  peace,  hope,  and  comfort,  he  departed 


676  THE    HISTORY    OF 

this  life,  May  10,  1865,  greatly  lamented,  as  he  had  been 
greatly  beloved. 

Ue  ■was,  indeed,  "  a  model  pastor."  Calm,  genial,  aflfectionate,  sympa- 
thizing, abundant  in  labors,  bis  services  were  welcomed  by  the  wbole 
people,  and  his  influence  among  them  gradually  strengthening  from  first  to 
last.  Combining  temperance,  charity,  humility,  prudence,  sound  judg- 
ment, simplicity,  and  earnestness,  he  was  a  faithful,  persevering,  success- 
ful laborer  in  the  vineyard  committed  to  his  charge.  He  preached  and 
prayed  with  a  power  and  unction  which  sank  deep  into  the  hearts  of  his 

hearers Besides  several  able  published  discourses,  he  was  the  author 

of  "  The  Spring-time  of  Life,"  an  excellent  volume  of  350  pages.* 

A  few  months  before  the  decease  of  Dr.  Magie,  the  Eev. 
"William  C.  Robekts,  previously  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  was  in- 
stalled co-pastor,  and  continued  in  charge  until  his  resigna- 
tion in  February,  1866,  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  newly- 
organized  Westminster  church.  The  Rev.  James  B.  Pat- 
terson, for  several  years  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Steubenville,  Ohio,  was  shortly  after  installed  his  suc- 
cessor, and  is  still  in  charge  of  the  church.* 

A  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  growing  out  of  the  in- 
crease of  the  population,  and  the  crowded  state  of  the  other 
two  Presbyterian  churches,  was  organized  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Elizabeth  Town,  Nov.  17,  1851.  It  numbered  seventy-six 
members,  who  had  been  dismissed,  in  equal  proportions,  from 
the  First  and  Second  churches,  for  this  purpose.  Messrs. 
Edward  Sanderson,  David  Woodruff,  John  D.  ISTorris,  Benja- 
min Ogden,  and  John  McCord  were  installed  Elders. 

Public  worship  was  commenced,  by  the  new  congregation, 
in  Collet  Ilall,  Sep.  14,  1851.  The  Rev.  Robert  AmiiAN, 
previously  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  was  employed  from  Sep.  21,  and 
having  soon  after  received  a  call  to  be  their  pastor,  was  in- 
stalled by  the  Presbytery  of  Newark  (to  which  the  church 
had  been  transferred),  March  1,  1852,  and  still  continues  in 
charge. 

The  grounds  of  the  late  Dr.  Isaac  Morse,  on  the  S.  W. 
corner  of  East  Jersey  and  Bridge  sts.,  145  by  245  feet,  were 
purchased  in  June,  1852,  for  $3000,  and  preparations  made 

•  Trustees' Book  of  First  Cbb.  Manual  of  2d  Clili.  Pierson'e  Memorial.  Wilson's  Presb. 
Almanac  for  18C6,  pp.  128-31. 


ELIZABETH,  NEW  JERSEY.  677 

for  the  erection  of  a  bouse  of  worship.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid,  Sep.  21,  1852  ;  the  Lecture  Koom,  or  Chapel,  was 
occupied,  May  8,  1853,  and  the  house  completed  and  ded- 
icated, Mar.  28,  1855.  It  is  of  brick,  60  by  120  feet.  It 
fronts  on  Scott  Place  [late  Bridge  st.],  and  the  andience- 
roora,  finished  with  galleries,  will  seat  about  900  persons. 
The  Chapel,  with  a  Lecture  Room  to  seat  200  persons  on 
the  first  floor,  and  a  Sunday  School  Room  and  Study  on 
the  second  floor,  is  attached  to  the  rear  of  the  church,  and 
fronts  on  Jersey  st.  The  property  was  freed  from  debt  m 
1865.     The  church  numbers  more  than  200  members.* 

Still  another  Presbyterian  church  has  grown  up  in  that 
part  of  the  town  formerly  known  as  Elizabethport.  A 
union  religious  service  was  commenced  there,  in  1836, 
every  Sabbath  afternoon,  in  an  Iron  Foundry.  The  Rev. 
Abraham  Brown,  a  congregational  minister  of  Oxford,  Ct., 
was  employed  as  a  stated  supply,  and  began  to  preach, 
Oct.  6,  1838.  A  Congregational  church  of  29  members  was 
organized,  Aug.  7,  1839.  Messrs.  Jonathan  M.  Ropes  and 
Elias  Marsh  were  chosen  Deacons,  and  Major  Denman,  and 
Messrs.  James  C.  Fairbank,  Joseph  P.  Augur,  Jeremiah 
Robinson,  and  Jonathan  M.  Ropes  were  chosen  Trustees. 
At  the  same  time,  the  corner-stone  of  the  church  on 
Marshall  St.,  between  First  and  Second  sts.,  was  laid.  The 
house  was  completed  the  following  year. 

Mr.  Brown  died,  Oct.  15,  1840,  ret.  45.  Rev.  Jonathan 
Huntington  and  others  were  employed  as  stated  supplies, 
the  next  eighteen  months.  The  Rev.  Oliver  S.  St.  John 
was  ordained  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  June  15,  1842. 
The  former  Deacons  having  been  elected  Elders,  Feb.  9, 
1846,  the  church  was  received,  Ap.  22,  1846,  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabeth  Town.  Mr.  St.  John  was 
dismissed,  Oct.  20,  1846 ;  and  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Edwin  H.  Reinhart,  was  installed,  Oct.  26,  1847.  The 
church  has  now  about  120  members.f 

More  recently  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Churcb 
has  been  organized.    It  was  originated  by  the  Second  churcli. 

*  Ms.  Letter  of  E07.  E.  Alkman.  t  Ms,  Letter  of  Gov,  E.  U.  Reinhart. 


678  THE    HISTORY    OF 

It  was  constituted,  of  100  members,  Jan.  31,  1866.  Messrs. 
Ei chard  T.  Haines  and  Malilon  Mulford  were  installed  El- 
ders, and  Messrs.  Henry  M.  Baker  and  Henry  Seymour, 
Deacons.  The  first  Sabbath  service  was  held,  in  Library 
Hall,  March  4th,  and,  on  the  7th,  the  Rev.  AVilliam  C.  Rob- 
erts, having  accepted  their  call  and  resigned  the  pastorate  of 
the  Second  Church,  was  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Passaic. 

A  beautiful  location  having  been  obtained  in  the  "  North 
End"  of  the  city,  near  the  junction  of  the  old  Salem  and 
Newark  Roads,  the  corner-stone  of  a  commodious  and  sightly 
house  of  worship  was  laid,  June  13,  1866,  and  the  building 
was  opened  for  the  public  service  of  God,  Dec.  29,  1867.  It 
is  not  surpassed  by  any  other  public  building  in  the  city.  It 
is  of  brown  stone,  in  the  Norman  style,  70  by  105,  with  an 
organ  projection  of  16  by  27  feet  on  one  side.  The  front  is 
finished  with  a  tower  on  each  corner,  one  of  them  terminating 
in  finials  above  the  roof.  The  other  is  to  terminate  in  a  stone 
spire,  212  feet  high.  The  chapel,  40  by  92  feet,  in  the  rear, 
for  Lecture  and  Sunday  School  rooms,  and  the  Pastor's  study, 
is  not  completed.  The  audience  room  is  spacious,  with  an 
elliptical  ceiling,  heavily  ribbed,  and  paneled,  46  feet  from 
the  floor.  The  wood-work  is  of  blackwalnut.  The  cost  of 
the  house  and  grounds  thus  far  is  about  $110,000.  The 
'  strncture  would  do  honor  to  any  city  in  the  land.* 

TChe  Presbyterians  have,  also,  a  colored  church,  worshiping 
in  "Washington  st.,  known  as  the  Siloam  church.  It  is  a 
feeble  congregation,  reporting,  last  May,  only  36  members. 

The  congregatioji  of  St.  John's  church  [Episcopal],  three 
months  after  the  removal  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lilly,  invited  the 

REV.  JOHN  CHURCHILL  RUDD, 

to  become  their  rector,  with  a  salary  of  $500,  and  the  use  of 
the  rectory.  The  call  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Rudd  entered 
upon  his  work  in  December  following,  his  institution  taking 
place  in  May,  1806. 

Mr.  Rudd  was  born  at  Norwich,  Ct.,  May  24,  1779.     He 

♦  N.  Jersoy  Journal,  Nos.  4590,  4073. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  679 

was  the  eldest  cliild  of  Jonathan  Riidd,  and  Mary,  daughter 
of  Deacon  Barnabas  Huntington.  Ills  grandfather,  Samuel, 
was,  probably,  a  great-grandson  of  Jonathan,  who  was  at 
New  Haven,  in  1644.  His  ancestors  were  of  Puritan  faith, 
and  he  himself  was  bred  a  Congregationalist.  He  was  fitted 
for  college  under  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Samuel  ISTott,  of  Nor- 
wich, "West  Farms,  now  Franklin,  Ot.,  but  was  not  favored 
with  a  collegiate  course.  When  of  age,  he  went  to  New 
York,  and  made  it  his  home,  connecting  himself  with  the 
Episcopal  church.  He  married,  Jan.  22, 1803,  at  New  York, 
(Dr.  Hobart  officiating),  Phebe  Eliza,  daughter  of  Edward 
Bennett,  of  Shrewsbury,  N.  J.  Having  prepared  for  the 
ministry,  under  the  direction  of  Bishop  Moore,  and  Rev.  J. 
H.  Hobart,  he  was  ordained,  by  the  former,  as  a  Deacon, 
April  28,  1805,  and  was  employed,  for  several  months,  as  a 
missionary  on  Long  Island.  Mr.  Hobart,  having  married, 
some  years  previously,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Chandler, 
doubtless  introduced  him  to  the  pulpit  of  St.  John's  church, 
where  he  preached,  for  the  first  time,  July  21,  1805. 

The  congregation  seldom  then  exceeded  a  hundred  souls, 
and  the  communicants  were  sixty  in  number.  A  new  steeple 
was  erected  in  1807,  and  other  improvements  were  made  in 
the  church- edifice.  In  1808,  the  length  of  the  house  was  in- 
creased seventeen  feet,  and  the  interior  entirely  renovated. 
An  addition  of  one  hundred  dollars  was  made  to  his  salary 
in  1810.  In  1813,  he  became  the  Editor  of  a  new  series  of 
"The  Churchman's  Magazine,"  and  the 'place  of  publication 
was  changed  from  N.  York  to  this  town.  Other  improve- 
ments were  made  in  the  church-edifice  in  1818.  The  Par- 
sonage-house was  also  rebuilt,  at  an  expense  of  about  $3000. 
For  several  years,  he  conducted  a  classical  school,  in  his 
house,  with  great  success.  July  31,  1823,  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  D.D. 

Owing  to  the  loss  of  health,  and  particularly  of  his  voice, 
Dr.  Rudd  was  released  from  his  parochial  charge,  June  1, 
182G,  and  the  next  month  removed  to  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  where, 
and  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  as  teacher,  rector,  and  editor  of  "The 
Crospel  Messenger,"  his  later  days  were  spent.     Having  suf- 


680  THE    HISTORY    OF 

fered  long  and  greatly  from  a  rheumatic  aflfection,  he  died 
at  his  home  in  Utica,  Nov.  15, 1848,  greatly  lamented  by  his 
own  Church  and  others.  His  remains,  at  his  own  request, 
were  brought  to  this  town,  and  buried,  on  the  19th,  in  St. 
John's  church-yard.  His  widow  died  in  Oct.  1867  (set.  88), 
having  survived  him  nearly  19  years.  In  addition  to  his 
editorial  work,  he  published,  at  various  periods,  more  than  a 
dozen  discourses,  most  of  them  sermons.* 

Dr.  Rudd  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Smith  Pyne,  who 
began  his  work,  June  1,  1826,  and  was  instituted  by  the 
R.  Rev.  John  Croes,  D.D.,  May  3,  1827.  His  salary  was 
8500,  and  the  rectory.  This  was  his  first  parochial  charge. 
His  ministry  here,  though  highly  acceptable  to  the  people, 
was  but  of  short  continuance.  He  resigned  the  rectorship, 
Dec.  31,  1828,  to  accept  a  call  from  the  church  of  Middle- 
town,  Ct,  Subsequently  he  became  the  Assistant  Minister, 
and  then,  after  the  decease  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ilawley,  for 
many  years,  the  rector  of  St.  John's  church,  Washington 
City,  D.  C.     Dr.  Pyne  now  resides  at  Kew  York  City.f 

A  call  was  extended,  March  8,  1829,  to  the  Rev.  Birdseye 
Glover  Noble,  the  predecessor  of  Mr.  Pyne,  at  Middletown. 
He  was  born,  in  1792,  at  New  Milford,  Ct. ;  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1810;  married  a  daughter  of  Elijah  San- 
ford,  of  Newtown  Ct.  ;  was  ordained  a  deacon  in  1812,  and 
priest  in  1817  ;  and  was  rector  of  the  church  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  at  Middletown,  Ct.,  1812  to  1829.  He  came  here  on 
a  salary  of  $500,  thfe  rectory,  and  his  firewood.  The  finan- 
ces of  the  church  were  greatly  improved  during  his  ministry, 
and  otherwise  the  congregation  appeared  io  prosper ;  save 
that,  during  the  cholera  season  of  1832,  the  church  met  with 
severe  losses  by  death.  His  ministry  terminated,  Oct.  15, 
1833.  Ho  removed  to  Bridgeport,  and  opened  a  boarding- 
school  on  Golden  Hill,  where  he  died,  Nov.  16,  1818,  in  his 
57th  year.:}: 

At  the  close  of  January,  1834,  the  Rev.  RicnARD  Chan- 

*  Dr.  Rudd's  nist.  Discourse.    Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  170-3.    Sprague's  Annals,  V.  501-6. 
N.  J.  .Journal,  No.  4,668.    Borrian's  RocoUeotlons.    Ms.  Records  of  St.  John's, 
t  Clark's  St.  John's,  p.  173.    Ma.  Records, 
t  Bprague's  Annals,  V.  154.    Clark's  St.  John's,  p.  173.    Ms.  Records. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  681 

KING  Moore,  Jr.,  son  of  Bishop  Moore,  of  Va.,  was  chosen 
rector,  and  at  once  entered  upon  his  work.  He  graduated  at 
"Washington  [Trinity]  College,  Hartford,  in  1829,  and,  the 
first  year  after  his  ordination,  assisted  his  cousin,  Rev.  Dr. 
Bedell,  of  St.  Andrew's  church,  Pliila.  He  continued  in 
charge  of  St.  John's  church,  of  this  town,  until  the  second 
Sunday  in  March,  1855.  At  his  coming  his  salary  was  only 
$400,  with  the  usual  perquisites.  So  acceptable  and  ef- 
fective was  his  ministry,  that  soon  a  considerable  enlargement 
of  the  church  edifice  was  required.  An  addition  of  eight 
feet  was  made  to  each  side  of  the  house,  and  the  interior 
was  wholly  renewed.  The  work  was  done  between  June  1, 
and  Dec.  31,  1840.  When  completed  it  measured,  45  by 
66  feet.  A  Sunday  School  Room  of  brick  was  also  erected 
at  the  same  time.  The  expense  of  these  improvements  was 
about  S4000.  A  new  impulse  was  thus  given  to  th-e  congre- 
gation, which  rapidly  now  increased  in  numbers  and  in  efli- 
ciency.  After  his  removal  from  this  town,  he  became  the 
rector  of  Christ  church,  Williamsport,  Pa.,  where  he  nov/ 
resides.* 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Adams  Clark,  to  whom  a  call  was  extended,  Feb.  4,  1856. 
He  had,  for  eight  years,  been  the  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Advent,  Northern  Liberties,  Phila.  He  was  called  on  a  sal- 
ary of  $1200,  and  the  usual  perquisites.  He  entered  on 
his  work,  the  first  Sunday  in  April,  and  was  instituted  by 
Bishop  Doane,  A  p.  17,  1856.  His  ministry  has  been  emi- 
nently successful.  The  capacity  of  the  old  church  edifice 
soon  proved  inadequate  for  the  congregation.  Measures 
were  taken,  in  April  1857,  to  raise  $20,000  for  a  new  church. 
The  work  was  undertaken  in  1859.  The  old  church  was  de- 
molished, the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  Sep. 
5,  1859,  and  the  house  completed  in  the  following  year. 

Tlie  new  St.  John's  is  a  noble  specimen  of  the  Gothic  style 
of  the  14th  century.  It  is  built  of  a  pale  brick,  alternating 
with  bauds  of  stone.  It  is  distributed  into  nave,  aisles, 
apsidal,  chancel  and  vestry.     The  windows  of  the  clerestory 

•  Sprague's  Annals,  V.  501-41.    Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  lT-1-8,  180.    M3.  Records. 


(582  THE    HISTORY    OF 

are  of  stained  glass.  It  has  a  massive  tower,  126  ft.  high, 
with  a  side  porch.  The  pews  will  seat  1000  persons.  The 
whole  cost  was  about  $50,000. 

A  chapel,  of  the  same  material,  80  by  34  feet,  costing 
about  $15,000,  adjoining  the  church,  was  built  in  1867.  The 
present  number  of  communicants  is  335  ;  and  the  offerings 
for  the  year  ending  May,  1867,  were  $46,558.17;  of  which 
$18,360.57  were  for  parish  purposes.* 

St.  John's  has  become  a  mother  of  churches.  In  1846,  a 
congregation  was  gathered  at  Elizabethport,  which  took  the 
name  of  Grace  Church.  Tlie  corner  stone  of  their  church 
ediUce,  on  Court  near  First  streets,  was  laid,  Sep.  18,  1849. 
The  church  was  served  awhile  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Eugene 
A.  Hoffman,  and  Edward  B.  Boggs.  Their  first  rector  was 
the  Rev.  David  Clarkson,  who  was  born  in  Worcestershire, 
Eng.,  June,  1801,  graduated  at  Oxford  University  in  1823  ; 
was  ordained  by  Bishop  Doane ;  and  became  rector  of 
Trinity  church,  Belvidere,  N.  J.  The  church  edifice  was 
built  during  his  ministry  here.  In  1852,  he  became  U.  S. 
Chaplain  at  Fort  Riley,  Kansas,  continuing  in  the  service  un- 
til 1855,  when,  after  a  brief  abode  at  Lexington,  Mo.,  he  re- 
moved to  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  where  he  died,  Ap.  6,  1862. 
Their  present  worthy  rector.  Rev.  Clarkson  Dunn,  succeeded 
Mr.  Clarkson.  He  had  previously,  for  more  than  30  years, 
been  the  rector  of  Christ  church,  Newton,  IST.  J.  The  parish 
numbers  fifty  families. 

A  third  church  was  formed  in  1853,  by  the  name  of  Christ 
Church.  Their  first  Sunday  service  was  held,  Ap.  10, 1853,  in 
the  Lecture  Room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  where  they 
continued  to  worship  until  their  chapel,  on  the  corner  of  East 
Jersey  and  Bridge  streets,  was  built.  The  chapel  (of  stone  in 
the  Gothic  style),  rectory,  and  parochial  school-house,  cost,  with 
the  land  about  $30,000.  The  Rev.  Eugene  A.  Hoffman,  (now 
D.D.)  of  New  Brunswick,  was  their  first  rector.  He  left  in  1863, 
to  take  charge  of  Grace  Church,  Brooklyn,  N.  York,  where 

•  Records  of  St.  John's.  Ms.  Letter  of  Kcv.  S.  A.  Clark.  Journal  of  N.  J.  Ep.  Convention 
for  1867,  p.  76. 

t  Clark's  St.  John's,  p.  178.  Church  Quarterly,  XIV.  786.  Ms.  Letter  of  Wm.  C.  Foote . 
Journal  of  N.  J.  Ep.  Convention,  for  1867,  p.  76. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW   JERSEY.  683 

he  still  remains.  Dr.  noffmau  was  Buccceded  by  the  Rev. 
Stevens  Pakkek,  of  Boston,  the  present  rector.  He  is  a 
grandson  of  Bishop  Parker,  and  came  hither  from  Wilming- 
ton, Del.  The  chapel  will  seat  about  300  persons,  and  the 
pews  are  free.* 

A  fourth  church  was  organized,  in  1869,  by  the  name  of 
Trinity  Chukcii.  They  erected  a  gothic  church  edifice,  ca- 
pable '  of  seating  about  400  persons,  on  the  corner  of  East 
Jersey  and  Jefferson  streets,  which  they  h^ve  sold  recently 
to  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Church.  They  have  since  erected  a 
neat  gothic  chapel  of  brick,  on  North  Broad  st.,  above  the 
R.  R.  Station,  designing  eventually  to  build  a  substantial 
church  on  the  adjacent  ground.  The  present  incumbent.  Rev. 
Daniel  F.  Wakken,  D.D.,  is  their  first  rector.  He  was  pre- 
viously of  Mott  Haven,  N.  Y.  The  parish  contains  sixty 
families.f 

A  Baptist  church  was  organized  here,  June  5,  1843,  of 
fifteen  members.  They  worshiped  first  in  a  school-house  on 
Union  near  Morris  street,  which  was  bought  and  fitted  up  as 
a  place  of  worship.  In  the  summer  of  1858,  they  erected  a 
Lecture  Room  or  Cliapel,  on  "West  Jersey  st.,  a  short  distance 
from  Broad  st.  The  church  has  been  served  successively  by 
seven  pastors  : — Rev.  Messrs.  Charles  Cox,  Edward  Conover, 
William  H.  Turton,  John  H.  Waterbury,  T.  S.  Rogers,  Isaac 
N.  Hill,  and  George  W.  Clark.  Under  the  ministry  of  Mr. 
Clark,  a  period  of  nearly  9  years,  terminating  March  1, 1868, 
the  church,  hitherto  exceedingly  feeble,  has  been  greatly 
strengthened.  In  August,  1866,  the  Broad  Street  Baptist 
CuuRCH  was  organized.  They  have  hitherto  worshiped  in 
the  large  hall  of  the  Court  House.  They  arc  building  a  house 
of  worship  on  the  corner  of  South  Broad  and  Pearl  sts.,  the 
corner-stone  of  which  was  laid,  April  23,  1868.  In  June, 
1867,  the  Rev.  D.  Henry  Miller,  D.D.,  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  was 
chosen  their  pastor.  He  entered  on  his  work  here  in  Novem- 
ber, and  was  installed  the  19th'of  December,  1867.  X 

A  Congregational  church  was  gathered  in  1865,  under 

•  Clark's  St.  John's,  pp.  ITS-ISO.    Ms.  Letters  of  S.  A.  Clark  nnd  W.  0.  Footc.         t  Ibid. 
J  G.  W.  Clark'3  History  of  First  Bap.  Chli.,  Elizth.,  N.  J.    Files  of  N.  J.  Journal,  for  1867. 


Q84:  THE    HISTORY    OF 

the  ministrj  of  the  Eev.  John  M  Wolcott.  They  worship- 
ed at  first  in  Livingston  near  First  st.,  but  have,  since  July 
31,  1867,  occupied  a  neat  and  attractive  church  edifice, 
which  they  have  erected  on  the  corner. of  Marshall  and  Third 
sts.,  at  a  cost  of  about  $12,000.* 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  three  churches  :  St.  Mary's,  on 
"Washington- Avenue,  Rev.  Isaac  P.  Ilowel],  pastor  ;  St.  Pat- 
rick's on  Wall  St.  (at  the  Port),  Rev.  Patrick  Hennessy, 
pastor  ;  and  St.  Michael's  (German),  on  Smith  st.,  near  Eliz- 
abeth Avenue,  Rev.  Henry  Lemke,  pastor.f 

A  Moravian  church  has  lately  been  gathered  by  the  Rev. 
Cliristian  Keu,  under  favorable  auspices.  They  have  been 
worshiping  in  the  Mission  Chapel,  corner  of  Smith  and 
Martin  sts.,  near  the  Cross  Roads.  Tlie  Lutherans  have  also 
a  house  in  the  same  vicinity.  Within  the  past  year,  the 
followers  of  Swedenborg  have  maintained  separate  worship 
and  are  gathering  a  congregation.  :j: 


*  Files  of  N.  J.  Journal  for  1867.  t  Elizabeth  Directory. 

i  Files  of  N.  J.  Journal,  for  1867. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  685 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

A.  D.  1855-1868. 

City  Charter  —  Town  of  Liiidon  set  off — Rail  Koads  —  Elizabetbport  —  Old 
Farms  sold  for  City  Lots  —  Street  Improvements  —  New  Market  House  — 
County  House  —  Population  —  Tlie  Great  Rebellion  —  Finances  of  the  City  — 
Prospective  Growth  —  Conclusion. 

The  history  of  the  "  Old  Borough  "  has  been  brought  •  to 
an  end.  By  act  of  the  Legislature  of  'New  Jersey,  approved, 
March  13, 1855,  a  new  and  much  more  advantageous  charter 
was  obtained,  whereby  "  the  Borough  of  Elizabeth,"  if  the 
people  should  so  elect,  was  to  become  and  be  known  as  "  The 
City  of  Elizabeth,"  with  all  the  powers,  privileges,  and  im- 
munities usually  accorded  to  such  municipalities.  The  char- 
ter, having  been  accepted  by  the  people  at  a  special  election, 
was  by  Act  of  the  Legislature,  approved,  March  4,  18G3, 
thoroughly  revised,  considerably  amended,  and  greatly  en- 
larged. * 

With  this  change  in  its  government,  the  ancient  town,  un- 
til then  of  slow  but  steady  growth,  entered  upon  a  career  of 
rapidly-increasing  prosperity.  That  portion  of  its  territory 
that  lay  beyond  a  N.  W.  line  from  the  mouth  of  Morse's 
Creek  to  the  Galloping  Ilillroad,  measuring  2853  acres,  was, 
in  February,  18C1,  set  off  to  the  new  township  of  Linden.  A 
small  portion,  also,  was  lost  on  the  north  in  the  division  ot 
Essex  Co.,  and  the  erection  of  Union  Co.  So  that  the  City 
now  scarcely  contains  a  tenth  part  of  the  territory  of  the  '*  Old 
Borough "  in  the  days  of  the  revolutionary  war ;  and  of 
this  a  considerable  part  is  salt  meadow  land.     But  what  is 

•  Acts  of  74th  N.  J.  Leg.,  pp.  217-245.    Acte  of  87th  Leg.,  pp.  109-156. 


686  THE    HISTORY    OF 

lost  in  extent  is  more  than  made  good  by  comj^actness. 
The  opening  of  the  ]N"ew  Jersey  Rail  Road,  and  subsequently 
of  the  New  Jersey  Central,  "with  its  noble  bridge  spanning 
Newark  Bay,  and  connecting  the  city  directly  with  New 
York, — an  accomplishment  both  feared  and  ridiculed  some 
sixty  years  since  by  the  Newark  people, — gave  a  great  im- 
pulse to  business  here,  and  made  the  city  still  more  desirable 
as  a  place  of  residence.  * 

The  tract  of  land  bordering  on  "  the  Sound,"  stretching  from 
what  was  so  long  known  as  "  the  Old  Point."  to  "  De  Ilart's 
Point "  on  the  north,  as  soon  as  it  became  the  R.  R.  termi- 
nus,— as  it  was  for  many  years,  and  still  continues  to  be,  to  a 
great  extent,  for  freight, — at  once  increased  rapidly  in  value, 
in  business,  and  in  population.  It  is  the  depot  of  a  large 
commerce,  and  has  already  a  numerous  shipping  list.  Al- 
most immediately  after  the  adoption  of  the  city  charter,  old 
farms  were  brought  into  the  market,  laid  out  in  city  lots,  and 
met  with  a  ready  sale.  The  late  Edward  N.  Kellogg  (who 
died  at  N.  York,  Jan.  8, 1867,  aet.  51)  bought  about  300  acres 
of  what  was  formerly  known,  mostly,  as  "  Woodruff's  farms," 
laid  it  out  in  streets  and  parks,  and  offered  it  to  purchasers. 
His  example  was  followed  by  Messrs.  P.  B.  Amory,  Benja- 
min Haines,  and  others,  effecting  thus  a  wonderful  transfor- 
mation in  the  northern  part  of  the  city.  A  similar  change 
has  been  brought  about  both  on  the  west  and  south  of  the 
city.  Neat  and  attractive  cottages,  spacious  warehouses,  ex- 
tensive manufactories,  and  elegant  mansions,  have  sprung  up, 
on  every  hand,  with  remarkable  celerity. 

A  thorough  system  of  paving,  sewering,  and  lighting  the 
streets  has  been  introduced,  which  has  already  wrought  great 
changes  and  will  soon  effect  a  complete  transformation. 
Great  facilities  in  locomotion  have  been  brought  about  by 
the  introduction  of  horse  railroads  on  the  principal  thorough- 
fares. A  spacious  edifice  of  brick,  occupied  on  the  first  floor 
as  a  market,  and  on  the  second  floor  as  a  City  Hall,  that 
cost  $80,000,  has  taken  the  place  of  the  old  Adelphian 
Academy  at  the  junction  of  Bridge,  since  Market  st.,  with 

•  AcU  of  S5th  Leg.  of  N.  J. 


ELIZABETH,    NEW    JERSEY.  687 

Elizabeth  Avenue.  A  spacious  County  House  occupies  the 
site  of  the  old  court  house.  A  plentiful  supply  of  water  as 
■well  as  gas  has  been  secured,  affording  to  the  inhabitants  all 
the  advantages  of  city  life. 

The  multiplication  of  churches  and  schools  has  kept  pace 
with  the  increase  of  the  population.  The  number  of  houses 
of  worship,  built  or  in  progress,  is  twenty-three.  In  1830, 
the  census  showed  a  population  of  3455  ;  in  1840,  it  had 
reached  only  4184;  in  1850,  it  was  5583;  in  1860,  it 
amounted  to  11,567;  in  1865,  with  a  reduced  area,  it  was 
17,373.  It  probably  now  [1868]  falls  but  little  short  of 
25,000y  with  every  prospect  of  a  rapid  increase. 

During  the  period  of  "  the  Great  Eebellion  "  [1861-5],  true 
to  its  ancient  instincts,  the  people  of  this  city  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  efforts  of  the  government  to  protect  itself 
from  destruction  and  to  suppress  the  wide-spread  insur- 
rection. Its  roll  of  honor  will  compare  favorably  with 
other  cities  of  similar  size.  Cheerfully  the  people  con- 
tributed of  their  substance  to  sustain  the  government,  to 
promote  enlistments,  and  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of 
the  soldiery.  The  burdens  imposed  upon  them  were  cheer- 
fully borne,  for  which  they  deemed  the  final  triumph  of  the 
nation,  and  the  boon  of  universal  emancipation,  a  sufficient 
compensation. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  present  year  [1868],  the 
property  of  the  city  was  estimated  at  $210,840  ;  the  bond- 
ed debt,  incurred  chiefly  for  street  improvements,  was 
$976,952 ;  and  the  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal 
property  was  $9,609,050.  The  taxes  for  the  year  1867 
amounted  to  $218,566.87.  The  receipts  of  the  City  Treas- 
urer, for  the  same  year,  were  $332,604.77;  the  disburse- 
ments, $336,938.98. 

A  spirit  of  enterprise  characterizes  every  department  of 
city  life.  The  work  of  improvement  steadily  goes  on.  The 
city  bids  fair,  within  a  few  years,  to  attain  at  least  the  third, 
if  not  the  first,  rank  in  population  and  ])rosperity,  among  the 
cities  of  the  State.  The  time  is  not  far  distant  when  every 
available  building-lot  within  its  present  bounds,  will  be  occu- 


688  THE    HISTORY    OF  ELIZABETH,    N.    J. 

pied ;  wheu  a  large  proportion  of  its  meadow-land,  now 
flooded  occasionally  by  the  sea,  will  be  reclaimed ;  and  the 
humble  settlement  of  1664  will  become  one  of  the  fairest, 
most  prosperous,  and  most  attractive  cities  of  the  land,  the 
home  of  wealth,  intelligence,  refinement,  and  true  religion. 


INDEX  OF  PERSONS. 


Acken,  Josfiph,  5S0,  3 

Ackerlcy,  Ben.,312;  Ilonry,  93;  Mary,  93 

Ackley,  John,  476 

Adftms,  Rev.  Edward,  621 ;  John,  610,  1,  649, 

663;  John  Q..'555;. Mai..  631 
Aikman,  Kev.  Robert,  676 
Ailward,  Anna,  270 
Akin,  Thomas,  271,  812 
Albemarle,  Lord,  46 
Alcorn,  Mr.,  315 
Alexander,  Andrew,  249;  George,  249,  270; 

Jaraes,  809, 816, 866, 7, 9,  870, 2,  3 ;  John,  249, 

270 
Allen,  Abigail,  249 ;  Rev.  Edward,  560 ;  Ethan, 

463;  John,  244,  9,  2S5,  821 ;  Ruv.  John,  207, 

2S0;  Jonathan,  312,  8,  571;  Joseph,  571,  3; 

Samuel.  -,'49;  Rev.  Timothy,  563,  9,  574,  5,  6 
Aiuory,  Poter  B.,  696 
Anderson,  Ellzth.,  66T;  James,  390 
Andrews,  Amy,  68 ;  Rev.  Jedidiah,  203,  330.  7 ; 

Joakim,  .56,  8,  68,  S5,  6,  160,  196  ;  Wm.,  OS 
Audros,  Edmund,  173,  163,  9,  190-5,  212,  230, 

234-8 
Andrus,  Mr.,  144 
Angell,  Col.,  497,  S 
Anne,  Queen,  279 
Anspaoh,  Col.,  454 
Apthorp,  Rev.  Mr.,  543 
Argylo,  Earl  of,  232 
Armstrong,   Rev.  Amzi,   666;   Francis,   591; 

Kev.  James  P.,  591.  633 
Arnet,  Hannah,  623;  Isaac,  522,  3,  593,  CSS; 

James,  414,  633 
Arnold,  Edward,  300 
Arthur,  Rev.  Thomas,  6W 
Asbury,  Kev.  Francis,  593,  614,  019 
Ashbrook,  Rov.  Joseph,  621,  3 
Ashley,  Lord,  46 
Atkinson,  John,  312;  Mr.,  423 
.\twater,  Joshua,  596 
Augur,  Joseph  P.,  677 
Austin,  David.  596;  Rev.  David,  852,  556,560, 

2,  590-0(13,  605-613,  624,  632,  613,  666;  John, 

596;  Joseph,  431;  Lydia,  597;  Mary,  596; 

Moses,  557,  653 
Axtell,  Daniel,  313 
Ayars,  Rev.  James,  621 
Ayers,  Rov.  Enoa,  850 ;  Moses,  369 


Backer,  Jacob,  250 
Bacon,  John,  570 

Badsley,  Daniel,  323  ;  James,  571,  6S0  ;  John, 
.     868,  873,  571 


Bailey,  Abnor, 571 ;  Rov.  Gamaliel,  020;  John, 
30,1,2,40,  1,51,7,8,  60,2,  196 

Baker,  Abraham,  250,  1,  2S4;  Henry,  91,  250, 
1,262,284,423,  5S0;  UenryM.,67S;  Hille- 
gond,  250;  John,  30,  2,  57,  61,  2,  8,  5,  7, 
96,  102,  4,  112,  121,  149. 157, 9, 162, 8, 170, 188, 
196,  217,  9,  228,  9,  259,  284;  John,  Jr.,  812  ; 
Margaret,  76,  83,  91,  100,  166,  1S4',  249,  250, 
1,  6;  Nathaniel,  5S0  ;  Nicholas,  25ii,  1,  284; 
Richard,  223,  244,  259,  262,  4,  284,  306,  7  ; 
Thomas,  812 ;  Thomas,  Jr.,  571 

Baldwin,  Joanna,  John,  Mary,  Matthias,  Mat- 
thias W.,  331 

Ball,  David,  889,  400,  501 ;  Ezekiel,  336 ;  Ste- 
phen, 501,  650 

Ballard,  Jeremiah,  525.  557,  562,  602,659,  661,2 

Bancroft,  Georgo,  47,  227 

Barber,  Francis,  57,  S,  63  102,  137,  169,  172, 
266;  Col.  Francis,  65,  417,  428,  7,  9,  481,  444, 
463,  473,  499,  521,  4,  5,  553;  Nancy,  468; 
Mrs.,  431 

Barbour,  Claude,  58 

Barclay,  David,  224,  5;  Robert,  211,  8,  9,  230, 
9,261 

Barker,  Thomas,  261 

Barlow,  Joel,  596 

Barnard,  Rev.  Thomas,  251 

Barnes,  Joshua,  203,  251 ;  Sharagar,  251,  234; 
Thomas,  251;  William,  251,  9 

Barnet,  Ichabod  B.,  415,  469, 530,  553 ;  Joseph, 
631 ;  Judge,  532 ;  Mary,  681 ;  Dr.  Wm.,  412, 
421,  3,  426,  46!,  434,  520.  6  ;  Mrs.,  530 

Barry,  Kev.  Dr.  EdmnndD.,  660 

Bartino,  Rev.  D.avid,  620 

Barton,  Col.,  463;  Ensign.  504.  5 

Basso,  Jeremiah,  245,  6^279,  293,  803 

Bateman,  Elizth.,  168;  Wm.  163;  Mr.,  206 

Bates,  Byram,  499;  Solomon,  823 

Bayard,  Col.,  481  ;  Samuel,  336 

Beach,  Rev.  Dr.  Abraham,  547,  650,  616 
Elisna,  615;  Eponotus,  890;  Hannah,  645 
Henrietta,  646;  Rov.  John,  338,  343,  9 
Nathaniel,  646;  Kicliard,  68,  73,4,  97.  102, 
162,  8,  9,  133,  255,  266;  Zophar,  169,  364 

Beasley,  Rev.  Dr.  Fred.,  608,  617,  3  ;  Rov. 
Fred.  W.,  Maria,  Susan  AV.,  618 

Beatty,  Maj.  John,  405 

Bebout,  Kev.  Sylvester  N.,  621 

Beckwith,  Rev.  George,  836;  Maj.,  502 

Bedell,  Rev.  Dr.  Gregory  T.,  631;  Jacob,  673; 
John,  571,3 

Beeck,  Cornelia,  256 

Beers,  Eliza,  2,55 

Belcher,  Andrew,  377;  Andrew,  Jr.,  Elizth., 


44 


690 


INDEX. 


353;  Joimtimn,  372,  3:7-884,  9,  899,  542; 

Jonathan.  .Jr.,  :)S8 ;  Louisa,  378 ;  Mary,  877, 8 ; 

Sarali,  3S3 
Beldon.  P.ov.  Wm.,  560 
Bellnniont,  Earl  of,  189,  257,  274 
Bcllamv,  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph,  352,  521,  573,  597, 9 
Belt,  C'll.,  481 

Bend,  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  G.  J.,  617 
Benedict,  Kev.  Dr.  Joel,  570 ;  Thomas,  30,  61, 5 
Bennett,  Edward.  Phebe  E.,  679 
Berkelcr.  E.  Rev.  George,  521 ;  Lord  John, 

44,  5,  7,  5.3,  97,  129,  181,  148,  150,  2,  ISS,  405; 

Sir  Maurice,  45  ;  Sir  Wm.,  47 
Bernard.  Catharine,  492;  Francis,  385 
Berrian,  Uev.  Dr.  Wm.,  547 
Berrien,  Jane,  642 

Berrv.  John,  142,  4,  8,  9, 150,  2,  3,  6,  7,  176 
Biddle,  Wm.  M..  898 
Billop,  Christopher,  SOO 
Bird,  Jeremiah,  505 
Bishop,  Kev.  Horace  8.,  621;  Ecv.  Mr.,  201; 

Mr.,  144 
Blackman,  Sam.  C,  560 
Blacknev.  Godfrey,  424 
Blaekwoll,  Robert,  69 
Blades.  John,  481 

Blair,  Rev.  John,  844,  592,  4;  Rev.  Sam.,  344 
Blakeman,  Abigail,  Rev.  Adam,  326 
Blanchard,  Andrew,  571 ;  Cornelius,  426,  5fi2; 

John.  2.^1,  265,  806,  810,  8.  9,  320,  1,  385,  410, 

2.  4,  425,  6,  7,  480;  John,  Jr.,  312,  3,  507,  517, 
560;  Lewis,  423,  507,  8,  9;  Peter,  312 

Blauvelt,  Capt.,  511 

Bliss,  Rev.  Daniel,  575;  Rebecca,  694 

Bloomfield,  Capt.,  429 ;  Joseph,  655;  Thomas, 
93 

Boardraan,  John,  2.52,  2S5,  7,  293;  Sarah,  252 

Bofrss,  Rev.  Dr.  Edw.ard  B.,  682 

Bollen,  James,  81,  7,  4:3,  50,  5,  7,  108,  9,  117, 
120,  5,  6,  132,  148,  9,  154,  9,  160,4,  9,  181,  4, 
193,  4,  213,  263,  270,  5,  6 

Bond,  Ben.,  248,  285,  806,  311,  2,  870,  1;  Han- 
nah, 70;  Joseph,  57,  8,  09,  70,.^91,  122,  159, 
164,  .5,  6,  182,  306;  Mary,  70,  234;  Robert, 
41,  2,  57,  64,  9,  80,  1,  2,  91,  5,  100, 123,  5, 142, 
4,  152,  160,4,8;  Stephen,  70 

Bonnell,  Ben..  71,  821,  567,  573,  6,  8,  654; 
Is.aac,  248,  28.'),  610;  Joseph,  123,  806,  310,  2, 

3.  5,  .820,  1,  872,  8S5;  Nathaniel,  57,  8,  71,  6, 
SS,  100,  122,  136,  159,  160,  1S3,  243,  7,  262, 
2S4,  312;  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  284,  310,  820,  1,  2, 
571;  Wm.,  71  ;  Mr,  468 

Boone,  Thom.os,  8S5 

Borden,  Joseph,  407 

Bostoe,  Ann,  171,  1S4 

Bostwick,  Kev.  Shadrach,  620 

Boswell,  Rev.  James  I.,  621 

Bott.  Wm.,  412 

Boudinot,  Elias,  539,540,583;  Dr.  EH.is,  410, 

1.  2,  8,  465,  517,  520,  4,  5,  532,  4,  562,  58S,  9, 

590:  017,  651 ;  Klisha,  484;  Hannah,  588,  9; 

Susan,  v.,  589 
Bourne,  Capt,  287 
Bowers,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  823 
Bownc,  Andrew,  246,  253,  264 
Boyd,  Rev.  Wm.,  667 
Boyle.  Charles.  Jane,  252;  Solomon,  252,  366, 

8 ;  Wra.,  252 
Brackelt,  John,  57,  S,  70.  1, 122,  8,  125,  6,  160, 

1,265  ......        I     .         , 

Bradbury,  Jemima,  Kobocca,  Thomas,  Wm., 
538  >  .  .  < 

Braddock,  Gen.,  882 

Bradford,   Andrew,  824.  8;   Susan  V.,  689; 

Wm.,  822,  4,  s,  836 ;  lion.  Wm.,  C89 
Bradley,  Mr,  876 
Brainord,  Kev.  David,  347,  8.  9,  S94,   582; 


Jerusha,  394  ;   Rev.  John,J  394,  '.5,  6,\6S2  ; 

Martha.  894 
Brant,  Wm.,  312,  505 
Brattle,  Rev.  Mr.,  294 
Breasted,  Wm.,  366 
Breckinridge,  Kev.  Dr.  John,  898 
Bricp,  Rev.  Alex.  L.,  621 
liridsum.  Mary,  61 
Brittin,  Elihu,  610;  Wm.,  523 
Britton,  Wm.,  423 
Broadwell,Josiah,  373,576;  Mary,  252;  Wm., 

62,  75,  86, 96,  252,  264,  312,  571 
Brooke.  Rev.  John,  291,  2,  3,  5,  7,  8,  9,  800, 1, 

5,  355,  6,  628 
Brookfleld,  Capt.,  452;  Gershom,  505;  Jacob, 

505  ;  Mr.,  468 
Brown,  Rev.  Abm ,    677;   Albert   H.,    621; 

Daniel,  3S2;  Jane,  262;  John,  481;  Noah, 

667;  Richard,  3SS  ;  Sarah,  89  ;  Wm.,  244,  8, 

253,  2S4,  674 
Bruen,  Obadiah,  152,  204 
Brush,  Kev.  Mr.,  577 
Bryan,    Frances,    Uannah,    Mary,   Richard, 

Sarah,  283 
Brvant.  Elizth.,  583;  John,  312,  5S0;  Wm., 

.%3 ;  Mr.,  452,  8, 430 
Buckin,Kham,  Rev.  Stephen,  828 
Buckler,  Rev.  James,  621 
Budd,  Rev.  Samuel,  621 
Buddel,  David,  481 
Buol,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel,  582,  630 
Bulkcley,  Rev.  Peter,  80 
Burgoyne,  Gen.,  464 
Burnet,    Aaron,  Daniel,   253;    David,    353; 

R.  Kev.  Gilbert,  237  ;   Hann.ah,  411  ;   Dr. 

Ich.abod,  253,  312,  411;    Dr.   Ichabod,  Jr., 

Jacob,  411;  Joel,  John,  Lott,  253;  Martha, 

353;   Mary,  M-atthias,  253;   Mordecai,   244, 

258;  Thomas,  105,  253,  411 ;  Dr.  Wm.,  411, 

428,  9 
Burns,  Timothy,  424 
Burr,  Kev.  Aaron,  383,  9,  .?41,  6,9,350,882, 

514,  9,  573,  639,  641,  663;  Hon.  Aaron,  417, 

558,  594  ;  Esther,  519,  541 
Burrows,  M.ary,  361 ;  Stephen,  361,  873,  545, 

610;  Thomas,  469 
Burton,  Elizabeth,  93 
Buskirk.    See  Van  Buskirk. 
Byllinge,  Edw.ard,  173 
Byram,  Mr.,  499 


Caldwell,  Elias  B.,  492,535,  6;  Esther  F.,  535  ; 
Hannah,  491,  2,  533, 4, 546,  641 ;  Kev.  James, 
4:30,  440,  9,  450,  7,  479,  491,  3, 8, 508,  513-586, 
553,  591.  C20;  James  B.,  535;  John,  518, 
John  D.,  534;  John  E.,  534,  5;  Josiah  F., 
535;  Margaret,  534;  Maria,  492,  636 ;  Sarah, 
536 

Calhoun,  John  C,  614 

Calkins,  Hugh,  70 

Camp,  John,  571 

Campbell,  Alex.,  609;  Archibald,  283;  Gen., 
465;  Mohctable,609;  Lord  Neill,  231-4, 255, 
274,  282 

Caner,  Rev.  Henry,  .348,  9,  543 

Cannold,  David  S.,  610  ;  Isaac,  Margaret,  534 

Canterbury,  Abp.  of,  543 

Capron,  Madame,  561 

Carle,  Jacob,  424 

Carlton,  Sir  Guy,  512 

Carll,  Abigail,  634;  Rev.  Buckley,  683,  4; 
Jacob,  571 ;  Jonathan,  571 ;  Naomi,  634 

Carmichaol,  James.  522 ;  Kev.  John,  Phebe,  354 

Carpenter,  Hope,  .'312 

Carr,  Sir  Kobort,  28 

Carroll,  George,  655 


INDEX. 


691 


Carter,  Elizth.,  269;  James,  654;  John,  159, 
160,  1S3;  Nicholas.  56,  7,  84,  S,  100,2,  186,8, 

159,  160,  2,  7,  173,  1S2,  269,  277;  Samuel, 
244,  7,  S,  276 

Carteret,  Amice,  Anno,  Dowse,  Edward,  45, 
111;  Elizth.,  45,  52,  110,  1,  155,  195,  210,  8, 
229,  238,  263,  273,  4,  85S;  Frances,  149,  155; 
Francis,  45,  111 ;  Sir  George,  44-9,  53,  97, 
107,  110,  2,  129,  131,  140,  7,  8,  150,  2,  5,  173, 
8,180,8,  S,  190,1,210,8,813;  Sir  George,  Jr., 
210;  Gideon,  45;  Hclier,  45,  111 ;  James,  45, 
140,  1,  4-9,  150, 1,  4,  5,  6,  101 ;  Judith,  Mar- 
garet, 45;  Peter,  111;  Peyton,  45;  Philip, 
43,  4,  8,  9,  50-55,  7,  8,  9,  60,  6, 9,  76,  88,  9,  92, 
3,  5,  7,  8,  9, 103, 106-122,  1'24-S,  130-4,  136-9, 
141-9.  157,  160,  1,  2,  4,  7,  8,  170,  1,  2,  6, 
178-184,  1S3-195,  207,  9,  211,  2,  4,  7.  220,  9, 
231,  2,  257,  285,  9,  290,  308,  313,  324,869,405; 
Rachel,  45, 111,213;  Richard,  111 ;  Thomas, 
Zouch,  45 

Cartwright,  George,  28 

Carwithy,  Caleb,  67,  8,  72,  8,  87,  91,  2,  6,  128, 

160,  7,  2.54;  David,  72;  Elizth.,  73 
Case,  William,  62 

Ciuldwell,  James,  571,  8;  Wm.,  573 

Chalmers,  George,  141 

Chamberlain,  Wm.,  269 

Chambers,  John,  315 

Chandler,  David,  523,  4,  7;  Elizth.,  538; 
Elizth.  C,  5.50 ;  Hannah,  53S ;  Jane.  471,  5, 
551;  Jane  T.,550;  Jemima,  538;  John,  371, 
380,  5,  538 ;  .loseph,  Joshua,  .538 ;  Lvdia,  261 ; 
Mary,  471,  588,  550;  Mary  G.,  Mary  R.,  550; 
Mehetable,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Thom;is,  538; 
Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  B.,  889,  894,  413,  471,  0, 
516,  520,  2,  537—551,  3,  576,  614,  628,  630, 
679 ;  Wm.,  471,  538,  550 

Channing,  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  E.,  618 

Chapman,  Blanche,  682;  Hannah,  633;  Rev. 
JediUiah,  521,  577,  598,  632,  3;  Robert,  632; 
Rev.  Dr.  Robert  U.,  632,  3 ;  Thomas,  312 

Charlesl.,  44,135;!!.,  21,7,  44,  6,111,  4,230, 
271 

Ch.atfleld,  Admah,  272;  Thomas,  272 

Chatterton,  Peter,  555 

Chaunccy,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles,  231,  543,  4;  Rev. 
Israel,  327,  8 

Chesnut,  Rev.  Ben.,  850 

Chetwood,  Margaret,  212,  390,1,  664;  John, 
411,  2,  8,  430,  520,  542,  560.  2 ;  Wm.,  212.  320, 
1,  864,  8,  385,  0,  9,  390 ;  Wm.,  Jr.,  650,  661 

Christophers,  Jetfry,  Margaret,  254 

Chubb,  Thomas,  385  v 

Clais,  Jacob.  56, 103 

Clarendon,  Lord,  46 

Clark,  Abm.,  5S6;  Hon.  Abm.,  254,  812,  403, 
410,  2,  8,  429,  430,  4,  9,  440,  465.  624.  556,  562. 
586,  7,  8,  691,  627;  Dr.  Abm.,  562.  586,  647  ; 
Benjamin,  254,  312;  Daniel,  868  ;  Elias,  571 ; 
Elizabeth,  254;  Ephraim,  254;  Rev.  George 
W.,  6b3:  Henry,  312,  3,  580;  James,  5^6; 
Jesse,  557.  553 ;  John,  58.  87,  244,  8,  254, 
270,  284,  294,  300,  310—4,  8,  820, 1,  2,  864,  8, 
371,562.573;  Rev.  John,  6J0;  Jonathan, 
424;  Joseph.  312;  Joshua.  24:5,  7,  254;  Rich- 
ard. 79.  104,  243,  4,  268,  4,  270,  284,  312.  6-6 ; 
Richard,  Jr.,  228,  253,  284,  312;  Robert,  623, 
635  ;  Samuel.  244.  7,  2.54,  268,  285,  8S8  ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Samuel.  837;  !tev.  Samuel  A.,  681; 
Sarah,  586  ;  Thomas,  254,  2S5,  3ii9,  318,  820, 
1,  364,  525,  536;  William,  806,  812,  321 

Clarkson,  Rev.  David,  6S2 

Claverhouse,  221 

Clawson,  John,  412,  501,  525,  553 

Cleaver,  liev.  John,  669 

Clement,  Rev.  Elhert,  6",!  ;  Jonathan,  254.234 

Cleaveland,  Mr,  480 


Clenchy,  James,  424 

Cleverly,  John,  572 ;  Rev.  John,  338,  867,  568, 
572,  029;  Joseph,  568;  Thomas,  572 

CHnton,  DoWitt,  640,  4;  George,  876;  Sir 
Henry,  427.  442,  403,  471,  4,  490" 

Cloud,  Rev.  liobert,  020,  3 

Coddington,  Ashor,  505 

Coe,  Ben.,  637;  Grovor,  571;  Mary,  571 

Cogswell,  Eunice,  Francis,  569 

Coit,  liev.  Charles  S.,  021 

Coleman,  John,  13 

Colie,  James,  312 

Colleton,  Lord,  46 

Collins,  Anthony,  834 
]  Collyor,  John,  193 

Colman,  Rev.  Ben.,  844 

Colve,  Anthony,  174,  5,  6 

Condict,  Rev.  Aaron,  607,  632,  3,  642,  6 

Condit,  John,  649 

Conger,  Mrs.,  386 

Conklin,  Ben.,  57, 108;  Joseph,  Joshua,  108 

Connet,  Gardner,  580;  Henry,  312,  571 ;  Mat- 
thias, 312  ;  Moses,  424;  Wm.,  573 

Connor,  Richard.  467 

Conovcr,  Rev.  Edward,  683 

Cook,  Rev.  Aaron  C.  032 ;    Rev.  Henry,  632  ; 
I      Rev.  Samuel,  545 

Cooley,  Rev.  Thomas,  632  ;  Wm.,  237 

Cooper,  Ashley.  140 ;  Daniel,  87,  81S,  365,  S, 
9  ;  Hannah,  268  ;  John,  268,  807,  353.  387  ; 
Rev.  John,  620 ;  Mary,  .353 ;  Rev.  Dr.  Myles, 
413,  471,  545;  Rev.  Wm.,  844 

Corey,  lien.,  563,  602,  634;  Elnathan,  812, 
373;  Jacob,  254;  James,  571;  John,  247, 
254.  583;  Joseph,  312:  Priscilla,  '.^54 

Cornbury,  Lord,  277,  9,  289,  291,  2,  7,  800,  4,  5 

Cornells,  Jacob,  159 

Cornw.alli3,  Lord,  442,  7,  8,  9,  454,  460,  506,  7, 
510,  547 

Cornwell,  Rich.ard,  41 

Coughlon,  Michael,  481 

Cousseau,  Jean,  250 

Cowescomen,  80,  1 

Cowins,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  621 

Cox,  Rev.  Charles,  683;  Daniel,  305 

Cozzons,  Mary,  417 

Craig,  Andrew,  244.  254,  5,  285,  290.  812,  8, 864, 
871;  C.apt.,501;  Daniel,  424;  James,  255, 
821,  580;  John.  255,  557 

Cramer,  Elizth.,  146,  7;  Wm.,  67,  73.  4,  80,  91, 
2,  3,  101,  2,  4.  139,  143,  6,  7,  159,  162,  3,  9,  70, 
133,  243,  4,  272,  3 

Crane,  Ben.,  7-1 ;  Charles.  Christopher,  854  ; 
Daniel.  247,  266,  CW;  David.  567  ;  David  D.. 
634;  Elihu,  354;  Elizth.,  295;  Hannah,  266, 
864;  Henry,  74;  Isaac,  29.5,  354,  571,  053; 
J.ame8,  635,  674;  Jasper,  78,  130,  142,  4,  152, 
807 ;  Jeremiah,  244,  8,  284,  312.  3,  8  ;  John. 
67,  806,  810—4,  8,  320.  1,  2,  864,  8,  871,  680, 
8;  Jonathan.  312,  9,  580;  Joseph.  502,  566, 
671 ;  Lewis,  MarthiX,  Mary,  354  ;  Oliver,  635 ; 
Phebo,  3."4 ;  Ralph.  Sir  Richard,  Robert,  Sir 
Robert,  73;  Stephen,  56.  8,  73,  4,  SO,  95,  6,  7, 
130.159,  163,  9,  1S5,  4,  248,234,312.  366,  7, 
871,  880,  1.  .'i,  408,  410,  1,  2,  8,  445.  473.  615. 
524,  553,  600  ;  Thomas  O.,  295 ;  Wm.,  511,  2, 
524,  556,  635,  648,  9,  600, 1 

Craven,  Lord,  46 

Crawford,  ^Vnl.,571 

Crea,  James,  4:11 

Creaton,  John,  4>1 

Creyk,  Henry,  87 

Crighton.  James,  255,  284  ;  John,  265 

Ciiiley,  J'hlneas,  493 

Crittenden,  Miss,  431 

Croes,  R.  Rev.  John,  8.'>4,  030 ;  Martha,  854 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  40,  226 


G92 


INDEX, 


Crooke,  John,  Win.,  0S7 
Cro8well,  Kov.  Mr.,  603 
Cullcs.  Job  11,481 
Cummin,  Lady  Margaret,  259 
Curroy,  'I'homas,  806 
Custis,  John,  420;  Mrs.  420 
Cutlur,  Kev.  Timothy,  832 


Daggett,  Naphtali,  576 

Dalton,  Kev.  Timothy,  205 

Dalrymple,  Joseph,  368,  9 

Cankers,  Jasper,  141, 155,  187, 192,  290,  654 

Darby,  Helen,  Uenry  W.,  641 ;  II ester,  Hester 
W.,  640;  Rev.  John,  569,  640,  1;  Lucia- 
da,  641 ;  Wm..  169,  255,  657,  C40 

Darling,  Eliza,  John,  255  ;  Thomas,  244,  255 

Dartmouth,  Earl  of,  544 

Davenport,  Kev.  James,  393,  5,  568,  574,  686, 
637-9  ;  Kev.  John,  201,  2-^1,  828,  509,  638 

Davies,  Kev.  Samuel,  395,  514 

Davis,  Capt.,  498  ;  Dr.  Charles,  878 ;  Elijah,  806 ; 
Isabel,  218;  Jacob,  583,  634;  John,  580;  Na- 
thaniel, 363,  873 ;  Samuel,  154,  5  ;  Wm.,  218, 
8^S 

Davison,  James,  481 

Day,  Daniel,  321,  571,  3;  David,  873;  John, 
107  ;  Jonathan,  648  ;  Timothy,  571 :  Mrs.,  5S6 

Dayton,  Elias,  410,  2,  4,  423,  5,  7,  9,  434,  9,  440, 
1, 5,  450,  462, 3,  9,  473,  S,  487,  9,  490,  7.  S,  517, 
9,  524,  5,  650,  T,  S,  60C,  651,  2,  662 ;  Elias  B., 
550,  9,  562 ;  Elizlh.,  105 ;  Klizth.  0.,  550  ;  Han- 
nah, 558  ;  Horatio  K.,  562:  Jane  T.,  550; 
Jonathan,  312,  8,  9,  821,  364,  881,  412,  445, 
515  ;  Hon.  Jonathan,  500,  9,  524,  5,  532,  5r,6, 
8,  9.  560,  2,  8,  595,  018,  652,  C02,  3  ;  Kalph, 
7S,  105;  Kobert,  105;  Susan  W.,  618  ;  Wm., 
550,  653;  Mrs.,  440 

Dean,  Aaron,  507 

Deanc,  Nicholas,  424 

De  Borre,  Col.,  462 

Deeds,  George  M.,  505 

De  Hart,  Balthazar,  8S,  9, 163,  250,  1,  5.  6,  262  ; 
Baltus,  100,  256  ;  Catalina,  Cornelia,  256  :  Cy- 
rus, 525,  650  ;  Daniel,  76,  91.  108,  7,  163,  243, 
250,  1,  5  ;  Dr.  Daniel,  89,  100,  182,  250,  6,  6, 
262  ;  Elizth.,  256  ;  Jacob,  250,  6,  6, 3S5,  8,  539, 
542;  Jannotte,  256;  John,  889,411,  3,  425,  S, 
430,  1,  443,  483,  542.  5,  657,  560,  2,  3,  592  ; 
Margaret,  212, 664  ;  Matthias,  212,  250,  5.  6, 
296,  539,  664 ;  Dr.  Matthias,  SS8 ;  Peter,  256; 
Wm.,  250,  532  ;  Wm.  C,  430,  482 

Dejardin,  John,  58  , 

Delancey  James.  376  ;  Oliver,  476  ;    Peter,  233 

Delavall,  Frances,  149  ;  Thomas,  141,  9,  151 

Dempster,  George,  John  H.,  422 

Dennian,  John,  312,  8  ;  Maj.,  677  ;  Mr.,  £67 

Denton  Daniel.  30,  1,  5,  40  1,  57,  60,  1,  8,  89  ; 
Nathaniel,  30,  2,  60,  1,  89  ;  Kev.  Richard, 
60.  4:  Samuel,  41,  61 

De  Sanssure,  Henry  Wm.,  589 

Dessisny,  Anna,  Dr.  Peter,  270 

De  Wint,  Christian,  Lucinda.  641 

De  Wilt,  Jannetie,  Joannes,  256 

Dickorson,  Mahlon,  682 

Dickinson.  Abigail,  352 ;  Elizth.,  853;  Kev. 
George  F.,  621  ;  Hezekiah,  326:  Joanna,  327, 
8,  348,  852,  8  ;  John,  87,  57,  8, 74, 160,  106  ; 
Jonathan,  353  ;  Kev.  Jonathan.  84.  812.  3, 
326-354,  8.  360,  1,  887,  398,  8,  481,  522,  567, 
8,  573,  5,  580,  698,  629,  63.^),  9 ;  Martha,  353  ; 
Mary,  848,  853,  4  ;  Melyen,  828.  852  ;  Kev. 
Mo.ses,  880,  849.  578  ;  Naihnniel,  326  ;  Plillc- 
nion.  71,  571  :  Gen.  Philemon,  429,  463,  4,  6, 
466,  '^,  9  ;  Temp'-rance,  853 

Dicllofren,  Claes.  68 

Dillon,  Mods.,  661 


Doane,  K.  Kev.  George  W.,  6S1,  2 

Dockwra,  Wm.,  221,2 

Dod,  Kev.  Dr.  Albert  B.,  658  ;  Daniel, 655,  6, 

S  ;  Lebbeus,  Stephen,  Kev.  Thaddeus,  653 
Dodd,  Abiathar,  6.34 
Donaldson,  Wm.,  313 
Dongan,  Thomas,  221,  230,  4,  233 
Doty,  Joseph,  571 
Doughty,  Elias,  41 
Douglas,  Elizth.,  Wm.,  633 
Dowse,  Ann,  45,  111 
Drake,  Sir  Francis,  78  ;  Isaac,  605 
Droogestradt,  Uendrick,  Margaret,  Mary,  251 
Drummond,  David,  James,  211. 
Dudley,  Joseph,  289 
Duer,  Wm.  A.,  424 
Dues,  James,  4S1 
Dukeson,  Isaac,  481 
Dumaresque,  Elizth.,  4.5,  110 
Dunham  Daniel,  321;  David,  312 
Dunn,  Capt..  549  ;   Kev.  Clarkson,  682  ;  Kev. 

Lewis  R.,  621 
Dupont,  Mons.,  561 
Durham,  Capt,  505  ' 
Duyckinck,  Maj.,  437 
Dwight,  Rev.  Dr.  Timothy,  603 


Earle,  James,  431 

Eaton,  Joanna,  John,  Thomas,  396  ;  Thomas, 
Jr.,  610 

Eccleston,  Mai.,4Sl,  2 

Edwards.  Eunice,  Frances,  417  ;  Rev.  Jona- 
than, 352,  4,  330,  393,  5,  417,  514,  641,  593,  9, 
687 ;  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan,  519,  5T0,  641  ;  Mary, 
641;  Pierpont,  Rhoda,  417:  Timothy,  417, 
519,  .520 

Edsall.  Samuel,  37,  142,  4 

Effingham,  Lord,  233,  274 

Egbert,  Mrs.,  473 

Egberts  Garret,  159 

Elcock,  Anthony,  John,  Mary,  Sarah,  Thomas, 
257 

Eldrlngton,  Mary,  891 

Eliot,  Kev.  Jared,  327,  332  ;  Rev.  Joseph,  201 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  45 

Elliott,  Bishop,  294 

Elmer,  Apollos  M.,  626  ;  Edward,  576 :  Rev. 
Jonathan,  5.32,  569,  576-9,  622,  6,  643 :  Jona- 
than, Jr.,  579;  Lieut,  525  ;  Moses  G.,  Nathan, 
Philemon,  Sarah,  579 

Elstone,  Peter,  Sarah,  266;  Thomas,  423 

Elsworth,  Stofiy,  26 

Embury,  Rev.  Philip,  019 

Emmett,  Tliomas  Addis,  656 

Emott,  George.  257 ;  Jane,  540 ;  James,  79, 
10.5,  213,  7,  220.  237,  8,  257,  272,  238.  9,  307, 
8,  85S,  James.  Jr.,  2.57  ;  John,  257.  589,  540; 
Mary,  257,  303,  353,  540 ;  Wm.,  257 

Endicott,  John,  49 

Krskine.  Anne,  258,  860  ;  John,  243,  8,  257.  8, 
285,  360;  Rev.  Dr.  John,  352;  Robbin,  253 

Eucn,  Wm.,  839 

Kverard,  Rev.  Thomas,  620 

Everett,  Rev.  Noble,  642 

Everit,  John,  505 

Everson.  George,  423 

Every,  Mr.,  257 

Ewing,  Hannah,  Rev.  John,  853 


Fabrltins,  Rev.  Jacob.  251 
Falrbank,  James  C,  677 
Karrand.  Samuel.  819 
Farrel,  .lamen,  90 
Farson,  Joseph,  481 
Felch,  Rev.  Isaac  N.  621 


INDEX. 


693 


Feltus,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  J.,  560 

Fenn,  Ben.,  24;  Jnracs,  815 

Fenwick,  .Jolin,  17S 

Ferris,  David,  574 

Field,  Col.,  4C:J 

Finley,  Esther  F.,  Rev.  Dr.  Robert,  585;    Rev. 

Dr.  Samuel,  344,  391 
Fish,  Elizth.  Ann,  C44;    Uannah,  643;    Jane, 

612;  Jane   E.,   644;  John,  4U2  ;   Rev.   John 

B.,  644;    Jonathan,  642;  Kenneth   U.,  643; 

Nathaniel,  042  ;  Rev.  Peter,  632,  642-4;  Sarah, 

402  ;  Susan  M.,  Thomas  F.,  614 
Fisher,  Ilcudrlck,  407 
Fish,  John,  4S1 

Fitch,  Samuel,  283;  Thomas,  866 
Fletcher,  Ken.,  239, 240, 2, 274 ;  Hope,  205;  Mary, 

205,  7,  8,  263 ;    Pendleton,  209 ;  Kobert,  205 ; 

Rev.  Selh,  205-9,  314,  26S,  2S0 
Floyd,  Jeremiah,  2S7 
Folker,  John,  469 

Forbes,  Arthur,  224 ;  Nathaniel,  253 
Force,  Ben.,  571 ;  Rev.  James  G.,  688 
Ford,  Jacob,  453 ;  Jacob,  Jr.,  446,  450-3 
Fordham,  Rev.  Lemuel,  642  ;  Rev.  Robert,  59, 

64,  201,  6,  281 
Forman,  Gen.,  404 

Forster,  Myles,  170,213;  Eebeeca,213 
Foster,  Rev.  Dr.  James,  33T;  John,  30,  61, 105, 

204  ;  Thomas,  61 
Fountaine,  Mons.,  121 
Fox,  Edward,  93  ;  Hester,  640 
Fo.Ncroft,  Rev.  Thoma%  331,  5,  342,  3,  4 
Franklin,  Ben.,  337,  370;  ■Wm.,475,  551 
Frazee,     Edward,  2S4,  306;   Eliphalet,   373; 

George,  626 ;  James,  469 ;   James,  Jr.,  476 ; 

Joseph,  57,  6,  62,  7,  74,   5,  90,  159, 169, 170, 

18-3,  243,  270,  3,  2S4;  Joseph,  Jr.,  571 ;  Isaac, 

580 ;  Lydia,  626 ;  Moses,  580 
Freeman,  Henry,  610;  Jonathan,  373;  Melanc- 

thon,  571 ;  Silas,  424 
Frelinghuysen,  Col.  Fred.,  475 
Frost,  Abncr,  580,;  Klizth.,  62  ;    John,  Sarah, 

106;  VVm.,  59,  62,  75 
Frncker,  Wm.,  481 
FuUerton,  James,  SO,  241 ;  Richard,  398;  Robert 

226,  241 ;  Thomas,  241 
Fulton,  Robert,  654 


Gaine  Hugh,  464,  7,  9,  476,  .500, 1 

Gale,  Amy,  577  ;  Daniel,  806 

(ialloway,  Joseph,  470 

Gano,  Eev.  John,  5S5 

Gardener,  Ann,  296 

Gardiner,  Lion,  90;  Rev.  Mr.,  616 

Garrison,  Ben.,  481 

Garritse,  Henry,  411 

G.iithwalte,  Ann,  258,  Henry,  258,  881,  639, 

542,  5;    James,  258;  Jeremiah,  545,  628; 

"Wm.,  253 
Gault,  Robert,  476 

Gay,  Dr.  Edwar,!,  263,  278 ;  John,  259 
Gates,  II.  ratio,  420,  464 ;  Mrs.,  420 
Gee,  Rev.  Joshua,  844 
GeUton,  Rov.  Samuel,  830 
Gemmli,  Rev.  John,  603 
George,  L,  307;  IL,  8^6 
Germain,  Linl  George,  485,  141,  471 
Gerritsen.  Wolfert,  102 
Gibbo;ig,  Thomas,  life,  7 
Gifford,  Capt.  4d0,  1,  651 
GilJer,  Rev.  Wm.  II.,  621 
Giles,  Alfred,  6  7 :  Jane,  605 ;  Rev.  John,  COt-7 
Gillies,  Rvv.  Dr.  John,  68S 
(Jiiman,  Charles,  557  ;  Kdward,  312 
Gilmore,  Rev.  Ale.x.,  621 
GoddarJ,  Wm.,  654 


Godden,  Thomas,  856 

Goodrich,  Elizur, :  99,  597  ;  Sir  Henry,  243 

Gordon,  Charles,  226;  Thomas,  481;  Thomas 

F.,  112, 141 
Gormond,  John,  481 
Gou<;h,  Charles,  431 
Gould,  Danl.l,  259;  John,   244,  259.  284,  30C  ; 

Nathan,  160 ;  Thomas,  309 
Graham,  John,  8'Jl  ;  Mr.,  169;  Mr.,  415 
Grahamo,  James,  113,  141 
Grant,  Rev.  John,  585 
Graves,  Zachary,  57,  1C8 
Gray,   Capt,  431;   Hannah,  75;  Isaiah,  424; 

John,  56,   8,   6-J,  75,  160,  7,  173,  4.4,    481; 

Richardson,  610,  053 
Grazillier,  Elias,  887 
Green,  Rev.  Dr.  Abhbel,  844,  450  ;  Rev.  Jacob, 

349,  577 
Greene,  Nathaniel,  497 
Grillin,  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  D.,  63-3,  666,  670 
Griffiths,  Capt.,  888 
Criiswold,  Roger,  597 

Groome,  Samuel,  211,  2,  P,  6,  9,  221,  5,  273 
Grover,  Elizabeth,  Simon,  636 
Gunn,  Jaspar,  24 


Hacket,  Ann,  James  H.,  Thomas,  402 ;  Wm., 
186 

Ilackson,  Jonathan,  481 

Ilagorty,  Rev.  John,  023 

liaise,  Mary,  218 ;  Wm.,  218,  221 

Haines,  Bon.,  73,  424,  686;  Daniel,  73,  325; 
Isaac,  5:i5;  Jame.s,  78,  100,  170,  184,  284; 
James,  Jr..  73,  306 ;  Job,  562  ;  John,  57,  8, 78, 
16  I,  270,  2>4,  306 ;  Jonathan,  73,  285;  Joseph, 
505,  522;  Mary,  78;  Richard  T.,  673;  Sam- 
uel, ."JS'J,  8 ;  Sarah,  Stephen,  Thomas,  78, 

Hair,  George,  511 

Halt,  Mrs.  A.,  641 ;  Eev.  Ben.,  491,  577,  041,  2 ; 
James  J.,  Mary,  041  ;  Walter,  641 

Hall,  Richr.rd,  312  ;  Thomas,  102  ;  Wm.,  305 

Uallard,  Elizth.,  93 

Ilalliday,  Rev.  Thomas,  829,  357,  8,  9 

Hallock,  Gerard,  670 

Halsey,  Daniel,  412,  523,  7 ;  Isaac,  259 ;  Joseph, 
244,  7,  259,  2b4,  312,  8,  365;  Luther,  560  ; 
Melyen,  431 ;  Thomas,  259  ;  Wm.,  650 

Halstead,  Caleb,  523;  Caleb,  Jr.,  523,  6M  ;  Dr. 
Caleb,  445,  476;  John,  820,  1,  864,  371,380,5, 
453,  5S9,  542  ;  Jonas,  204  ;  Matthias,  421,  484, 
5,  525;  Robert,  570;  Susannah,  540;  Timo- 
thy, 40,  1 ;  Wm.,  527,  557,  562,  610 

Hamilton,  Andrew,  234,  0-9,  241,  5,  7,  26  ',  279, 
2S3,  303  ;  Alexander,  521 ;  Eunice,  626 ;  John, 
oK;,  349,  367  ;  Theod.  J.,  626 

Hammond,  Mr.,  651 

Hampton,  Andrew,  244,  7.  259,  260,  2,  4,  6,270, 
5,  2S5,  290,  8U6,  539 ;  James,  259,  277,  863  ■ 
Jonathan,  212,  820,  1,  2,373,  338,  9,  412-5 
421,  4:i3,  539,  542,  5,  553,  536  ;  Margaret,  259, 
260, 290 

Hancock,  John,  421 

Hand,  Gen.,  494,  5 

Hankit^soii,  Hannah,  Kenneth,  €43 

Hardy,  Jdsiah,  835,  542 

Harper,  Messrs.,  670 

llarriman,  Ale.\.,  288;  Ann,  2S3;  David,  292; 
Elizth.,  205.  281;  Hannah,  233;  John,  26.>. 
231;  Rev.  John,  78,  161,  4.7,  170,  206,241, 
4,  9,  251,  2,  4,  5  3,  259-263,  265-8,  270-3,  275- 
8,  231,  2,  28.5-293,  5,  7,  311,  2.  635 ;  John,  Jr., 
244,  8,  264,  8,  283,  8,  292,  3, 806,  7,  3>5  ;  John, 
3d,  361,  5-12  ;  Jo.scpb,  253  ;  Leonard,  233,  8 ; 
Mary,  2^3 ;  Richard,  258,  288,  7,  806,  321  ; 
Samuel,  78,  283,  526 ;  Sarah,  861  ;  Stephen, 
312 ;  Wm.,  283,  412,  484,  617,  557 


604 


INDEX 


Harris,  Arthur,  2C0 ;  Daniel,  57. 75,  260  ;  George, 
Ilonry,  75,  260;  John,  445  ;  Thomas,  20S, 
•JS4 
Harrison,  Daniel,  864  ;  Edward,  260, 1 ;  Henry, 
260;  John,  260,1,287;  Joseph,  307;  Wm., 
260 

Hart,  Jeremiah,  671 ;   Eev.  John,  827,  832; 

Joseph,  273 
lliirtwell,  Harry,  8S5 

IhUllold,  Aaron,  423.  525;  Abel,  46!);  Abel  8., 
77 ;  Abipail,  482.  643  ;  Abner,  617  ;  Abraham, 
78,  244,  S,  277,  2^5  ;  Andrew.  263;  Cornelius, 
78,  244,  7.  8,  264,  234,  5,  321,  381,  8,  5,  7,  8, 
890,  412,  482,  515,  523,  7  ;  Cornelius,  Jr.,  472, 
6,480,2,600.1,8,6,7,  510.  650,  1;  David, 
505,  7.  6«} ;  Hannah,  445,  626  ;  Isaac,  78,  243, 
262, 2S5,  890,  623,  5SS ;  James,  469 ;  Job,  469, 
480;  John  S.,  423,  469,  472,  ISO,  !500,  2,  7,  8, 
511,  651,  2;  Joseph.  462;  Maria,  78 ;  Mary, 
264.  2S4,  6,  617  ;  Matthias,  57,  8,  63.  S,  76.  7, 
S.  Si,  .5.  9>;,  'J,  101,  136,  159,  170,  183,  4,  200, 
264:  Matthias,  2d,  312,  820,  1,  5,  336,  864.  6, 
7,  879.  8S3,  6,  6,  407,417,445,622,8.553; 
Matthias,  Jr.,  580,  3;  Michael,  550;  Morris, 
445,  610  ;  Phebe,  825,  445,  517  ;  Thomas,  76  ; 
Wm.,  507 

Hatter,  Ben.,  248,  261 

Haviland,  John,  476 

Hawkins,  Rev.  Dr.,  413 

Hawley,  Eev.  Dr.,  680 

Hays,  Samuel,  554 

Hazon,  Moses,481,  3 

Headlev,  Leonard,  57,  8,  66,  7.  76.  ^8,9,  91,  5,  8, 
103,  6,  122, 159,  160,  6,  182,253,  264;  Thomas, 
89 

Heard.  Nathaniel,  437,  469,  622  ;  Wra.,  500 

Jleath,  Wm..  447,  450,  1,2 

Heatlicott.  Geoifre,  194 

Hedges,  Henry  P.,  656;  Uriah,  571;  Mr.,  654 

Heermans,  Augustine,  20 

Hemphill.  Kev.  Samuel,  837 

Hendricks,  Abraham,  324,  5,  363.  9,  571 ;  Baker, 
472,  502,  3,  4,  8,  9,  610  ;  Daniel,  825;  Isaac, 
325,  369,  580 ;  Jabez,  825 ;  John,  825,  424,  657, 
610;  Leonard.  325 

Hcnlock.  Joshua,  807 

Hennessey,  Kev.  Patrick,  684 

Henry,  Rev.  Hugh,  850;  Kev.  Matthew,  577 

Heron,  John,  261 

Herrick,  Jobn,  261,  284 

Hevener,  Rev.  Jacob,  620 

Heward,  Rev.  Jonathan  B.,  621 

Hewitt,  Randal  U.,  31 

Higgins,  Ben.,  Eliakim,  Jonathan,  .Judah,  261 ; 
Lydia,  262;  Mary,  Richard,  261 ;  Thomas. 
262  ;  Wm.,  261  ;  Zerah,  Zeruiah,  261,  2 

Higgfnson,  Kev.  John,  206 

High,  John,  680 

Hill,  Abraham,  247;  Ben.,  823;  Henry,  58; 
Rev.  Isaac  N.,  68;3;  Thomas,  313,  821 ;  Wm., 
58,  72,  159,  160,  178,  183,  244.  277,  284,  5 

Hillyer,  Rev.  Dr.  Asa,  632,  8,  044,  .%  6 

Hobart.  Kev.  Gershom.  206.  281 ;  R.  Rev.  John 
II,.  450.  5.50,  60S.  9.  679  ;  Mary  G.,  550 

Hobbes,  Thomas,  834 

Hodse,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles,  883,  673 

Hoffman,  Beulah.  530;  Eev.  Dr.  Eugene  A., 
682,  8  ;  Llndley  M,  Martin.  630 

Holdich.  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph,  621 

Holt,  Sir  John.  242 

Unman,  Ben.,  57,  8,  79, 122,  159, 160,  -S;  John, 
79 

Homes,  Henry,  159 

Honyinan.  Kev.  James.  848 

Hooper,  Wm.,  442  ;  Mr.,  Is9 

Hopkins.  Hannah.  60.  161,  184,  272;  Moses, 
82;  Samuel,  57,  71, 100, 186, 154-161,  175,  6, 


184, 196;  Samuel.  Jr.,  161 ;  Eev.  Dr.  Samuel, 
582,  630 

Ilopkinson,  Joseph,  656 

Hoisley,  Charles,  81 

Horsmanden,  Daniel,  863 

Horton,  Rov.  Azariah.  846,  573,  4,  636  ;  Barna- 
bas, Ben.,  Caleb,  Elizth..  Jonathan.  Joshua, 
636 ;  Eev.  Simon,  346,  386,  573,  7,  636,  7 

Hosack,  David,  632,  640 

House,  Erasmus,  6S 

Howard,  Francis,  283,  274 

How,  John,  376 

Howe,  Earl  Richard,  449,450;  Sir  Wm.,  435, 
410,  8,  9.  450,  4,  6.  460,  2 

Howell,  Edward,  283;  Rev.  Isaac  P.,  684: 
Marv,  283;  Micah,  571 

Hoyt,  ThoMas,  424.  See  Halt. 

Hubbard,  Abi-ail,  George,  S3,  94  ;  Hannah,  88 

Hubbell,  Aliijah,  Asa,  582;  Ebenezer,  581; 
Elizth.,  Esther,  Hezrkiah,  Lois,  M.iry,  682; 
Rev.  Nathaniel.  812,  8,  4,  833,  581 ;  Nathaniel. 
Jr.,  477,  5S2;  Richard,  Jr.,  Samuel,  581;  Su- 
sanna, 682 

Hudson,  Henrv,  17 

Hushes,  Catharine,  171 ;  R.  Eev.  Jobn,6  72 

Hull,  Andrew.  169 

Hume.  Catharine,  Hannah,  Jane,  262 ;  John, 
262,  8,  9 

Humes,  John,  674 

Humphreys,  Rev.  Dr.  David,  299;  James,  Jr., 
470 

Hunt,  Eunice,  417 ;  Eev.  Holloway  W.,  067  : 
Robert,  417 

Hunter,  Eev.  Andrew,  474 ;  Robert,  305 

Huntington,  Barnabas,  679 ;  Col.,  447,  498 ;  Eev. 
Jonathan,  677;  Ladv,  880  ;  Mary,  670 

Hurst,  Rev.  Dr.  John"F.,  621 

Hutchinson.  Rev.  Robert,  620 ;  Samuel,  48,  9, 
50;  Lieut.,  505 

Hvde,  Edward,  279 

Hylton,  Mehetable,  Wm.,  609 


Ihbotts,  Rev.  Dr.,  837 
Iliir,  Rev.  Ben.,  620 
Indes,  John,  262.  284 
Ingersoll,  Abigail,  Thomas,  827 
Inglis,  R.  Rev.  Dr.  Charles,  548,  9 
Ingoldsbv.  Richard,  805 
Irvine,  Wm.,  478,  496 
Irving,  Washington,  440 


Jackson,  James,  805 

James  II.,  230.  233-8;  Rev.  Thomas,  41, 90. 200. 1 

Janes,  Rev.  Dr.  Edmnnd  S.,  Kev.  Edwin   L., 

621 
Jans,  Henry,  159 
Jansen  Anthony,  178 ;  Mary,  251 
Jacques,  Col.,  483 
Jardinier.  Pierre,  187 
Jefferson,  Thomas.  649,  651 
Jeffervs,  Caleb.  190,  243,  812,  8  ;  Thomas,  812 
Jelf,  Joseph.  SS"*,  430,  ,'•,93 
Jennings,  David,  312  ;  Zebulon,  580,  8 
Jerolainan.  Cornelius,  655 
Jewell,    Cornelius,   297;   George.  89.  92,   199, 

200,  213,  7,  246,  251,  6. 262,  3,  284,  296,  7,  807 ; 

Surah.  2'.iG :  Thomas,  202 
Jewev,  Peter.  287 

Johnes,  Rev.  Dr.  Timothy,  850.  574,  7,695 
Jolmson,  James,  413,  4  ;  "Rev.  Jethro,  620.  8  ; 

John,  79,  244,  307;  Mary,  248:  Robert,  79 ; 

Eev.  Dr.  Samuel,  79,  832,  8.  84S,  9.  637.  8, 

642,  651  ;  Thomas,  79.  2i)8  ;  Uzal,  671 ;  Wm., 

56.  8.  62.  72,  79,  84,  90,  94,  104,  128, 169,  167, 

172,  183  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  S.,  630 


INDEX. 


695 


Johnston,  Margaret,  212,  8D0,  C6i;  Wni.,  868, 

578 
Johnstone,  James,  227 

Joline,  Andrew,  819,  320,  1,  364,  8-5 ;  Jolin,  891 
Jones,  Dr.,  585;  EJw.ird,  SO,  424;  Rev.  Elipha- 

let,  80;  Jeffry,  57,  8,  62,  G,  72,  SU,  1,  7,  'JO,  4, 

104, 123,  S,  18S,  142, 159,  1S3,  :i41.  2,  3,  5,  2S4; 

Eev.  John,  bO;  Win.,  573 
Jouet,  Ann  C,  Mary,  665;  Cavalier,  469,  4T7, 

542,  553,  665 
Joy,  George,  550 
Justice,  Jiev.  Jesse,  620 


Kalm,  Peter,  374 

Karman,  John,  69 

Kawatneek,  37 

Kearney,  Michael,  821 

Keith,  Kev.  George,  255,  9,  2S9,  291 

Kelley,  liev.  Ben.,  621  ;  Mary,  8SS 

Kellogg,  Edward  N.,  656;  Elijah,  674 

Kelsey,  Joseph,  306 

Kenipshall.  Kov.  E\erard,  674 

Kennard.  Kov.  Samuel  6.,  620 

Kennedy.  Capt.,  475 

Ker,  Jacob,  Kev.  Jacob,  Joseph,  Nathan,  Kev. 
Nathan,  Walter,  569 

Kerr,  Joseph,  ~'53 

Keteltas,  Abraham,  899:  Eev.  Abraham,  3S2, 
898-402,  513, 4 ;  Abraham,  Ann,  Clarissa, 
Elizth.  S.,  Jane,  John,  Mary,  Philip  L>.,  402; 
Sarah,  399,  402 

Kidd,  Ca!-t.,  257 

Kicft,  Wm  ,  64 

King,  Charles,  4-80 

Kingslnnd,  Peter,  460 

Kinney,  Alex.,  262,  3,  2S4,7;  Alice,  263;  Tho- 
mas, 263,  S,  285 

Kinsey,  James,  411 

Kirk,  Kev.  Dr.  Edward  N.,  George,  670 

Kirkland,  Ktv.  Samuel,  570 

Kirkpatrick,  Kev.  Wm.,  513 

Kirtland,  Kev.  Daniel,  John,  Kev.  Dr.  John 
T.,  Kev.  Samuel,  292 

Kitcholl,  Joanna,  Kobert,  202 

Knolt,  Pliilip,  481 

Knot,  James,  4^1 

Knowlton,  M:y.,  439 

Knox,  Henry,  .544 

Knyf,  Capt.,  158,  174 

Knypbausen,  Gen.,  454,  486,  7.  S,  493 

KoUock,  Henrietta,  667;  Eev.  Dr.  Henry,  607, 
8,9,  617,  644,6;  Mehelable,  609;  Shepard, 
525,  8,  554,  5,  562,  598,  9,602,  633,  607;  Su- 
sanna, 033 

Kregier,  Martin,  26, 102 

Lacy,  D.ivid,  571,  6 

La  Fayette,  Marquis  de,  684 

Lamb,  John,  247,  268,  573,  5S0;  Eev.  Joseph, 
573;  Samuel,  263,  573;  Thomas,  203;  Mr., 
416 

Lambert,  David,  812;  Jesse,  162;  John,  162, 
'284,  306,  812,  5S0;  John,  8d,  812;  Oliver, 
Eodolph,  162 ;  Eoger,  58,  72,  3,  60,  99,  100, 
159,  162,  3,  183,  4,  24;3,  7,  262,  284 

Lane,  Aaron,  559,  56.3,  595,  658,  9 

Lathrop.  Jo.ihua,  597,  611 ;  Lydia,  597 

Laud,  Elizth.,  169 

Laulon,  Ann,  Maximilian,  255 

Law,  Kichard,  24 

Lawrence,  Abraham,  58,  203;  Col.,  463; 
Elizth.,  James,  195;  John,  59;  Jonathan  H., 
559,  562;  Joseph,  195,  213.  274;  Mary,  195, 
2o7,  308:  Eichard,  195,  237,  419;  Samuel, 


Sarah,  Thomas,  Wm.,  195 


Lawrenaen,  Peter,  Sophia,  268 
Lawrie,  Gawn,  90,  218-222,  4,  227-231,  283, 
241,  255,  282,  8;  Lsabei,  James,  Mary,  Eo- 
becca,  218 
Leagry,  Wm.,  268 

Learning,  Kev.  Dr.  Jeremiah,  548,  576 
Leavenworth,  Mr.,  430 

Lee  Adam,  423;  Ann,  263;  Charles,  425,  450, 
1,526;  John,  476;  Eichard.  565;  EichardH., 
432,  497,  8,  9  ;  Samuel,  415,  424 ;  Thomas, 
261,  3,  284,  424 
Leisler,  Jacob,  236,  7,  8,  2-12,  274 
Lemington,  Abigail,  492 
Lemke,  Kev.  Henry,  684 
Leonards,  Thomas,  56,  80 
Le  Roax,  John,  287 
Leslie,  Gen.,  452,  3 
Letts,  Elizth.,  169;  Wm.,  67,  74,  6,  81,  99,  104, 

137,  8,  143,  162,  3,  8,  9,  170, 182 
Leverett,  John,  294 
Leverich,  Rev.  Wm.,  201,  264 
Leveridge,  Samuel,  264 
Lewis,  Warren,  420 
Lilly,  Eev.  Samuel,  560,  618 
Lincoln,  Ben.,  534 
Lind.'^ey,  Theodorick,  481 
Liudsly,  Col.,  452 
Linn,  Eev.  Dr.  John  B.,  594,  604  ;  Eev.   Dr. 

Wm.  A.,  594,  5 
Lithgow,  Patrick,  313 

Littell,  Andrew,  571 ;  Anthony,  163,571 ;    Com- 
fort, 163;  Constance,  163,  7,  384;  Daniel,  36S, 
9;  Eliakim,  456,  8;  George,  163;  John,  73, 
86,  8, 91 , 9, 1  OS,  159, 162,  8, 7,  9,  1  S3,  243, 7, 264, 
8,273,  817,  5s0;  Jonathan,  162,  276;  Martha, 
Mary,  103 ;  Mo.seg,  580 ;  Kobert,  163, 3o6, 321  ; 
.'^amuel,  285,  571 
Livingston,   Brockholst,   424;   Catharine,   466; 
Eov.  Dr.  John  H.,595, 644  ;  John  E.,  655, 6,  7 ; 
Maturin,  Peter  K.,592;  Peter  V.    B.,  636; 
Philip,  404;   Kobert  J.,  592,  655.  fi,  7;  Kobert 
E.,  654  ;  Sarah,  383 ;  Susanna,  557,  592 ;  Wm., 
87(1,  404,  410,  i,  2,  425,  427-430,  4,  6,  7,  8, 440 
2,  3,  6,  8,  46.'5,  0,  470,  1,  2,  4,  7,  489,  5u3,  524, 
5,  8,  531,  552,  6,  7,  560,  582,  S,  680;  Wm.,  Jr  , 
424;  Wm.  S.,  592 
Locke,  John,140,  1 
Lockwood,  Eev.  Kichard  B.,  621 
Loftis,  Edmund,  264 
Logan,  James,  818,  9 
Looker,  Henry,  170;  John,  248,281,  821 ;  Win 

74,  9,  169,  170,  244,  7;  Wm.,  Jr.,  270,  2S4 
Lons,  Thomas,  ,501,5 
Lore,  Kov.  Dallas  I).,  621 
Lovelace,  Lord  John,  124,  S,  9,  130  5,  6,  141,  9 

156,  804,  5 
Lowrey,  Stcplien,  393 
Liibbersen,  Abraliam,  Andrew,  Josias,  77 
Luce,  Wm.,  388,  469,  472,  553 
Uudlam,  Joseph,  812 
Ludlow,  Jeremiah,  571;  Mr.,  431 
Ludlum,  Cornelius,  58U 
Lumos,  John,  481 
Lutonewach,  37 
Lutton,  Kev.  Kobert,  620, 1 
Lybrand,  Eev.  Joseph,  620 
Lyde,  Byefleld,  383 

Lyon,  David,  525;  F;benczer,  244,  7,  281,  806; 
Elizth.,  163;  Hannah,  284;  Henry,  58,  81,  2, 
90,  100,  1(19,  159,  163,  6,  If 2,  4,  5,  217,  8,  229 
24.3,  7,  277,  2S4;  John,  240;  Joseph,  214,  8 
266,  284,  336,  517,  523,  7;  Joseph,  Jr.,  562; 
Mary,  164;  Maitliias,  525;  Nathaniel,  244, 
284;  Peter,  571 ;  Thomas,  150,  164 


McCarroU,  Eev.  Thomas,  621 


696 


INDEX. 


McClond,  Cnpt.,  475 

McCln-'ky.  Uov.  .lolin,  620 

MoCord,  John,  G76 

Mcf'rea,  I'bilip,  604 

McDongnll,  Ales.,  453 

McDowell,  Eliztb.,  Ephraim,  Henrietta,  667  ; 
Kev.  Dr.  John,  2S3,  594,  652,  9,  660,  2,  606-9, 
071,5;  Matthew,  667 

McFnrlnnd,  Anilrew,  4S1 

McKnipht,  Rev.  Dr.  John,  644 

McLenahan,  Kev.  Wm.,  620 

McMicbacl,  Capt.,  503 

McVickar,  Kev.  Dr.  John,  547 

McWhorter,  Kev.  Dr.  Alex.,  532,  4,  55S,  577, 
5S4,  593,  5,  7,  607,  643-C,  666 ;  Alex.  C,  650 

Macarty,  Mr.,  423 

Mackenzie,  Sir  George,  221 

Madison,  James,  655 

Mados,  Wm,  264 

Masie,  Ann  F.,  Ben.,  Catharine  P.,  675  ;  Rev. 
Dr.  David,  673-6 ;  Ilaines,  Hannah,  Jane  B., 
Job,  675;  John,  244,  7,  265,  2^5,  812,  7,  364, 
674;  John,  Jr..  312,  075;  Joseph,  312,  674, 
6  ;  Michael,  674  ;  Phebe,  675 

Maltby,  John,  Mary,  2S3 

Manamowaouc,  80,  1 

Mansuin,  Judith,  669 

Manii,  Kli.is,  5(i0,  1,8;  Joseph,  199,  815,  364, 
385;  Mary,  212;  Samuel,  212,  424 

Mannard,  Sophia,  263 

Manning,  Ben.,  31S;  John,  09;  Sarah,  172 

Manninghain,  Mary,  69 

Manverto,  John,  237 

Mapes,  Rebecca,  Thomas,  106 

Mnrsh,  Christopher,  412  ;  Daniel,  321,  571 ; 
Elias,  677  :  Ejihraim,  321,  410,  2,  423,  5S0,  3, 
Ephraim,  Jr.,  474,503;  Isaac,  505;  Jonathan, 
5S0;  Joseph,  305,  476;  Joseph,  Jr.,  800; 
Joshu.a,  312,  3;  Mordecai,  627;  Noah,  509, 
5:t2;  Robert,  247;  Samuel,  57,  76,  81,  7, 101, 
4,  138,  142,  159,  100,  170,  183;  Samuel,  Jr., 
fi7.  SI,  98,  159,  160,  173,  183,  270,  320,  1 ;  Mr., 
415 

Marshall,  George,  476 

Martin,  Henry,"  243,  264  ;  James,  264  ;  John, 
109,  164,  264 

Mary,  Queen,  236,  8 

Mason,  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.,  670 

Masters,  Thomas,  233 

Mather,  Rev.  Cotton,  201,294;  Rev.  Dr.  In- 
crease, 206,  29S 

Mathew,  Edward,  487;  Lieut.,  490,  3,  5,  9,  530, 
1, - 

Mathies,  Catharine,  202;  John,  262  ;  Samuel,  2S 

Mattano,  80, 1,  7 

Matthews,  Siimuel,  264 

Mattocks.  Grace,  264 ;  John,  265  ;  Lewis,  205  ; 
Richard,  243,  264;  Wm.,  205 

Maverick,  Rebecca,  538;  Samuel,  2S,  111,  128, 
9, 130,  538 

Maxfleld,  John.  269  :  "Wm.,  571 

Maxwell,  Abigail,  654;  John,  580;  Wra.,  458, 
4,  5,  8,  9,  46S-474,  7,  4S7,  9,  494,  7,  652 

Mayhew,  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan,  543 

Mayo,  Maria,  661 ;  Mr.,  4.S0 

Mead,  Rev.  Alex.  H.,  621 

Meeker,  Ben.,  79,  81,  2.  95,8,  100.  122,  142,1.59, 
100,  4,  5,  8,  18.3,  243,  4,  8,  2S4,  7,  806,  532 ; 
Daniel,  812;  David.  400,  490,  674;  Gabriel, 
424 ;  John,  243,  S,  284,  812,  580,  3 ;  Joseph,  57, 
81,  2,  t'S,  100,  122, 138, 1.59,  160,  4,  6,  188,  223, 
243,  7,  284,  7  ;  Joseph,  Jr.,  423.  6 ;  Mary,  674  ; 
Matthias,  557;  Obadiah,  525,  556,  7;  Samuel, 
3S5,  :i9(t;  "\Vm„  67,  81,  186,  8,  9,  142,  3,  4,  0, 
150,  1,  159,  100,  5, 171,  6,  182,  186,  424 

Meigs  Josiah,  596 

Melyen,  Abigail,  84,  293;  Comelis,  62.  3  :  Dan- 


iel, 84,  293  ;  Hannah,  S8,  94;  Isaac,  83 :  Jacob, 
56,  7,  72,  9,  62,  3,  93-6,  101,  126,  7,  157,9, 170, 
4i  182,  6,  29:!,  827  :  ,Ianneken,  82;  Joanna,  84, 
2'JO,  327,  8;  Magd.'dena,  Marian,  S:i;  Kev, 
Samuel,  84,  293,"  5,  6,  7,  801,  6,  320,  7;  Su- 
sanna. S.3,  4,  293 

Mercer,  Hugh,  436-9, 141,  8 

Merchant,  Geort'e.  398 

.Merrick,  Rev.  John,  020,  3 

Merritt,  Rev.  Timothy,  620 

Micheau,  Maria,  Paul,  561 

Michell,  F.llen,  137;  Richard,  58,  104,  137,  8, 
142,  3, 103.  9, 181,  3,  6;  Simon,  187 

Milburn,  Mary,  540;  Robert.  388,  540 

Miles,  Eiizth.,  265;  John,  90,  243,  S,  265,  7,284, 
7;  John,  Jr.,  265;  Joseph,  61S  ;  Leonard,  265, 
319 ;  Martha,  267 ;  Mary,  Sarah,  205  "^ 

Miller,  A.iron,  386,  400;  Rev.  Alex.,  642;  An- 
drew, 200 ;  Rev.  Ben.,  585;  David,  412,  5U9  : 
Rev.  Dr.  D.  Henry  Miller,  683  :  Eiizth.,  353 ; 
Hannah,  200;  Joanna,  585;  John,  206,424, 
5S0,  8  ;  Rev.  John,  296;  John,  Jr.,  424  ;  Jon- 
athan, 266,  353;  Moses,  571;  Richard,  312, 
424,  469;  Samuel,  260,  285,  312,  8,7;  Rev. 
Dr.  Samuel,  858,  898,  606;  Sarah,  266,353; 
Wm.,  243,  4,  7.  266,  2S4,  318,  839,  871, 5S0 

Mills,  Rev.  Dr.  Henry,  560;  Isaac,  476;  Joseph, 
5S0  ;  Thaddcus,  6.53 ;  Rev.  Wm.,  620 

Mitchell,  Jacob,  244,  8,  260,306:  Jaine3,169; 
Mary,  169,  266  ;  Matthew,  266;  Mr.,  561 

Mittens,  John,  58 

Monmouth,  Duke  of,  233 

Montague,  James,  545 

Montgomery,  Richard,  COO 

Moori,  R.  Rev.  Ben.,  548,  .'550,  617,  679  ;  Dan- 
iel, 469, 654  ;  Frances,  172 ;  James,  409  ;  John, 
85;  R.  Rev.  John,  549;  Rev.  Richard,  550  ; 
R.  Rev.  Richard  C,  'Rev.  Richard  C,  Jr., 
681  ;  Samuel,  9S,  127,  143,  148,  9.  103,  173,  0, 
181,  2  ;,Thonias,  57,  8,  08,  70,  81, 4,  5,  S,  94,  9, 
160,  172,  3,  183,  248,  285  ;  Rov.  Thorowgood, 
300 

Morehead,  Miss,  409 

Morehouse,  David,  806;  Deacon,  571 ;  Samuel, 
424,  481 :  Stephen,  524 

Morgan,  Daniel,  460 ;  Rev.  Joseph,  328,  330,  1 ; 
Mr.,  530,  1,  2 

Morrell,  Abraham,  .579;  Catharine,  Eiizth.  B., 
Eunice,  Eunice  T..  Rev.  Franci.s  A.,  626; 
Jonathan,  619,  022;  Jo.seph,  Lydia,  Mary, 
Samuel,  626 ;  Sarah,  579  ;  Thomas,  622 ; 
Rev.  Thomas,  423,  525,  620,  622-6  ;  Mrs.,  619, 
620,  6 

Morris,  Dennis,  244,  273 ;  George.  58,  76, 82,  98, 
106,  159.  165,  6,  183  ;  John,  307,  812,  386  ; 
Lewis,  288,  300,  3,  320,  349,  871,  7;  Robert, 
413:  Robert  H,,  820,367,  8;  Thomas,  165 

Morrison,  James,  481' 

Morse,  Amos,  505,  542,  557  ;  Anthony,  663  ; 
Isaac,  561,2,627,659,  676;  John,  469;  Jo- 
seph, 200,  812,  7;  Joseph,  Jr.,  317,  8. 338, 865, 
8'*5 :  Lydia,  278  ;  Mary,  252,  266 ;  Peter,  57, 
8.  OS,  85,  6,  7,  96, 146,  1.59, 163,  7. 171, 183,248, 
317  ;  Robert.  57,  8,  S5,  6,  !i6.  7,  101,  5,  139, 
140,  159,  171,  183,  243, 252,  3,  273,  284 

Movland,  Capt..  500 

Mui'lie,  David,  226 

Mulford.  Ben.,  635;  Isaac  S.,  112,141;  John, 
481 ;  Jonathan,  .571 ;  Lewis,  586,  593,  635 ; 
Mahlon.  67S;  Mr..  95 

Mulliner,  Thomas,  269 

MuM.ig.il,  Henry  M.,  423 

Mundy,  Nicholas,  146 

Murdock,  Patrick,  559 

jMure,  Son,  it  Atkinson,  423 

Murrav.  Beulah,  530;  Eliza  J.,  671 ;  John,  414, 
5  ;  Joseph,  309,  372;  Judith,  669  ;  Mary, 630; 


INDEX. 


697 


Nicholas,  CC9  ;   Uev.  Dr.  Nicholas,  112,  295, 
523, 069,-674  ;  Robert,  414,  5Si> 
Myndersen,  Jan,  63 


Nealson,  Cspt.,  388 

Neau,  Elias,  267,  300 

Neill,  Capt..  436;  Col.,  554 

Neilson,  Col.,  475 

Neu,  Eev.  Christian,  684 

Nevill,  Mr.,  370 

Newman,  Francis,  83 

Newton,  Bryan.  23;  Rev.  Mr.,  201 

Nicholls,  Cant.,  214;  Jonathan,  424 

Nicholson,  Francis,  235 

Nicoll,  'Wm.,  242,  4,  267 ;  Matthias,  242 

Nicolls,  Richard,  28,  9,  32,  3,  6,  7,  8,  40,  3,  4,  7, 
50, 1,  2.  7,  63,  109,  116,  7,  8,  121,  5,  8,  9,  ISO,  2, 
149,  153,  219,1220,  8,  23S,  241,  2,  8,  30-J 

Nesbitt,  Mungo,  Sarah,  283 

Noble,  Rev.  liird^ye  G.,  680 

Noe,  John,  2G7,  284 ;  Mary,  267 ;  Peter,  243, 
267 

Noell,  Garret,  445,  553;  Mrs.,  532,  4 

Norreys,  Lord,  210 

Norris,  Rev.  Edward  D.,  165;  Henry,  5S,  66, 81, 
2,  6,  9S,  159.  160,  4,  5,  6,  173,  182,  240,  3, 
7,  267,  272,  284,  309 ;  James,  456  :  John  D., 
676;  Samnel,  ;U8,  557;  Samuel,  Jr.,518 

North,  Elizth.,  276 

Norton,  Nathaniel,  58,  86 

Nott,  Eev.  Samuel,  679 

Nugent,  Mens.,  561 

Nutman,  Hannah,  352  ;  Isaac,  Joanna.  Jolin, 
381;  Eev.  John,  353;  Phebe,  Sarah,  331 


Odell,  Elizth.,  Eunice,  Joanna,  Jonathan,  Tem- 
perance, 353  • 

Odle,  John,  821 

Ogden,  Aaron,  325,  394,  407,  417,  445,  462,  3, 
472,  3,  7,  497,  500,  521,  4,  5,  556,  8,  58S ;  Abra- 
ham, 426;  Anna,  394;  Barney,  423;  Bon.,  65, 
159,  160,  241.  4,  8,  277,  284,  6,  7,  306,  676; 
Brisr.  Maj..  474;  Daniel,  162;  David.  57,  8,  6.5, 

6,  74,  80,  95,  159,  170,  183,  546;  David,  Jr., 
366,  445,  515,  522,  3,  7,  593;  Francis  B., 
George  M.,  55S;  Hannah,  445,  51.5,  55^  626; 
Isaac,  253,  411.  470;  Jane,  64;  Jane  C,  553; 
John,  32,  7,  S,  50,  56-9,  61,  3,  5,  9,  72,  4,  5,  89, 
•102-5,  110,  2,  5,  8,  120,  3,  6,  6,  8,  143,  6,  152, 

157-100,  4,  7,  174,  6,  184, 191,  6,  9,  234,  271, 
284,  2S6,  324,  331,  7,  407,  515;  John,  Jr.,  .57, 

5,  65,  6,  76,  89,  100,  138.  9,  142,  159,  161,  6, 
183,  243,  277,  318,  336;  John.  3d,  515,  543; 
Judge  John,  546;  John  C,  521  ;  Jonathan, 
57,  S,  65,  6.  76,  100,  6,  122,  159,  166,  183,  244, 

7,  8,  277,  284,  312,  331,  519  570;   Joseph,  65, 

6,  89,  91,  122,  1.59,  160, 184,  253,  255,  336;  Dr. 
Joseph,  645;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  M.,  C71.  3; 
Josiah,  .319;  Lawyer,  571,  8;  Lewi.»,  428; 
Mary,  417;  Matthias,  325,  394,  407,  417,  445, 
462,  8,  472,  3,  7,  497,  500,  .'521, 4,  5,  .-iSR,  8, 588; 
Moses,  381,  390,  417,  426,  494,  515,  7,  525,  610; 
Nancy,  417,  46S  ;  Peter  V.,  658 ;  Phebe,  444 ; 
Ehoda,  417 ;  Robert,  6a,  812,  321,  5,331,  6, 7, 
407 ;  Hon.  Robert,  304,  880,  3,  4,  S,  390, 1.  4, 
400,  7,  8,  412,  7,  421,  5,  6,  8,  444,  5,  402,  517, 
523,  4,  553,  055  ;  Robert  Jr.,  445,  519,524, 570, 
538  ;  Samuel,  806,  424,  026;  Samuel,  Jr.,  445, 
Uzal,  546;  Eev.  Dr.Uzal,  546,  550,  6,  594 

Ogilvio,  Rev.  George,  650 
()  Hara,  Gen.,  Helen,  041 
Oliver,  David,  81,  7,  l.W,  160,  188;  David,  2d, 

.509 ;  Ichabod,  476 ;  John,  86 ;  Jonathan,  469 ; 

Margery,  629;  Samuel,  244,  2S4,  469,  629; 

Samuel,  Jr.,  306 ;  Thomas,  86  ;  Wm  ,  57,  8, 


86,  93,  6,  104,  136,  159,  160,  183,  234,  505; 

Wm.,  Jr.,  505 
Opdyke,  Oisbert,  64  ;  Rev.  Sylvester  H.,  621 
Orr,  Eev.  Robert,  829,  830 
Osborn,  Isaac,  312;  Jeremiah,  37,  67,  87,100, 

247,  255,  208,  284  ;  John.  87,  812,  308,  571 ; 

Joseph,  57,   8,  81,  2,  7,   95,   100,  122,  159; 

Richard,   87  ;  Stephen,  58,  85,  122,  186,  146, 

159,   100,   8,   188,   228,  243,  4,  7,  277,  284  ; 

Thomas,  87,  95  ;  Thomas,  2d,  573 

Pack.  Elizth,  278;  George,  57,  8,  63,  72,  88,  94, 

5,  7,  102,  8,  137,  8,  143.  159,   100,  2,  8,8, 172. 
183,  248,  253,  273,  284 ;  Samuel,  75 

Painter,  Richard,  57,  8,  72,  83,  9,  lOO,  S,  182, 

256 
Pardee,  George,  Martha,  207 
Pardon,  Anna,   174, 184  ;  Wm.,  58,  74,  82,  5,  6, 

9.5,  7,  S,  125, 132,  6,  8,  9.   142-151, 168,  9,  170, 

6,  181,2,4,0,  198,218,253 
Parent,  John,  207  ;  AVm.,  267,  285 
Park,  James,  376 

Parker,  J5en.,  173  ;  Hyde,  420  :  James,  370,  1  ; 
John,  57,  89,105,  160.  173,  lh2, 196,  243,  284  ; 
Sir  Peter,  442  :  R.  Eev.  Samuel,  Eev.  Ste- 
vens, 6S3 

Parkhurst,  Ben.,  57,  66,  76,  93, 110,  159, 164,  .^ 
6,  173,  182,  204,  217, 8, 220,  306  ;  George,  100 ; 
Martha,  79 

Parrish,  Rev.  Daniel,  021 

Parrott,  Wm.,  571 

Parsel,  Price,  423  ;  Swain,  509 

Parsons,  Elihu,  424  ;  Wm.,  412,  571 

Partridge,  Mary,  Wm..  377 

Patterson,  Andrew,  431  ;  Eev.  James  B.,  676  : 
John,  555;  Wm.,  68  ;  Gen.,  501 

Paulet,  Rachel,  45 

Payne,  Mary,  Thomas,  74 

Peabody,  Annie,  John,  172 

Peach,  iSon.,  Elizth.,  Jane,  605 

Pearce,  John,  241,  262,  7,  8,  9 

Peck,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  57,  88,  100,  110,  166,  8, 
17],  183,  4,  201—5,  276,  281,  306;  Samuel, 
202,  5  ;  Wm.,  201 

Pemberton,  Rev.  Dr.  Ebenezer,  346, 9,  351, 519 
Ebenezer,  Jr.,  519,  520  ' 

Pendleton,  13ryan,  Mary,  205 

Penn,  John,  Richard,  Thomas,  812  ,  Wm.,  209 
211,  6,  8,  237,  315 

Ponnekek,  39 

Pennington,  Judge,  650,' 

Peppard,  Eev.  FrancLs,'577 

Pepys,  Sam.,  52' 

Periain,  Elizth.,' 521 ;  Joseph,  520, 1,  5,  553  ;  Jo- 
soph,  521 

Perrin,  Daniel,  58,  117 

Perth,  Earl  of,  2U 

Peters,  Hugh,  165 

Peterson,  Moses,  57, 103 

Pcttit,  lien..  878,  557,  571 

I'eutinger,  Richard,  53,  98,  251 

Piorce,''Daniel,  113,  9 

Pierson,  Rev.  Abraham,  121,  1.52,201,8,  4.  7,  9, 
263,  280, 329;  Rev.  Abraham,  Jr.,  231, 827,  .830 ; 
Ben.,  207, 8,  2t;3,  2S4,  7  :  Daniel,  David,  680  ; 
Henry,  207,  S,  9,  209  ;  Isaac.  632  ;  John,  812, 
571,  3,  C35  ;  Rev.  John,  329,  880,  1,  C,  341,  9, 
851  ;  JoDathiin,  424,  525 ;  Joseph,  207  ;  Mary, 
207,  8,  2.'>3,26S  ;  Ruth,  886;  Sarah,  Theodore. 
207;  Theophilus,  3o7  ;  Wm.,  680,  8 

Pike,  John,  118,  142,  4 

Pile,  Rev.  Simeon,  020 

I'iliiioor,  Rev.  Joseph,  616 

Pinhorne,  William,  237,  305 

I'ipon,  Ella?,  James,  Philip,  165 

Plowman,  Mr.,  283   . 


698 


INDEX. 


Plum,  Ellzth.,  Martha,  Mary,  353 

Pollock,  Eunice,  Thomas,  417 

Pool,  Win.,  8S7 

Pope,  John,  5S,  89,  90,  159,  1S3,  4.  243,  284  ; 
Mary,  S9  ;  Thomas,  57,  S9,  160.  7,  173,  19C 

Potter,  Amos,  567  ;  Capt.,  429  :  Daniel,  312,  9, 
3-'2, 8S5,  571  ;  Hannah,  26S  ;  John,  268,  287, 
517,623;  Noadiah,  312,  321,  557  ;  Samuel, 
263,  806, 310,  2,  412,  557 

Poulain,  Susannah,  58, 168 

Powell,  Catharine,  Elizabeth,  171 ;  Richard,  108, 
ICS,  171  ;  Koilerick,  5G,  IDS,  171 

Pownall,  John,  544  ;  Thomas,  8S4 

Preston,  Charles,  409 

Price,  Abraham,  4sl  ;  Ben.,  57,  70,  90, 1,  2,  8, 
122,  160,  4,  183,  5,  217,  8,  229,  284,  266,  284, 
.306  ;  Ben.,  Jr.,  5-^,  91,  100,  122,  183.  240,  8, 
284,  800  ;  Ben.,  8d,  823  ;  Daniel.  90,  240. 4,  S, 
253,  284,  804,  6,  522,  4  ;  David,  GIO  ;  Ebene- 
zer  523  ;  Edward,  4:11,  483,  610  ;  Elihn,  674 ; 
Ephraim,  91, 136, 159.  ICO,  241, 4,  284, 312, 336 ; 
Farrinston,  424 ;  John,  284  ;  Jonathan,  522,  3, 
593  ;  Mary,  172  ;  Nathaniel,  821 ;  Oliver,  430 ; 
Ralph,  481  ;  Tenrub,  481,  610  ;  Thomas,  71, 
91,  100,  159,  160,  248,  2S4,  296,  306,  312,  3, 
820, 1,  335,  610 

Pricegaer,  Andrise,  105,  269 

Prime,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  895 ;  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel 
S.,  636  ;  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Ircnaius,  674 

Prince,  Rev.  Thomas,  344 

Prior,  Andrew,  571 

Prou,  Ellen,  5>,  137 

Provost,  R.  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel,  550,  616 

Prudden,  Rev.  John,  25l,  297,  330 

Pruket,  E.,  481 

I'umroy,  Rev.  Samuel,  330 

Pyles,  Wm.,  51,  7,  68,  73,  5,  85,  7,  9,  136, 159, 
166, 183,  270 

Pyne,  Rev.  Smith,  680 


Quigley,  Thomas,  423,  512 


Radcliflfe,  John,  279 

Radley,  John,  269,  2i4,  321 ;  John,  Jr.,  269, 

380,3 
Raijan,  Rev.  John,  620 
Rahl,  Col.,  454 
Ramsey,  David,  570 
Ramsden,  Wm.,  424 
Ramseur,  Wm.,  525 
Randel,  Capt.,  467,  509 
Randolph,  Sec,  285 
Rankin,  Rev.  John  C,   673 
Ratliffe,  Elizth.,  John,  Wm.,  269 
R.Hulins,  Nathaniel,  269 
Raybold,  Rev.  Geo.  A.,  621 
Pvayniond,  Joshua,  338  ;  Mary,  588 
Kayner,  Rev.  Menzics,  550,  6l5,  6,  7,  620 
Reading,  John,  3S4 
Redford,  Andrew,  262,  9  ;  Hannah,  262  ;  John, 

269  ;  Wm.,  20^,  9 
Reed,  Rev.  Israel,  850  ;  Joseph,  435,  470,  Mr., 

507 
Reove,  Abner,  619  ;  Tapping,  417,  519,  520 
Reid,  John,  99,  .307 
Reinhart,  Rev.  Edwin  H.,  677 
Remington,  Jonathan,  294 
Rondort,  Henry,  4il 
Rensselaer,  John,  287 
Rencastle,  Lieut.,  474 
Reynolds,  Broughton,  553 
Khces  Kev.  Morf;an  Jr.,  671 
Richards,  Rev.Anron,  .">40,  630,1,.2,  613;  Aaron, 

Jr.,  680  ;  Al.xander,  BeUsey,   631  ;  Rev.   Dr. 

James,  646  ;  Jane,  John,  Lydia,  630  ;  Mary, 


631 ;  Moses,  680  ;  SiimucI  V.,  681 ;  Susannah, 
630, 1  ;  Thomas,  630  ;  Wm.,  631 

Richardson,  Wm.,  2ti!),  284 

Ricketts,  Jamrs,  562  ;  Miss,  471 ;  Col.  Wm., 
3.J8,  874,  6,  539 

Riags,  Joseph,  411 

Riker,  James,  264 

Rivington,  James,  401,  414,  464,  8,  479,  430,  1, 
4,  510,  530 

Roberts,  Rev.  George,  616  ;  Hambleton,  506  ; 
Hugh,  70  ;  Mary,  70  ;  Rev.  Wm.  C,  676,  8 

Robertson,  Gov.,  4*6,491  ;lRobert  S.,  586 ;  Wm., 
on 

Robins,  Lewis,  .005,  9 

Robinson,  .Tames,  2S7  ;  Jeremiah,  677  ;  John, 
312,  3,   5^0  ;  Rev.  John,  76  ;  Wm.,  74,  270,  3 

Rodman,  Robert,  376 

Rodgers,  Rev.  Dr.  John,  595,  7,  606,  643 ;  Rev. 
Dr.  Ravaud  K.,  673 

Roo,  Rev.  Dr.  Azel,  577,  597,  607,  632,  3,  643 ; 
Jano  E.,  Sylvester,  644 

Roebly,  John,  481 

Rogers,  Anna,  270 ;  Rev.  James  O.,  621 ;  Na- 
thaniel, 36S;  Robert,  270;  Rev.  T.  S.,  683; 
Capt.  — ,  422 

Rolfe,  Samuel,  573 

Roll.  John,  571 

Ronyon,  John,  424  ;  Martha,  172  ;  Vincent,  68, 
138,  143,  168,  172 

Ropes,  Jonathan  M..  677 

Rosier,  Abraham,  481 

Ross,  Andrew,  653  ;  Constance,  167,  334  ;  Dan- 
iel, 2^4,  7,  .530;  Daniel,  Jr.,  312:  David,  423, 
532,  557;  Ezekiel,  5s3  ;  George,  5S,  73,  9.  J3, 
102,  4,  136,  159,  168,  7,  183,  218,  220,  24-3,  271, 
3,  234,  ,384;  George,  Jr.,  248,  285,  312,321, 
S^vl,  412,  542,  560,  2 ;  Gideon,  258  ;  John,  248, 
284,  312, 320,  1,  4,  5,  373,  381,  4,  410,  5s0, 627 ; 
Maj.  Jolyi,  525,  557 ;  Mary,  381,  399 ;  Samuel, 
571,3 

Rouse,  Alice,  1 70, 2, 270 ;  Mary,  172. 270 ;  Simon, 
58,  79,  81.98,  104, 159,  169, 171,  182 

Rowland,  Dr.,  5S  ;  Michael,  431 

Rudd,  Rev.  Dr.  John  C,  861,  544,  659,  678.  9, 
680:  Jonathan,  Mary,  Phebe  E.,  Samuel,  679 

Rndvar  I,  Anne,  Beu..  John,  Margaret,  211  : 
Thomas.  90,  8,  211. 3. 215-9,  221,9, 281, 270,  283 

Ru-gles,  Timothy,  407 

Rush,  Jacob,  570 

Russell,  Wm.,  271 

Rutan,  Peter,  571  • 

Ryno,John,  812;  Mr.,  532 

Ryon,  John,  481 


St.  Aivre,  Mons.,  561 

St.  Clair,  Arthur,  433 

St.  John,  Rev.  Oliver  S.,  677 

Sale,  Daniel,  271 ;  Edward,  271,  813;  Ephraim, 
271 ;  Obadiah,  244,  7,  270,  1,  284 

Salisbury,  Evan,  57,  8,  73,  91, 2,  109,  168,  9,  183 

Salnave.  Na;icy,  431 

Salter,  Mr.,  504 

Sanderson  Edward,  676 

Sandford,  Wm.,  13.%  163 

Sanfor.l,  Elijah,  C-.0 

Sargent,  Rev.  Thomas  B.,  621 

Sayro,  Daniel,  243, 285 ;  Edward,  883;  Ephraim, 
571;  Ezekiel,  312;  Francis,  285;  Hannah, 
515;  Isaac,  571 ;  James,  800;  Job,  168;  Jona- 
than, 287;  Joseph,  -OS.  82,  S,  92,  .%  8,  122, 159, 
161,  7,  S,  183,  243.  265, 234,  516 ;  Thomas,  168, 
259,285;  Samuel,  243,  285 

Schellinger,  Jacob,  83 

Schuyler,  Peter,  212,  313,  824,  890;  Philip,  488 

Scot,  George,  22.") 

Scott,  Alexander,    271;   Capt.,  460;   Hannah, 


INDEX. 


699 


354 :  John,  271 ;  Capt.  John,  47,  69 ;  John 
M.,  394,  576;  Moses,  354;  WinfioUl,  CCl 
Scndder,  Ephraim,  532,  580,  3;    Isaac,    4S1 ; 
John,  306,  81S,  821,  557,  5S0  ;    Mig.,  John, 
531,2;  Richard.  571 
Seabury,  E.  Eev.  Sam.,  638,  54^  570 
Sealey,  Bamnel,  424;  Capt.,  452 
Searing,  Samuel,  312  ;  Simon,  312 
Sears,  Isaac.  415,  6 
Sedgwick,  Theodore,  370,  55S,  641 
Seeley,  Jolin  Nathaniel,  Obudiali,  110;  Eobert, 

51,7,108,9,  133,  166,  190,204 
Seggin,  Charles,  5S 
Selleck,  David,  237 

Sergeant,  Abigail,  352;  Elihu  S.,  353;  Hannah, 
352,   3;    John,   353,  398;  Hon.  John,   398; 
Jonathan,    352,   8;  Jonathan  P.,  352,   393; 
Margaret,  353  ;  Sarah,  853,  398 ;  Thomas,  358, 
398 
Servaes,  Tys?,  159 
Settin,  josiah,  41 
Sewak,  Herones,  31,7 
Sewall,  Kev.  Joseph,  844  ;  Samuel,  84 
Sewanam,  107 
Seward,  Kev.  John,  620 
Seymour,  Henry,  67s 
Shaekmaple,  Mr.,  -290;  Mrs.  374,  290,  361 
Shaftesbury,  Earl  of,  140 
Sharpley,  Rev.  John,  620 
Shay,  James,  481 
Sheddan,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  S.,  073 
Shophard,  Eev.  Samuel,  297;  Eev.  Thomas,  SO 
Sherlock,  E.  Rev.  Thonio.',  540 
Shotwell,  Abrahiim,  56,  S,  83,  92,  8,  109,  160, 
183;  Daniel,  93;  John,  93,  312;  Joseph,  814; 
Samuel,  412 
Shreve,  Col.,  493 
Shuldham,  Adml.,  435 
Shute,  Barnaby,  392  ;  Wm.,  525,  657»  562   . 
Simcoe.  Col.,  483 
Simonson,  Simon.  424;  Mr.,  159 
Simpkiii,  Daniel,  93  ;  John,  93,  4, 184 ;  Michael, 

56,  98,  4,  159,  196;  Nicholas,  Vincent,  93 
Simpson,  Alexander,  573  ;  John,  571 
Sinclair,  Sir  John,  409 
Sinsletary,  John,  15>,  9 

Skiilman,  Thomas,  56.  108  ^^    ^ 

Skinner,  Cortlandt,  402,  4,  5,  T.  471,  4,  431,  4, 
501,3;  K.  Rev.  John,  549;  Richard,  58.  88, 
l.i9,  168,  250;  Susannah,  163;  Rev.  Wm., 
301;  'Wright,  318 
Slarret,  Albert,  4^1 
Sloane,  John.  476 
Slough,  Col.,  446 
Sloughter,  Henrv.  239,  242 
Sluyter,  Peter,  155,  187 
Smallwood,  Wm.,  402 
Suiedes,  Jan,  63 

Smith,  Blanche,  682 ;  Rev.  Caleb,  849.  850,  3, 
630,  9:  Elias  P.,  250;  Ellzth.,  195,  853; 
Ezekiel,  654;  Hannah,  584;  Jane,  853; 
James  R.,  534;  Jecamiah,  480;  Jeremiah, 
412,  426,  439,  459  ;  Martha,  853 ;  Moses,  560 ; 
Nancy,  853;  Natlianiel,  672;  Peter,  631; 
Richard,  195,  271,  377,  411  ;  Robert,  --9,  245, 
271,  284;  Samuel,  112,  387,  414,  423,  469,  477, 
562;  Rev.  Samuel.  607,  644,  5;  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  S.,  617;  Sarah,  76,  271,  399;  .''u- 
sanna,  631 ;  Wm.,  899  ;  Wm.,  Jr.,  370,  894, 
676,  592,630;  Rev.  Wm.,  620;  W.  Belcher  P., 
480,  1,  592 ;  Wni.  Peartree,  389.  390, 410,  1,  2, 
8,  430,  4,  51.5,  9,  520,  4,  538,  553,  5^3,  630.; 
Wm.  W.,  610;  Rev.—  ,283 
Snell,  Capt.,  158,  174 

Snodgrass,  Rev.—  ,  Kov.  Dr.  Wm.  D.,  696 
Soper,  Jacob,  88 
Soamans,  Peter,  805 


Southard,  Samuel  L.,  050 
Southwell,  Wm.,  557 
Spalding,  Miss,  532 

Spencer,  Anna,  394  ;  Eev.  Dr.  Elihu,  398-S  ; 
Klizth.,  39S ;  Isaac,  Jarcd,  Jernsha,  o94  ; 
Joanna,  396,  7 ;  John,  898 ;  Joseph,  894 ; 
Lvdia,  898 ;  Margaret,  858.  89s ;  Martha. 
Mary,  394  ;  Oliver,  394,  412,  428,  6,  452,  5,  523 
4,  5  ;  Robert,  424  ;  Samuel,  394  ;  Sarah,  Va- 
le'ria,  398  „    ,,_  „ 

Spinning.  Abigail,  S3,  294  ;  Ben.,   306,   517,  9, 
520  2  ;  Daniel,  294  ;  Ebenezer,  284;  Humph- 
rey, 57,  79,  83,  4,  5,  94,  6, 101, 159, 167,  183,  4, 
294  ;  John,  6S0 
Spraggs,  Mary,  615  ;  Eev.  Samuel,  546,  650,  562, 

614,' 5 
Sprague,  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  B.,  673 
Spring,  Eev.  Dr.   Gardiner,  670  ;  Eev.  Dr.  Sa- 
muel, 521 
Sproat,  Rev.  Dr.  James,  532,  630 
Squier,  Ben.,  5^0 

Stair,  Karl  of  370,  1  „     ,    .  , 

Stanbrough,  Adniah,  272;   Isaac,  409;  Josiah, 

89  243,  272 ;  Recompense,  412  ;  Sarah,  272 
Stark,  John,  497,  8,  9 
Stenrns,  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  F.,  112 
Steele,  Eev.  John  B.,  670;  Wm..  502^ 
Steenwyck,  Corneliup,  66, 141,  277,  230 
Slovens,  Eev.  Dr.  Abel,  616;  Eev.  Joseph,  620 
Stevenson,  James,  560 
Steward,  Capt,  480 

Stewart,  David,  424 ;  Jane,  571 ;  Neal,  431 
Stibbin,  Elizth.,  376 
Stiles,  Rev.  Dr.  Ezra,  394,  576 
Stitos,  Elijah,  580;  John,  364,  320,  5,  418;  John, 

jr.,  469,476;  Wm.,  507 
Stockton,  Hannah,  5S8;  Job,  Mary.  445:  Rich- 
ard, 850,   898,  5Ss ;  Richard  V.,  462 
Storms.  Rev.  Wm.,  020 
Stout,  Timothy  B.,  423 
Stow,  Rev.  Samuel,  Thomas.  205 
Strahern,  Wm.,  244,  7,  272,284,  306,  312 
Stratton,  Eev.  Thomas,  020 
.street.  Eev.  Nicholas,  201,  231 ;  Rev.  Nicholas, 

2.1,  003 
Strickland,  John,  23,  23.  60,  89 ;  Thwait.  59 
Strong  Rev.  Job,  395;  Eov.  Nathan,  629 
Stubbs,  Mrs.,  435 
Stirling  Gon.,  471-4,    484,  7,  8.  494,  9  ;  Lord, 

316.  309,  420-9,  460,  9,  478,  9,  494 
Sturrldge,  Samuel,  101.  272  ;  Wm.,  572 
Stuyvesant,  Margaret.  250,  1  ;    Peter,  23-0,  39, 

S3,  119,213,250 
SuUiVMn,  John,  459,  402,  3,  451,  592,   054,  063 
Sutphen,  Mary,  571 
Sutten,  Ambrose,  41 
Swain,  Mr.,  143,  4 

Swainc,  Joshua,  257  ;  Matthias,  839 
Swan,  Jedidiah,  412,  .557 
Swift,  Zephaniah,  590 
Swinton,  Isaac,  213 
Sybrantx,  Alice,  103 
Syiiies,  Martha,  213 

Symnics,  Eunice   569  :  John  Cleves,  452,   532, 
669,   063;  Enth,  508;    Eev.  Timothy,  640, 
5GS,  9,  574,  5,  637  ;  Wm.,  Eev.  Zachary,  66S 
Symons,  Hester,  162 


Talbot.  Rev.  John,  289,  SOO,  355 
Taney,  Rocpr,  672 
TapiK'U,  Asher.  467 
'I'nppiiig.  Abraham,  US;  Joseph,  237 
Tiipray,  Madame,  561 
Tntham,  John,  289 

Taylor,  Edward,  257;    John,  5>;  Col.    John, 
500;  Rev.  John,  643;  Eev.  Joseph,  282 


700 


INDEX, 


'I'eale,  Ellztli.,  379 

Templar,  Col.,  4o9 

Tcnnent,  Ittv.  Gilbert,  339,  844,  S7S,  5S5 ;  Kev. 
Wm..  844,  51)0 

Terrct,  Peter,  507 

Terrill,  Ephroim,  312,  8S5,  6,  410,  2 ;  John,  312. 
S,  821 ;  Joslab,  312,  878 :  Roger, 272 ;  Thoraw, 
272,  2S5  ;  Mr.,  505 

Terry,  Thomas,  580 

Tenuiicn,  Dirck,  159, 174 

Tew,  Richard,  278.   See  Toe. 

Thacher,  Dr.  James,  491, 2 

Thane,  Rev.  Daniel,  850,  540,  569,  039,  640 

Thehvell,  John,  287 

Thomas,  David,  273,  505 ;  Edmund,  423,  525  ; 
Edward,  21-J,  273,  824,  412,  42:3-7,  443,  542, 
557, 562,  3,  654 ;  Elias,  278 ;  Esther,  Fiftie,  273 ; 
John,  247, 273,  428,  Margaret,  278;  Mary, 
540;  Rev.  Samuel,  620 

Thompson,  Aaron,  72,  93,  5,  7,  9,  101,  159,  160, 
lb3,4,  284,  >,571,  G45;  Ben.,  491 ;  Hannah, 
C45;  Henrietta,  646;  llur,  58,  70,  81,  2.95, 
122,  133,  142,  6,  159, 100,  4,  8, 173, 188,  4,  255; 
Jacob,  045 ;  John,  244.  3,  284,  5,  306,  812 ;  Jo- 
seph, 645;  Lieut.,  499;  Mary,  78,  2S4,  5; 
Moses.  57,  8,  82,  8,  95,  122,  l.W,  183,  243,  2S4, 
312,  491;  Stephen,  645;  Rev.  Stephen  O., 
633,  045,  6,  071 ;  Thomas,  57,  8,  94,  5.  122, 
146, 159,  100, 176, 183, 196, 248, 2S4, 645 ;  Wm., 
429 

Thorell,  Maria,  58.117 

Thorpe,  Elizth.,  171;  George,  244,  273,  284; 
Thomas,  171,  273 

Thwinton,  J.,  272 

Tilley,  Abigail,  297  ;  "Wm.,  S4 

Tiiulal,  Matthew,  335 

Tobin,  Thomas,  886,  890 

Todd,  Christopher,  Grace,  264  ;  Rev.  John,  514 

Toe,  John,  73, 100,  262,  270, 3  ;  Lydia,  Sam., 273 

Toland,  John,  334 

ToUeson,  Rev.  James,  620 

Tompkins,  Daniel  D.,  657 

Tooker,  Jacob.  409  ;  John,  505,  557,  503 ;  Jo- 
seph, 812,  414 

Totten,  John,  572  ;  Rev.  Joseph,  620 

Townley,  Charles,  357,  9,  261 ;  Elizth.,  215  ; 
Francis,  274  ;  James,  821  ;  Joanna,  John, 
274  ;  Mary,  213,  274,  301  ;  Nicholas,  274  ; 
Richard,  674 ;  Col.  Richard,  91,  213,  229,  233, 
7,  9,  240,  274,  5,  285,  9,  290,  6,  S,  303-6,  8, 
324,  350-9  ;  Sarah,  201 

Townsend,  John,  41 

Trail,  John,  423 

Treat,  Frances,  283  ;  John,  807  ;  Joseph,  283  ; 
Rev.  Joseph,  513  ;  Robert,  24, 119, 123,  130, 
6,  142,  8,  4,  25S  ;  Rev.  Sam.,  204,  S44  . 

Trembly,  John,  Mary,  207  ;  Petor,  509 

Trotter,  Ben.,  282,  6,;  Rev.  Isaac,  021  ;  Samuel, 
74, 159,  ls4,  284  ;  Wm.,  67,  8,  85,  6,  95,  100, 
184, 1 96,  253 

Tryas,  Jacob,  159,  174 

Tryon, ,  435,  441,  487 

Tucker,  Charles,  57,  8,  73,86,94,6,104,  187, 
159,  182  ;  Charles,  Jr.,  284,  7  ;  John,  00  ; 
Lewis,  610  ;  Warren,  580 

Tunis,  Nehemiah.  610 ;  Peter,  825 

Turner,  Hannah,  Nathaniel,  101 

Turton,   Rev.  Wm.  H.,  033 

Tiittle,  Daniel,  85  ;  David  P.,  654  ;  John,  00  ; 
Nathaniel,  57.  8,  74,96, 146, 159, 169,  171, 183, 
4.  248,  284  ;  Sarah,  88  ;  Wm.,  96 

Tyler,  Samuel.  657 

Tympany,  Maj.,  459 


Urquehart,  Rev.  Mr.,  856 
Usquehart,  John,  206 


Vail,  John,  865 

Valentine,  Richard,  571 

Vallot,  Claude,  5^,110,  133,  7, 106 

Van   Artsdalen,  Abraham,   570  ;  Alletta,  571  ; 

Cornelius,   Rev.    Dr.   Cornelius  C,  Derick , 

570  ;    Elias,    Elizth.,  571  ;    Hendrick,    570  ; 

Isaac,  570,   1 ;    Rev.  Jacob,  Jacobus,  570  ; 

J.ine,  570, 1  ;    John,  570  ;    Mary,  Petronell.i, 

Philip,  Simon,  Simon  J.,  570 
Van  Beiischotten,  Rev.  Sanford,  621 
Van  Buskirk,  Abraham,  480,  1 
Vance,  Kennedy,  572 
Van  Cortlandt,  Maj.,  237,  8 
Van  Cowenhoven,  Jacob,  102.     See  Wolver- 

siin. 
Van  Curler,  Mr.  121 
Vanderbilt,  Cornelius,  657 
Van  du  Schuyrens,  Mr.,  63 
Van  Doin,  John  L., Susannah,  044 
Van  Dyck,  Jane,  570 
Van  Dyke.  John,  525 
Van  Home,  Rev.  Richard,  621  ;    Kev.  Wm., 

585 
Van  nest.  Rev.  Peter,  620 
Van  Rensselaer,  Kilian,  102  ' 

Van  Tienhoven,  Mr.,  86 
Van  Werckhoven,  Cornells,  20, 1 
Van  Winckle,  Mr.,  567 
Van  Wyck,  Mrs.,  5:)5 
Varlet,  Abraham,  158 ' 
Vauchan,  Rev.  Edward,  257,  SOS,  .310,  329,  3-32 

7.  855-362,  537,  9,  628  ;    Jane,  Rev.  Robert, 

356  ;  Gen.,  — ,  454,  6 
Vauquellin,  Jean,  97  ;    Robert,  43,  8,  57,  8,  71, 

0,  81,  2,  97, 100,  112,  122,  5, 132.  6,  142,  8, 158, 

9, 104,  5,  8.  170-3,  1S2,  4,193,  211,  3,  2S2 
Vergerenu,  Abigail,  Maria,  Peter,  561 
Vicars,  Robert,  213 
Vincent,  Mr.,  74 
Vredenburgh,  Rev.  John  I.,  Sarah,  536 


Wade,  Ben.,  62,  72,  81,  5,  90,  4,  161,  9,170,  2, 
183,  244,  8,  203,  9,  812,  020  ;  Caleb,  491 ;  Cath- 
arine, 026  ;  Henry,  493 ;  John,  312,  491 :  Jon- 
athan, 502;  Rev.  Nathaniel,  323,3;50,  Nehe- 
miah, 520,  2,5;  Robert,  172,  806,  812,491. 
557 

Wakeman,  Rev.  Jabez,  293 

Wales,  Mr.,  561 

Walker,  Nancy,  110  ;  Richard,  580  ;  Capt.,  497  ; 
Rev.  Mr.,  201 

Wallis,  Robert,  58 

Walvin,  Henry,  275,  284 

Wandler,  Andrew,  287 

Wareham,  Mr.,  37 

Warinanco,  31 

Warne,  Stephen,  Thomas,  221 

Warren,  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  F.,  683;  George, 
Grace,  John,  275 

Washington,  George,  418, 420,  8,  430.  1 ,  4,  6,  7, 
8,  441,  2,  445-8,  454,  5,  8,  464,  8, 470, 1,  3,  5, 
7, 481,  8,  7,  8,  9,  490,  6,  8,  500,  2,  6,  526,  530, 4, 
553,  605,  6,  610,  622, 3,  652  ;  Martha,  420 

Waterbury,  Rev.  John  H.,  588 

Waterland,  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel, 844,5 

Watkins,  Ben.,  312  ;  Rev.  Hezekiah,  630 

Watson,  Elizth..  75  ;  Luke,  30,  1,  2.  87,  8,  56,  7. 

'  62,  3,  72-5,  79,  80,  1,  6,  7,  95,  101,  112,  5,7, 
8,123,7,134,8,9,142,  159,  167,  171,3,  182, 
196,  252, 4  ;  Peter,  22.3,  280 ;  Sarah,  62 

Watts,  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac,  69S 

Webb,  Rev.  John,  844;  Rev.  Joseph,  828,  331  ; 
Col.  — ,  498 

W^ebster,  Noah,  696;  Rev.  Richard,  636 

Weeks,  George,  423 

Welles,  Kov.  Dr.  Noah,  582,  630  ;  Philip,  221 


INDEX. 


701 


Wenanapo,  229,  9 

Wessels,  John,  2ST 

"Westbrook,  Kov.  Kichard  B.,  620 

Westerlo,  Kev.  Eilardus,  644 

"Wetraore,  Eov.  James,  832,  34r) 

"Wheeler,  Esther,  Nathaniel,  275  ;  Stephen,  424 

Wheelwright,  Kev.  John,  Kebecca,  53S 

"Whltaker,  Jonathan,  812 

White,  Agatha,  Ann,  99  ;  Dennis,  57,  8,  68,  76, 
85,96,9,  104,8,  100,9,  IS:!,  255;  Hannah, 
633  ;  Joanna,  2(74  ;  Mary,  163,  Eoberts,  6S, 
99,  100,  1,  104, 162,  8,  182 

VVhiteneld,  Rev.  Goorpe,  889,  341,  5,  860,  877, 
8S(i,  482,  514,  6,  542,  5n2,  (42 

Whitehead,  David,  886,  517,  528,  553  ;  Grace, 
275;  Isaac,  57,  71,  82,  8,  91,  8,  9,122,  159,  ICO, 
1,  4, 174,  181,  2,  6,  217,  220,  8.  240,  8,  25.3,270, 
5,  2S4, 806 ;  Isaac,  Jr. ,  67, 7S,  1 00, 1 59, 1 60, 1  '^3 ; 
John,  99  ;  Joseph,  244,  284  ;  Nathaniel,  244, 
2S4,  6,  306  ;  Samuel,  55,  241,  4,  7,  271,  285, 
809,  812  ;  Timothy,  637  ;  Wm.  A.,  112,  141  ; 
Mr.  — ,  567 

Whiting,  Kev.  Joseph,  830 

Whitman,  Rev.  Samuel,  294 

Whitney,  Rev.  George  II.,  621 ;  Rev.  Joslah,  899 

Whittlesey,  Mr.,  832 

Willcox,  James,  525  ;  Peter,  571,  580 

Wllkins,  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac,  413 

Willet,  L.  Col.,  479  ;  Thoma.s,  64 

William,  the  Conqueror,  45,  274 

William,  of  Orange,  236,  8,  269,  279 

William  and  Mary.  236,  8 

Williams,  Anne,  560;  Capt.,  556;  Daniel,  812, 
445;  David,  275;  Klias,  627;  Rev.  Dr.  Eliph- 
alet,  630;  Esther,  Hester,  275;  John,  3S6, 
680 ;  Jonathan,  412,  517,  9,  522,  8,  7  ;  Joseph, 
247,  275,  310,  1,  2,  8,  8;  Joseph,  Jr.,  Josiah, 
Matthew,  275;  Miles,  812;  Nathaniel,  275; 
Samuel,  24S,  275,  517,  622,  3,  628  ;  Samuel, 
Jr.,  Sarah,  Susannah,  275 

Williamson,  Ben.,  664;  Capt.,  556;  Isaac  H., 
562,  6.i0,  663,  4,  5;  Isaac  IT.,  Jr.,  665;  Jacob, 
664  ;  Margaret,  324,  664  ;  Matthias,  861,  385, 
S,  9,  412,  431,  443,  5,  6,  8,539,  540,  663;  Mat- 
thias, Jr.,  430, 4S0, 1, 521,  540, 560,  2,  018,  664 ; 
Mathias  U.,  562  ;  Sir  Philip,  242 ;  Susan,  64S ; 
Susannah,  540,  664;  Wm.,  199,  212,  324,  545, 
664 

Willis,  Daniel,  610;  John,  247,  276,812,469; 
Joseph,  269,  312;  Samuel,  152,  244,  276; 
Wdi.,  610 

Willock,  Mr.,  859 

Wilmer,  Catharine,  626,  Rev.  Wm.  A.,  621,  6 

Wilson,  Andrew,  653;  Ann  F.,  675;  Ebene- 
zer,  244,  277,  2s6 ;  Elizth.,  276;  James, 
675;  John  (the  great),  58,  160,  5,  173,182, 
196;  John  (the  little),  58,  95,  106,  146,  IhO, 
160,  5,  6,  9,  173,  183;  Rev.  John  SO;  Joseph, 
87,  228,  243,  276,  7,  284;  Samuel,  72,  276,  7; 
Mrs.  — ,  431 

Winans,  Aaron,  610;  Ren.,  8^1,  445,  515,7, 
522,  8,  ,5,  691,  627;  Dr..  484,  503;  Isaac,  412; 
Jacob,  626  i  John,  56,  S,  76,  81,  4,  94,  9, 101, 


186,  160, 188,  4,  264,  270,  284;  Lieut.,  453; 
Samuel,  243,  306 ;  Wm.,  8S5 

Winds,  Wm.,  464 

Wines,  Barnabas,  .57,  8,  72,8,83,95,7,101, 
136, 160.7,  9, 183;  Samuel,  101 

Winner,  Rev.  John  O.,  621 

Wlnthrop,  John,  24,  41,  6,  8,  9,  59,  65,  70,  109, 
12H,  9,  152,  3,  6, 197 

Withersp'on,  Rev.  Dr.  John,  434,  522,  592 

Wolcott,  Rev.  John  M.,  6S4  ;  Oliver,  576,  597 

WoUaston,  Wm.,  884 

Wolverson,  Peter,  91, 102,  122,  160, 183,4,249, 
251 

Wood,  Daniel,  572;  Edward,  104;  Elizth.,  108; 
Jeremiah,  104;  Jonas,  56,  8,  9,  81,  6,9,  99, 
103,  4,  137,  159,  167, 172,  183,  223,  241,  8,  278, 
284,  306;  Jonas,  Jr.,  104;  Samuel,  105,  285, 
519  ;  Silas,  632;  Rev.  Mr.  — ,  589 

Woodbridge,  Ruth,  386  ;  Rev.  Timothy,  827, 
336 

Woodhull,  Rev.  Dr.  John,  667 

Woodrufl",  Abraham,  400,  522;  Ann,  105;  Ben., 
812,  424;  Rev.  Ben.,  577,  .582,  3.  4,  632,  643  ; 
Belcher,  531 ;  Bryant,  6S3;  Caleb,  812;  Char- 
lotte B.,  5S3;  Daniel,  306,  424;  David,  244, 
7,284,  504,  522,  676;  dipt.  David,  526,  531, 
2;  Elijah,  424;  Elizabeth,  105,  5S3,  4,  626; 
Ephhraim,  525  ;  Eunice,  626;  Ezeklel,  528,  5, 
7:  Ezekiel,  Jr.,  697:  Isaac,  381,  412,  5,  426, 
474,  523,  559,  568,  593,  5,  610;  John,  56,  7,  66, 
71,  6,  82,  8,  9,  91,  8,  101,  8,  5,  115,  124,  136, 
169,  165,  6,  178,  4,  182,  220,  9,  241,  3,  4.  7,  251, 
284,  806,  812,  580,  2,  3;  John,  Jr.,  244,  2S8; 
Jonathan,  424,  580;  .Joseph,  123,  244^  7,  255, 
284,  7.  8,  807,  8,  811,  2,  332,  6,  842.  6,  358, 400, 
6S2;  Joseph,  Jr.,  812,582;  Joseph,  8d,  5S2; 
Lewis,  424,  52.5,  563,  610;  Mary,  105,  583; 
Nathan,  522,  557 ;  Samuel,  812,  320,  1,  7,  36S, 
878,  9,  380,  3,  5,  S,  9,  396,  400,  515,  7,  9,  627. 
5S0,  2,  8 ;  Timothy,  312,  445 :  Thomas,  352, 
400,  412,  4S1,  583;  Uzal,  390,  626;  Wm.,  617, 
525,  567,  6S3;  Wm.  B.,  583;  Mr.  — ,  472. 
509 

Woolley,  Anne,  105;  Edward,  Emanuel,  277; 
Rev.  George,  620 ;  John,  277 ;  Robert,  105, 
161,  244,  7,  259,  268,  277 

Woolsey,  Rev.  Ben.,  630 

Woolston.  Thomas,  834 

Woostcr,  Rov.  Hezekiah  C,  620 

Wren,  John,  258,  278 

Wynne,  J.  11.,  141 


Tato3,  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew,  596 ;  Mary,  261 

Yeamana,  Sir  John,  140,  1 

Yeomans,  Samuel,  580,  3 

York,  Duke  of,  28,  9,  38,  48-7,  50,  7,  111,  125, 
9,  ISO,  1,  149,  155,  178,  188,  191,  8.  280,  869 

Young,  Anno,  106;  Christopher,  57,  106,  7,  8, 
160;  David,  560;  Jo.anna,  106;  Rev.  John, 
96,  106,  201,  895;  C.ipt.  John,  91;  Joseph, 
Mary,  Rachel,  Rebecca,  100;  Thomas,  66, 
7,  91, 106,  7,  8,  116, 136, 159, 160,  1S2 


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